Survey: 90% of urologists experience work-related pain

90% of respondents said they have experienced work-related pain.

32% of respondents reported experiencing work-pain more than once per week in the past 12 months. Other answer choices included approximately weekly (21%), approximately monthly (18%), less than once per month (17%), and not at all (13%).

For the question, "Where has pain/discomfort been experienced?" 70% of respondents indicated their neck, while 66%, 48%, 39%, and 10% reported back, shoulders, wrists/hands, and elbows, respectively.

20% of urologists surveyed reported having been diagnosed with degenerative lumbar spine disease. Other conditions reported included degenerative cervical spine disease (17%), arthritis (15%), rotator cuff pathology (13%), carpal tunnel syndrome (8%), and acute spinal injury (4%).

Asked to what they attributed their pain/discomfort, 33% cited an awkward position in OR. Other responses included extended periods of standing (15%), equipment (eg: lead apron, loupes) (8%), lifting/moving a patient (6%), and assault/physical abuse by a patient and assault/physical abuse by a provider (both 1%).

Asked about the effect of pain/discomfort on their work, 56% said they were able to work with minor/moderate discomfort, while 29% reported being able to work with significant discomfort. Eight percent required a leave of absence (median leave of absence: 28 days), 5% were able to do work, but their ability to do surgery was affected, and 2% said their pain/discomfort led an early retirement/ended their career.

75% of urologists reported experiencing needle stick. Respondents were also asked about whether they experienced dry or cracked skin (experienced by 58%), anxiety (experienced by 50%), physical threat/abuse by a patient (experienced by 42%), eyestrain (experienced by 39%), depression (experienced by 28%), physical threat/abuse by a provider (experienced by 14%), and other physical/psychological issue (experienced by 11%; select fill-in responses included stress, PTSD, financial abuse, corruption, and academic threatening).

67% of urologists reported experiencing non-work-related pain in the past year.

77% of respondents reported that they have been physically attacked by a patient.

62% of respondents said they have been threatened by a patient.

Asked whether they had ever been physically attacked/abused by a provider, 92% of respondents said they had not.

83% of urologists reported that they had not received training in ergonomics.

Asked to rate their knowledge of surgical ergonomics, 44% chose adequate, 37% chose minimal, 9% chose extensive, and 9% chose nonexistent.

70% of respondents indicated that they would like to receive training in ergonomics.