Incorporating Intra-Operative Education Into Ergonomics Training for Endourology Cases: A Pilot Study

To pilot an intra-operative educational intervention to improve ergonomics for urologic surgeons performing endourologic procedures and compare this to didactic education alone.

All participants completed a didactic session on endourologic ergonomics. One group completed the didactic session alone, while the other also received intra-operative education, in which a physical therapist observed urologists performing endoscopic procedures and provided feedback. Participants were surveyed about physical pain symptoms, prior ergonomics training, ergonomics knowledge, and comfort with the application of principles before and after the interventions, with a follow-up survey 1 month post-intervention.

Thirty-eight individuals completed the pre-intervention survey. Fifty-five percent experienced physical pain in the operating room, and 42% experienced pain during an endoscopic case in the last month. Fifteen completed the survey immediately following the educational sessions. There was a consistent increase in understanding of ergonomics principles amongst participants participating in the didactic session and intra-operative education. Amongst those who participated in the didactic session alone, all but two had improved understanding of ergonomics principles.

There was a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in this cohort of urologists who lacked consistent prior experience with ergonomics training. Our pilot ergonomics educational model involving a partnership with physical therapy, comprised of an intra-operative education and a didactic session, increased knowledge of ergonomics principles.