Ergonomics Education for Musculoskeletal Pain

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Jennifer Lanz, MSN

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Florida

Disqualifiers: Consent not signed, Filming inappropriate

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

30 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment for musculoskeletal pain?

Research suggests that applying ergonomics (the study of people's efficiency in their working environment) in surgical settings can improve safety and efficiency, which may help reduce musculoskeletal pain by improving posture and reducing physical strain during surgery. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is ergonomics education for musculoskeletal pain safe for humans?

The research articles provided focus on adverse events related to surgical procedures and do not directly address the safety of ergonomics education for musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, there is no relevant safety information available for this treatment from the provided studies. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the treatment 'Education presentation of surgical ergonomics' differ from other treatments for musculoskeletal pain?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on educating individuals about surgical ergonomics, which involves teaching proper body mechanics and posture to prevent musculoskeletal pain, rather than using medication or physical therapy. It aims to address the root cause of pain by promoting awareness and prevention through education, which is not commonly emphasized in standard treatments for musculoskeletal pain. ^{3 11 12 13 14}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The study is working to identify actions of surgeons in the operating room that can contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This includes poor positioning and time spent in poor positioning while working in the operating room. The study is also looking to determine if fatigue plays a role in work-related musculoskeletal disorders and whether an education intervention will change ergonomic risk.

Research Team

Philip Efron, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Florida

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for surgeons experiencing work-related musculoskeletal pain or disorders. It aims to understand how their actions and positions in the operating room contribute to these issues.

Inclusion Criteria

I had surgery in the emergency surgery room by an acute care surgeon.

Exclusion Criteria

My surgery is not suitable for video recording as per my surgeon's assessment.

Any operative case in which the surgical attending or resident has not signed informed consent to record this individual during the case

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-Intervention Assessment

Participants perform their normal operative work for 5 cases while being filmed to collect baseline ergonomic risk data

5 surgical cases

5 visits (in-person)

Education Intervention

Participants view an educational presentation on surgical ergonomics and review data from ergonomic measurements

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Post-Intervention Assessment

Participants perform 5 additional surgical cases to identify changes in ergonomic risk

5 surgical cases

5 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in ergonomic risk and musculoskeletal health over time

1 year

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Education presentation of surgical ergonomics
• Summary of Ergonomic Measurement System

Trial Overview The study measures surgeon's movements and postures using an ergonomic measurement system, then provides education on surgical ergonomics to see if it reduces ergonomic risk factors.

Participant Groups

Group I: Acute Care Surgery Attending and Resident Surgeons Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will be asked to perform their normal operative work for 5 cases while being filmed. Data will be collected using the SoterTask™ software which calculates momentary data on risk and an aggregate risk level. Two standard ergonomic risk assessments: Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) or the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) are also calculated. Both assessments are current best practice standard for determining the level of ergonomic risk. The RULA and REBA data calculated by SoterTask will be compared to scores assessed by the research team from the same video recordings of the work tasks. Following the fifth operative case, participants will view an educational presentation of surgical ergonomics and review the data summarized from the ergonomic measurement system with video of their movement with a visual guideline highlighting high-risk angles and movements including legs, arms, neck and back.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

In a 10-week study involving 164 patients undergoing elective orthopedic procedures, independent clinical reviewers identified significantly more adverse events (99) compared to surgeons (14), highlighting a gap in surgeons' reporting practices.

While surgeons effectively captured major adverse events, they missed many minor events that were documented by reviewers, suggesting that using standardized assessment tools like SAVES V2 and OrthoSAVES could enhance overall adverse-event reporting in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can Surgeons Adequately Capture Adverse Events Using the Spinal Adverse Events Severity System (SAVES) and OrthoSAVES? Chen, BP., Garland, K., Roffey, DM., et al.[2018]

In a study analyzing 6,029 patient claims after orthopedic surgery in Sweden, 55% were identified as adverse events, with hospital-acquired infections and sepsis being the most common, accounting for 22% of these events.

Spinal surgeries, particularly decompression of the spinal cord and nerve roots, had the highest rate of adverse events, with 21.4% of affected patients experiencing serious disability or death, highlighting the significant risks associated with these procedures.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What can we learn from patient claims? - A retrospective analysis of incidence and patterns of adverse events after orthopaedic procedures in Sweden. Ohrn, A., Elfström, J., Tropp, H., et al.[2021]

References

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

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

2. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

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

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

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'Ergopaedics': the future of ergonomics in orthopaedics. [2021]

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

Artificial intelligence based real-time video ergonomic assessment and training improves resident ergonomics. [2023]

6. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Representative case series from public hospital admissions 1998 II: surgical adverse events. [2006]

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

Morbidity and mortality of major adult spinal surgery. A prospective cohort analysis of 942 consecutive patients. [2022]

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

Can Surgeons Adequately Capture Adverse Events Using the Spinal Adverse Events Severity System (SAVES) and OrthoSAVES? [2018]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Towards standardized measurement of adverse events in spine surgery: conceptual model and pilot evaluation. [2022]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What can we learn from patient claims? - A retrospective analysis of incidence and patterns of adverse events after orthopaedic procedures in Sweden. [2021]

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

Evaluating the Current State of Ergonomics Education Offered to Students in US Medical Students. [2023]

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

Assessment of ergonomic education in dental hygiene curricula. [2017]

13. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ergonomics for children: an educational program for elementary school. [2017]

14. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ergonomics for children: an educational program for elementary school. [2022]