Surgical Ergonomics Education for Preventing Work Injuries

(SEE MIGS Trial)

Overseen By Kari Plewniak, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Montefiore Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Non-OB/GYN residents, Fellows, Medical students

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

24 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the study focuses on teaching ergonomic body positions.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Ergonomics Education, Surgical Ergonomics Education, Ergonomic Body Positions Training?

Research shows that ergonomic education can improve working postures and techniques, as seen in nursing and laparoscopic surgery, suggesting potential benefits for surgeons in reducing muscle fatigue and improving safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the treatment Ergonomics Education different from other treatments for preventing work injuries?

Ergonomics Education is unique because it focuses on teaching healthcare professionals, like surgeons and nurses, how to position their bodies correctly during work to prevent injuries, rather than relying on physical interventions or medications. This educational approach is not commonly included in standard training programs, making it a novel method for reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this pilot study is to learn if a class and hands-on-practice of ergonomic body positions - or specific ways to move the body while working to prevent injury - is valuable to training obstetrics and gynecology doctors. The main questions the study team aims to answer are: * Will these lessons successfully teach the participants how to move bodies at work in a way that will prevent injury? * Will the participants feel that learning and practicing such lessons helps to avoid injury while at work? Researchers will compare training obstetrics and gynecology doctors that attend a class on ergonomics and have guided hands-on-practice of ergonomic body positions with training obstetrics and gynecology doctors that attend the class only to see if the first group learns and remembers how to move their bodies safely while working. All participants will attend a class that teaches basic ergonomic lessons before they are divided into two groups. Group 1 will practice common surgery skills on a model while being videotaped by an artificial intelligence application. The application will make a report on unsafe positions a participant does while practicing surgical skills. The Group 1 participant will then go over the report with one of the study supervisors to talk about ways that the participant can move safely while practicing the skills. The participant will then practice the skills one more time while being videotaped. The study supervisors will then compare the two reports to see if the participant improved. Group 2 will also practice common surgery skills on a model while being videotaped. Group 2 participants will not get to see the report that the application generates or speak with the study supervisors about ways to move safely while practicing the skills. There will be a follow up after two months to see if participants remembered what was learned during the class and during the hands-on practice lesson. All participants will again be videotaped. The study supervisors will compare the videos and reports from the last class to the most recent ones to see if the participants learned and remember how to move safely while working. Participants in both groups will take a quiz about the lessons learned in the class before and after the class to determine what had been learned from the lesson. A survey about how useful and helpful the class was and hands-on practice sessions were will also be completed.

Research Team

Kari Plewniak, MD

Principal Investigator

Montefiore Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for obstetrics and gynecology doctors in training. It's designed to see if a class on ergonomic body positions, combined with hands-on practice, can help them learn to move in ways that prevent work-related injuries.

Inclusion Criteria

Residents in Montefiore's OB/GYN residency program in post-graduate years 1 through 4 (PGY-1 - PGY-4)

Exclusion Criteria

Non-OB/GYN residents

Fellows in OB/GYN subspecialties

Medical students

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Session 1

Participants attend a class on surgical ergonomics and perform laparoscopic surgical skills exercises on a simulation trainer while being assessed using the TuMeke AI app.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention Session 2

Participants perform laparoscopic surgical skills exercises again, with the control group receiving feedback and guided practice.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention of ergonomic skills and knowledge through video assessments and surveys.

8 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Ergonomics Education

Trial Overview The study tests whether ergonomics education and guided practice improve how these doctors position their bodies during surgery. One group gets both the class and feedback-driven practice; another only attends the class. Their skills are videotaped and compared over time.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention group Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

This group will receive directed feedback and guided practice regarding their ergonomic positioning while performing basic surgical skills exercises on a trainer

Group II: Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group will not receive directed feedback or guided practice regarding their ergonomic positioning while performing basic surgical skills exercises on a trainer during the study. After the study is completed they will receive this feedback, but it will not be included as a part of the study data.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Montefiore Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

468

Recruited

599,000+

Findings from Research

Introducing ergonomics and biomechanics education into nursing training significantly improved student nurses' patient-handling techniques.

The study highlights the urgent need for ergonomic interventions in nursing to enhance workplace safety and efficiency, suggesting that education can empower nurses to modify their working environments effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ergonomics and training. Troup, JD., Rauhala, HH.[2019]

Laparoscopic surgery, while beneficial for patients, poses risks for surgeons due to restricted movement and awkward postures that can lead to increased muscle fatigue.

Implementing ergonomic training programs in surgical practices can enhance the well-being of surgeons and potentially improve patient outcomes, as suggested by the review of literature and the introduction of ergonomic guidelines in training activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Ergonomics in laparoscopic surgery and its importance in surgical training]. Pérez-Duarte, FJ., Sánchez-Margallo, FM., Díaz-Güemes Martín-Portugués, I., et al.[2017]

The review analyzed 16 studies that applied the SEIPS family of work system models to improve patient work, primarily focusing on adult patients with chronic illnesses and their caregivers in both home and clinical settings.

The findings highlight the effectiveness of these models in generating valuable insights and products that enhance patient and family contributions to health-related work, demonstrating their practical benefits in healthcare settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Human factors/ergonomics work system analysis of patient work: state of the science and future directions. Werner, NE., Ponnala, S., Doutcheva, N., et al.[2021]

A survey of 42 surgical residents revealed that 91% experienced musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms related to their training, highlighting a significant issue in surgical ergonomics education.

After attending two lectures on surgical ergonomics, all 17 residents who completed the follow-up survey reported increased awareness of their habits and a better understanding of injury prevention, suggesting that incorporating such education into residency could help reduce future injuries.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Incorporating Surgical Ergonomics Education into Surgical Residency Curriculum. Jensen, MJ., Liao, J., Van Gorp, B., et al.[2021]

Ergonomics plays a crucial role in improving surgical practices by optimizing the workplace, equipment, and procedures, which can lead to safer and more efficient surgeries.

The review highlights that understanding ergonomic principles can help address the complexities of modern surgical procedures, ultimately aiming to reduce healthcare costs and enhance surgeon performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The application of ergonomics in the work environment of general surgeons. Berguer, R.[2019]

Only 1.5% of surgical training programs in the U.S. offer formal surgical ergonomics education (SEE), while 25.4% provide informal education, highlighting a significant gap in training for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders among surgeons.

Despite the low provision of SEE, 100% of trainees found formal ergonomics education valuable, indicating a strong interest and perceived need for structured training to improve surgical practices and reduce injury risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Current State of Surgical Ergonomics Education in U.S. Surgical Training: A Survey Study. Epstein, S., Tran, BN., Capone, AC., et al.[2020]

A review of surgical ergonomics highlighted the need for better education and awareness among surgeons to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which are common in the profession.

Pictorial ergonomic recommendations were developed for open, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted surgeries, providing practical guidelines that can help improve surgical practices and reduce ergonomic risks in the operating room.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimizing ergonomics during open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery: A review of surgical ergonomics literature and development of educational illustrations. Tetteh, E., Wang, T., Kim, JY., et al.[2023]

Nursing students who received an educational package on ergonomic and behavioral training reported higher satisfaction with their education compared to those who did not receive the training.

Students in the experimental group demonstrated better awareness and ability to analyze their work environment, leading to improved physical positioning and reduced strain during practical tasks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ergonomic education for nursing students. Hellsing, AL., Linton, SJ., Andershed, B., et al.[2019]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ergonomics and training. [2019]

2. Spain pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Ergonomics in laparoscopic surgery and its importance in surgical training]. [2017]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Human factors/ergonomics work system analysis of patient work: state of the science and future directions. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Incorporating Surgical Ergonomics Education into Surgical Residency Curriculum. [2021]

5. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The application of ergonomics in the work environment of general surgeons. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Current State of Surgical Ergonomics Education in U.S. Surgical Training: A Survey Study. [2020]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimizing ergonomics during open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery: A review of surgical ergonomics literature and development of educational illustrations. [2023]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ergonomic education for nursing students. [2019]