Article Info Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are among the most common occupational problems facing surgical technologists in the operating room, which could be associated with high costs and a reduction in the healthcare quality. The operating room could be the source of various types of surgical errors caused by numerous invasive procedures. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between musculoskeletal disorders and medical errors in surgical technologists. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 201 operating room surgical technologists working at Sari City hospitals. The samples were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection instruments included the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the operating room-related medical errors questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and the Pearson's correlation model. Results: The results showed that disorders in the lumbar and back regions were the most common disorders among surgical technologists with the prevalence of 51.2%. In addition, there was a significant correlation between medical errors and WMSDs in the wrist and knee regions (P <0.05). There was also a significant relationship between gender, BMI, marital status, regular exercise, and weekly working hours with WMSDs, as well as between medical errors and gender (P <0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of WMSDs and medical errors was high among surgical technologists; therefore, given the high-risk environment of the operating room, proper measures must be adopted to reduce WMSDs and medical errors.

Background & Aim: Surgical technologists' problems may affect the perioperative outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate musculoskeletal disorders and related ergonomic considerations in surgical technologists. Materials & Methods: This descriptive correlational study was performed among 141 technologists of selected teaching hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The data collection tool consists of four sections containing demographic information, 13 questions to assess the level of knowledge about ergonomics, 16 questions to assess working conditions and a standard Nordic questionnaire to determine the extent of musculoskeletal disorders. T-test and ANOVA were used to compare the means, and Spearman correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between the variables. Results: The results showed that 78% of the participants had experienced musculoskeletal disorders in at least one area of the body during the last 12 months. The three most prevalent body regions were the low back (55%), shoulders (29%) and wrists (26%). Knowledge of correct principles of working with an average of 3.03±0.55 of 5 points was moderate, 61% reported training in ergonomic considerations as poor. Participants' work environment and tools such as poor ventilation, ergonomic tools and equipment, and lack of short rest between long-term works are contrary to ergonomic principles. Conclusion: According to the identification of risk factors in this study, appropriate training programs, ergonomic interventions and the use of safety and health equipment can probably reduce occupational injuries and increase productivity.