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. 2024 Mar 6;11(1):6.
doi: 10.1186/s44156-024-00042-3.

Prevalence, characteristics and clinical impact of work-related musculoskeletal pain in echocardiography

Eunice Onwordi  1 , Alistair Harris  2 , Charlotte Atkinson  2 , Cathy West  3 , Keith Pearce  4 , Jane Hancock  5 , Camelia Demetrescu  5 , Dhrubo Rakhit  2 , Benoy N Shah  2 , Rajdeep Khattar  3 , Jennifer Gorman  6 , Delfin Encarnacion  1 , Guy Lloyd  1   6 , Sanjeev Bhattacharyya  7   8
Affiliations

Prevalence, characteristics and clinical impact of work-related musculoskeletal pain in echocardiography

Eunice Onwordi et al. Echo Res Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMSP) is increasingly recognised in cardiac ultrasound practice. WRMSP can impact workforce health, productivity and sustainability. We sought to investigate the prevalence, characteristics and clinical impact of WRMSP.

Methods: Prospective electronic survey of 157 echocardiographers in 10 institutions. Data acquired on demographics, experience, working environment/pattern, WRMSP location, severity and pattern, the impact on professional, personal life and career.

Results: 129/157 (82%) echocardiographers completed the survey, of whom 109 (85%) reported WRMSP and 55 (43%) reported work taking longer due to WRMSP. 40/129 (31%) required time off work. 78/109 (60%) reported sleep disturbance with 26/78 (33%) of moderate or severe severity. 56/129 (45%) required medical evaluation of their WRMSP and 25/129 (19%) received a formal diagnosis of musculoskeletal injury. Those with 11+ years of experience were significantly more likely to receive a formal diagnosis of WRMSP (p = 0.002) and require medication (p = 0.006) compared to those with 10 years or less experience.

Conclusion: WRMSP is very common amongst echocardiographers, with a fifth having a related musculoskeletal injury. WRMSP has considerable on impact on personal, social and work-related activities. Strategies to reduce the burden of WRMSP are urgently required to ensure sustainability of the workforce and patient access to imaging.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Musculoskeletal injury; Work-related.

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Conflict of interest statement

Guy Lloyd who is an author is an associate editor of Echo Research & Practice. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Location of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Numerical rating scale of severity of pain experienced on a weekly basis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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