Rationale and Objectives
We assessed the presence of musculoskeletal discomfort and evaluated the ergonomics
parameters of radiology workstations and the impact of poor radiology workstation
ergonomics on musculoskeletal discomfort in a national radiology workforce.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. All radiologist and radiology
trainee members of the Canadian Association of Radiologists were eligible to participate.
Radiology workstation ergonomics parameters and self-reported data on musculoskeletal
discomfort were recorded. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to the data
to ascertain the impact of participants’ radiology workstation ergonomics parameters
on the likelihood of experience of musculoskeletal discomfort while adjusting for
demographic variables.
Results
A total of 191 questionnaires were completed. The median (interquartile range) age
of participants was 42.0 years (17.0 years) and 56.8% of participants were female.
One hundred fifty participants (78.5%) self-reported the presence of musculoskeletal
discomfort. Ergonomics parameters most commonly implemented included having monitors
an arm's length away (82.6%) and hands being shoulder-width apart (77.1%). Binary
logistic regression revealed participants either not having the top of the monitor
screen at eye level when in a seated position or not having the wrists straight and
relatively flat when using the mouse was associated with an increased likelihood of
experience of musculoskeletal discomfort. The majority of participants (92.7%) self-reported
their musculoskeletal discomfort to affect work productivity.
Conclusion
A high proportion of musculoskeletal discomfort, limited implementation of ergonomics
parameters of radiology workstations, and an association of two of these ergonomics
parameters with an increased likelihood of experience of musculoskeletal discomfort
were observed in a national radiology workforce.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 29, 2022
Accepted:
December 3,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 27,
2022
Received:
October 15,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
