Five musculoskeletal strategies identified
Researchers in Denmark have identified strategies for surgeons who are at high risk of work-related musculoskeletal pain but lack knowledge on how to adapt less physically demanding work postures in the operating theatre.
Based on a systematic literature review and interviews with Danish surgeons, the researchers found interventions to prevent and rehabilitate musculoskeletal pain need to promote individual behavioural changes, along with organisational, attitudinal and management changes.
Successful interventions depend on six factors: knowledge, skills, attitude, social influence, self-efficacy and expected outcomes. They propose five intervention strategies addressing these, which involve a combination of mandatory workshops with training sessions for surgeons and hospital management.
The strategies cover the benefits of physical exercise training on physical health, targeting vulnerable and painful body regions; using available physical ergonomics; incorporating micro-breaks into surgery time; work impacts on health: and prioritising surgeons' work-related musculoskeletal pain for management.
Read more: Tina Dalagar, et al. Using an intervention mapping approach to develop prevention and rehabilitation strategies for musculoskeletal pain among surgeons. [Full article] BMC Public Health, online March 2019, doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-6625-4. Source: OHSAlert