Procedure-related musculoskeletal symptoms in gastrointestinal endoscopists in Korea.
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.
Byun
Young-Hye
YH
Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-Dong 50, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 135-710, South Korea.
Lee
Jun-Haeng
JH
Park
Moon-Kyung
MK
Song
Ji-Hyun
JH
Min
Byung-Hoon
BH
Chang
Dong-Kyung
DK
Kim
Young-Ho
YH
Son
Hee-Jung
HJ
Rhee
Poong-Lyul
PL
Kim
Jae-J
JJ
Rhee
Jong-Chul
JC
Hwang
Ji-Hye
JH
Park
Dong-Il
DI
Shim
Sang-Goon
SG
Sung
In-Kyung
IK
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