Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders in hospital workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Hospital workers were initially considered an unexposed referent group for ergonomic studies.
• Previous research focused on garment assembly workers and repetitive manual labor.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders in hospital workers.
• To identify potential occupational risk factors contributing to these disorders in a healthcare setting.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 76 female hospital workers for upper limb pain symptoms.
• Observed various hospital jobs to identify ergonomic stressors.
• Analyzed demographic data (age, employment duration) in relation to pain.

Main Results:

• 32% of hospital workers reported shoulder, wrist, or hand pain.
• Nursing and manual labor roles (food prep, laundry) showed higher prevalence.
• Older age and longer employment duration correlated with increased pain.
• Identified repetitive motion, forceful exertions, and awkward postures as risk factors.

Conclusions:

• The assumption of hospital workers being unexposed to ergonomic stressors needs reevaluation.
• Occupational risk factors for cumulative trauma disorders are present in hospital environments.
• Targeted interventions are needed to address upper limb musculoskeletal disorders in healthcare personnel.