title: Procedure-related musculoskeletal symptoms in gastrointestinal endoscopists in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in gastrointestinal endoscopists in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of musculoskeletal symptoms, using a self-administered questionnaire, was conducted on 55 endoscopists practicing in general hospitals or health promotion centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine (89.1%) endoscopists reported musculoskeletal pain on at least one anatomic location and 37 (67.3%) endoscopists complained of pain at rest. Twenty-six (47.3%) endoscopists had severe musculoskeletal pain defined as a visual analogue score greater than 5.5. Factors related to the development of severe pain were (1) standing position during upper endoscopy, (2) specific posture/habit during endoscopic procedures, and (3) multiple symptomatic areas. Finger pain was more common in beginners, whereas shoulder pain was more common in experienced endoscopists. Sixteen percent of symptomatic endoscopists have modified their practice or reduced the number of endoscopic examinations. Only a few symptomatic endoscopists had sought professional consultation with related specialists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in endoscopists is very high. The location of pain was different between beginners and experienced endoscopists. Measures for the prevention and adequate management of endoscopy-related musculoskeletal symptoms are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-Dong 50, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 135-710, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Hye
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Jun-Haeng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moon-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Byung-Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Dong-Kyung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Poong-Lyul
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Jae-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong-Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Dong-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang-Goon
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: In-Kyung
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence