Active and passive work breaks during simulated laparoscopy among laparoscopic surgeons: study protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Minimally invasive surgery
• Occupational health
• Surgical ergonomics

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery offers patient benefits but increases surgeon physical load due to prolonged static and awkward postures.
• This can lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders among surgeons.
• Organizational interventions like work breaks are being explored to mitigate these risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if passive and active work breaks reduce surgeon discomfort compared to no breaks.
• To compare the effectiveness of active work breaks versus passive work breaks in alleviating discomfort.
• To investigate the impact of work breaks on surgeon well-being and performance during laparoscopic procedures.

Main Methods:

• A controlled, randomized cross-over trial involving 21 laparoscopic surgeons.
• Three experimental conditions: no breaks, 2.5-minute passive breaks, and 2.5-minute active breaks (mobility/stretching).
• Primary outcome: rating of perceived discomfort; secondary outcomes: performance, muscle activity, physiological measures, and workload.

Main Results:

• Data analysis will utilize repeated-measures analysis of variance.
• The study protocol adheres to the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) 2013 Statement.
• Ethical approval obtained from the local medical ethical committee (no 618/2018BO2).

Conclusions:

• Findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
• Results will inform future feasibility studies on ergonomic interventions for surgeons.
• This research aims to provide evidence-based strategies for reducing surgeon discomfort in laparoscopic surgery.