Photo Credit: AndreyPopov
The following is a summary of “Interdisciplinary Operating Room Ergonomics Needs and Priorities: A Survey of Operating Room Staff,” published in the November 2024 issue of Surgery by Mah et al.
Poor ergonomics in operating rooms (ORs) lead to musculoskeletal injuries (MSK) among staff, affecting patient care and outcomes. Lack of ergonomic awareness and education increases the risk.
Researchers conducted a prospective study to examine perceived facilitators and barriers to ergonomics within the OR team.
They conducted a self-administered web-based survey of 238 OR nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists at a single center. The survey included item generation and reduction, followed by reliability and validity testing.
The results showed that 80% of nurses, 70% of surgeons, and 40% of anesthesiologists reported MSK, with no differences between professional groups. Less than 25% used guideline-based ergonomic interventions, though equipment repositioning (59%), specialized clothing (33%), and seating (37%) were perceived as beneficial by 80-90%. Barriers to ergonomics included organizational and structural issues such as lack of time, space, equipment, and funding. The fear of negative perceptions from others was a concern for 62% of participants. Fewer than 50% of teams discussed, prioritized, or supported ergonomic practices. Ergonomic adaptations were seen as individual responsibilities rather than team efforts.
They concluded that while organizational barriers hinder ergonomic practices in ORs, solutions appear to be viewed as individual responsibilities, and education tools involving the interdisciplinary team were needed.
