title: Prevalence and risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries related to endoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are limited data regarding work-related injury among endoscopists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define the prevalence of endoscopy-related musculoskeletal injuries and their impact on clinical practice and to identify physician and practice characteristics associated with their development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic survey of active members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy with registered e-mail addresses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physicians who currently or ever performed endoscopy and responded to the survey between February 2013 and November 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 25-question, self-administered, electronic survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence, location, and ramifications of work-related injuries and endoscopist characteristics and workload parameters associated with endoscopy-related injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey was completed by 684 endoscopists. Of those, 362 (53%) experienced a musculoskeletal injury perceived definitely (n = 204) or possibly (n = 158) related to endoscopy. Factors associated with a higher rate of endoscopy-related injury included higher procedure volume (>20 cases/week; P < .001), greater number of hours per week spent performing endoscopy (>16 hours/week; P < .001), and total number of years performing endoscopy (P = .004). The most common sites of injury were neck and/or upper back (29%) and thumb (28%). Only 55% of injured endoscopists used practice modifications in response to injuries. Specific treatments included medications (57%), steroid injection (27%), physiotherapy (45%), rest (34%), splinting (23%), and surgery (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported data of endoscopy-related injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among endoscopists there is a high prevalence of injuries definitely or potentially related to endoscopy. Higher procedure volume, more time doing endoscopy per week, and cumulative years performing endoscopy are associated with more work-related injuries.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wiriyaporn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ridtitid
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Coté
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buschbacher
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Evan L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Fogel
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Glen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McHenry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload