(Poster 85) Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Surgical Professionals

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the operating room at a major tertiary care hospital. We also aimed to identify sex- and gender-related factors contributing to MSDs, as the role of gendered experiences in the OR remains underexplored.

Methods: A cross-sectional written survey was conducted that assessed MSD symptoms among OR personnel in A major tertiary care hospital. Surgical nurses and surgeons with at least one year of OR experience were invited to participate via email and QR-code invitations. The REDCap-hosted survey collected demographic and professional data, psychosocial factors, MSD symptoms (adapted from the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire), and gender role information.

Results: A total of 105 participants responded the survey. There were 19 males, 84 females, and two people who preferred not to answer which sex they were assigned at birth. When we asked which gender they identified with, we found that there were 15 people that identified as cis men, 80 people identified as cis women, two people identified as non-binary, and eight people did not answer. Demographic characteristics are described in Table 1. Among respondents, the prevalence of pain experienced in the past 12 months across various body regions is summarized in Table 2. Females had a higher prevalence of pain in their right shoulder and elbow compared to males (53.6% vs. 26.3%, p=0.04). Females reported higher housekeeping (p= 0.03) and childcare responsibilities (p= 0.03) and higher emotional labor (p < 0.0001). Female surgical staff also experienced more belittling comments (p= 0.03), greater denial of opportunities (p= 0.0003), and lower perceived surgical autonomy (p= 0.010).

Conclusions: Females experienced more pain in their right elbow/shoulder compared to males. This survey uncovered important discrepancies in psychosocial factors and workplace culture. These findings highlight the need for further exploration to improve the surgical field for women and gender-diverse surgeons.