P2728 - Prevalence and Predictors of Musculoskeletal Disorders Amongst Nurses and Technicians Assisting in ERCP

Award: Presidential Poster Award

Award: Presidential Poster Award

Chimezie Mbachi, MD¹, Priya Jamidar, MD¹, Thiruvengadam Muniraj, MD, PhD, MRCP², James Farrell, MD, Prof¹, Earl Campbell, MD¹, Harry Aslanian, MD^1
1Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT; ²Yale New Haven Health System-Yale Center for Pancreatitis, New Haven, CT

Introduction: Background: Nurses and technicians are an essential part of the ERCP team and are vital to a successful procedure. Musculoskeletal disorders are increasingly recognized as common among ERCP endoscopists, however, there is limited data regarding nurses and techs.
Aims: To assess the prevalence and predictors of musculoskeletal disorders amongst nurses and technicians assisting in ERCP

Methods: An online survey that assessed demographics, ERCP experience, practice patterns, and volumes along with the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries was presented to nurses and techs who participate in ERCP procedures. Participation was solicited via emails sent to 58 advanced endoscopy program directors inviting the participation of their nursing staff. Depending on cell size, we used the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test to compare categorical variables. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess for predictors of musculoskeletal injuries.

Results: A total of 149 respondents completed the questionnaire. 86.5% were female and 73.2% were nurses. 47.6% of participants had been performing ERCP for >5 yrs. Amongst the respondents, 72.6% reported at least 1 musculoskeletal symptom of which 61.49% attributed the symptom to performing ERCPs. The most common symptoms were low back pain 66%, heel pain 38%, hand pain 37 %, and shoulder pain 34 %. In addition, 36% of respondents reported having been diagnosed with a musculoskeletal injury, with 20.8% attributing injury to performing ERCP and 20.9% experiencing symptoms only during ERCPs. The most common diagnoses were carpal tunnel syndrome (38%) and lumbar radiculopathy (20.4%). The two most common actions associated with injury were wearing a lead and transferring the patient to/from the fluoroscopy table (58% of respondents), with contrast injection and wire manipulation (25%). Significant predictors of injuries include: Performing ERCP between 6-10 yrs 0R 4.06 (1.67-9.87) and performing >500 ERCPs in a yr OR 8.05 (2.08-35.1).

Discussion: The majority of ERCP nurses and techs experienced a perceived ERCP-related musculoskeletal symptom. Performance of ERCP procedures for 6-10 years and >500 ERCPs were associated with increased prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries amongst ERCP nurses and techs. Wearing lead and patient transfer were activities most associated with injury. Efforts to minimize injuries such as improved ergonomics and education, lifting help, and lighter lead require further assessment.



Disclosures:


Chimezie Mbachi, MD¹, Priya Jamidar, MD¹, Thiruvengadam Muniraj, MD, PhD, MRCP², James Farrell, MD, Prof¹, Earl Campbell, MD¹, Harry Aslanian, MD¹. P2728 - Prevalence and Predictors of Musculoskeletal Disorders Amongst Nurses and Technicians Assisting in ERCP, ACG 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Las Vegas, Nevada: American College of Gastroenterology.