Al Saikhan Lamia, Alshami Ali M
Department of Cardiac Technology, College of Applied Medial Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medial Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
J Clin Med. 2024 May 29;13(11):3184. doi: 10.3390/jcm13113184.
: Cardiac sonographers are at a high risk for work-related musculoskeletal pain (WMSP), a major occupational health problem. With limited research on WMSP prevalence among this population in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of WMSP in cardiac sonographers in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia compared to a control group of healthcare professionals. : An electronic survey was administered to cardiac sonographers (study group) and other healthcare professionals (control group) exposed to different occupational hazards, including allied healthcare professionals, physicians, and nurses. Modified versions of the Nordic, QuickDASH, and QuickDASH work questionnaires were used. The χ test was performed for comparisons. : A total of 168 participants completed the survey (mean age: 31.6 ± 7.7 years). Among them, 127 (76.1%) were females, comprising 61 (36.3%) sonographers and 107 (63.7%) controls. Overall, WMSP was more common (82% versus 65%, = 0.020) and severe ( = 0.041) in cardiac sonographers than in controls. The most affected body regions in cardiac sonographers were the shoulders (72.0% versus 29.0%), followed by the hands (56.0% versus 24.6%), compared to those of the control participants. Pain experienced by cardiac sonographers significantly interfered with social and work-related activities ( < 0.05 for all). A higher number of cardiac sonographers planned to change their profession than control participants (41% versus 15.2%; < 0.0001) owing to pain. : WMSP was more common and severe in cardiac sonographers than in control participants of other healthcare professions in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia and interfered significantly with their social and work-related activities and future employment plans. Therefore, preventive interventional studies are required in the future.
心脏超声检查技师面临与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疼痛（WMSP）的高风险，这是一个主要的职业健康问题。沙特阿拉伯对这一人群中WMSP患病率的研究有限，本研究旨在调查沙特阿拉伯东部省份心脏超声检查技师中WMSP的患病率及其影响，并与一组医疗保健专业人员对照组进行比较。：对心脏超声检查技师（研究组）和其他暴露于不同职业危害的医疗保健专业人员（对照组）进行了电子调查，这些人员包括专职医疗保健人员、医生和护士。使用了北欧问卷、快速DASH问卷和快速DASH工作问卷的修改版本。采用χ检验进行比较。：共有168名参与者完成了调查（平均年龄：31.6±7.7岁）。其中，127名（76.1%）为女性，包括61名（36.3%）超声检查技师和107名（63.7%）对照组人员。总体而言，心脏超声检查技师中WMSP比对照组更常见（82%对65%，P = 0.020）且更严重（P = 0.041）。与对照组参与者相比，心脏超声检查技师中受影响最严重的身体部位是肩部（72.0%对29.0%），其次是手部（56.0%对24.6%）。心脏超声检查技师所经历的疼痛严重干扰了社交和与工作相关的活动（所有P均<0.05）。由于疼痛，计划更换职业的心脏超声检查技师数量比对照组参与者更多（41%对15.2%；P<0.0001）。：在沙特阿拉伯东部省份，心脏超声检查技师中的WMSP比其他医疗保健专业的对照组参与者更常见、更严重，并且严重干扰了他们的社交和与工作相关活动以及未来的就业计划。因此，未来需要进行预防性干预研究。
