| Objective Occupational musculoskeletal disorders, also known as work-related musculoskeletal disorders, studies from industrialized countries show that the disease occurs commonly in sonographers. However, little is known about sonographers in China. The study was aimed to investigate the prevalence, common disease site and severity of the disease among sonographers at tertiary hospitals in Hubei province, explore the related risk factors, and put forward some targeted interventions.Methods This study was a cross-sectional investigation. Sonographers from 13 tertiary hospitals in Hubei province were selected. The questionnaire was developed according to the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the Health Benefit Trust(HBT) survey instrument. The contents included demographic and psychological factors, work scheduling and tasks, work-related postures, equipment and work environment characteristics and the prevalence of WMSDs. According to the survey data, analysis was carried out using chi square test and the binary logistic regression.Results 1 Basic information: Totally 335 questionnaires were investigated in the study. 245 valid questionnaires were returned. The effective rate was 73.1%. There are 183 women and 62 men. The average age of respondents was 33.33±7.39 years.(range from 23 to 64 years).The average working time as a sonographers was 8.89± 7.20 years.2 Prevalence of WMSDs in sonographers:(1) The ever prevalence rate, year prevalence rate, week prevalence rate of WMSDs were 98.8%, 96.3% and 93.1% in any one part of the body. In the past year, the highest prevalence rate was the neck(87.8%) and the shoulder(86.9%), followed by low back(80.8%), wrist/hand(78.0%), upper back(70.6%), elbow(41.2%), hip/hips(40.0%), knee(22.4%) and ankle /foot(13.1%). In the past year, 14.9% of sonographers reported one to three sites disorder. 57.2% of sonographers reported four to six sites disorder, and 28.0% of sonographers with seven or more sites disorder.(2) The neck, shoulder, wrist/hand, upper back, elbow and low back in the past year all had several different symptoms at the same time, but more for pain or stiffness. The severity of neck, elbow, wrist/hand and upper back were mild and moderate, but the shoulder and low back were moderate and severe. The frequency of symptoms of the neck, shoulder, wrist/hand and low back in the past year was generally one to many times per week, while the elbow and upper back was generally one to many times per month. In the past year, the duration of symptoms of shoulder and low back was more than 30 days, while the neck, elbow, wrist/hand and upper back generally within 30 days.(3) In the past year, because neck, shoulder, wrist / hand, upper back, lower back or elbow discomforted, 25% of patients reflected superiors. 7.6% of patients changed job content or responsibility. 15.3% of patients had absences. 57.6% of patients received appropriate treatment.3 Influence factors: The chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that:(1) The main risk factors associated with neck WMSDs were the number of patients scanned per day(≥50, OR =14.75) and sustained shoulder abduction(OR=8.31). Having breaks at work, the height-adjustable chair, the ultrasound screen located in front of the sonographer and the screen at eye level can prevent neck WMSDs.(2) The main factors associated with shoulder WMSDs were gender(OR=5.99), working with awkward posture(OR=3.95) and sustained shoulder abduction(OR=3.58). The height-adjustable chair and the ultrasound screen located in front of the sonographer can prevent shoulder WMSDs.(3) Factors associated with wrist/hand WMSDs were gender, scanning hours per week, encountering obese patients, working with awkward posture and wrist bending.(4) Factors associated with low back WMSDs were psychological fatigue, working with awkward posture, bending, keeping the neck forward and twist.Conclusion The prevalence of WMSDs among Chinese medical sonographers is high, and the disorder were most frequently reported in the neck, shoulder, low back, and wrist/hand regions, but the shoulder and low back were more serious. Working with awkward posture was related to the WMSDs in shoulder, wrist/hand and low back. The number of patients scanned per day over 50 was major risk factors for WMSDs of neck. Sustained shoulder abduction increased the risk for WMSDs of neck and shoulder. Gender had an effect on WMSDs in shoulder and wrist/ hand. Encountering obese patients and wrist bending were risk factors for wrist/ hand WMSDs. The height-adjustable chair in examination room can prevent the occurrence of neck and shoulder musculoskeletal injury. The prevalence of neck WMSDs can be reduced by working with breaks and the screen at eye level.The results showed that the WMSDs among sonographers were affected by many factors. In order to reduce the prevalence rate, some measures should be taken. Sonographers should pay attention to WMSDs and corrected the wrong work posture. The equipment designers need improve the design of ultrasound devices. Employers should increase breaks at work, improve the layout of the ultrasonic workstation and organize training, to enable them to understand ergonomics knowledge. |
PDF Full Text Request