Physical job demands and related health complaints among surgeons

Abstract

PurposeSurgeons’ poor physical health and high physical job demands might threaten good quality of care. We aimed to compare the prevalence of physical complaints of surgeons, their physical work ability and the physical job demands of surgeons with that of other hospital physicians.MethodsAll medical doctors (n = 958) of one academic medical center were invited to complete the online questionnaire to assess the physical work ability and the prevalence of regional musculoskeletal complaints. A purposive sample of 44 surgeons and 82 other hospital physicians were systematically observed during work to quantify the physical job demands for an average working day.ResultsMore surgeons found their work to be physically strenuous (41 vs. 13 %, p < .000) and more were bothered by working in uncomfortable or exhausting postures (73 vs. 27 %, p < .001). Both groups reported that most of their physical complaints were in the neck (39 and 32 %) and arm regions (36 and 27 %). The majority of surgeons (86 %) and other hospital physicians (79 %) experienced difficulties coping with their job demands because of their physical state once a month or less. Compared with other hospital physicians, surgeons stand longer (4 vs. 3 h, p = .004) and perform fine repetitive movements longer (80 vs. 3 min, p < .001) during an average working day.ConclusionsExposure to several physical job demands that are perceived as uncomfortable and exhausting and the presence of physical health complaints reduce surgeons’ work functioning.

A saúde física e mental do profissional médico: uma revisão sistemática

“…Another kind of pain and discomfort described by the authors were leg edema and varicose veins (20%). In comparison with clinical physicians at the hospital studied by Ruitenburg, Frings-Dresen and Sluiter (2013), surgeons made fine repetitive movements 26 times longer and stood up 130% longer. Moreover, 73% of the surgeons felt troubled about working in uncomfortable and exhaustive postures.…”

“…The majority (83.3%) comprised cross-sectional studies. Within this type of methodology, the main issues addressed in the studies on physical health were musculoskeletal disorders (AUeRBACH et al, 2011;MeHRDAD;DeNNeRLeiN;MORDHeSiZADeH, 2012;RUiTeNBURG;FRiNGS-DReSeN;SLUiTeR, 2013;MOHSeNi-BANDPei et al, 2011;LiANG et al, 2013) and ophthalmologic health (MReNA et al, 2011;KRUPiNSKi;BeRBAUM, 2009 Rauchenzauner et al (2009) found that frequent stressing situations, sleep deficit, and deregulation of the circadian rhythm are causes of the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in this group of professionals. Before the manifestation of symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, after night shifts physicians presented an increase in the cardiac frequency, as well as the elevation of blood pressure, dysrhythmia, altered catecholamine secretion, and an increase of serum cholesterol, uric acid, and potassium.…”

Factors that influence the non‐technical skills performance of scrub nurses: a prospective study

“…, Ruitenburg et al . ). Working in uncomfortable or awkward positions for prolonged periods can also affect surgeons' performance (i.e.…”

Feasibility and acceptability of a workers’ health surveillance program for hospital physicians

“…For example, they have to adopt and maintain working postures that are perceived as uncomfortable and exhausting [1,2], are confronted with high emotional peak demands [3], and work long hours with little job control [4,5]. Common adverse health effects associated with these job demands include neck, lower back and arm complaints [2,6,7].…”