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Investigation of Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Ohio Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians

Seagren, Kelly Elizabeth

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Introduction: Prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) and MSD risk factors have been extensively researched in a wide variety of human healthcare professions including nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, and surgeons. Even though many of the tasks performed are similar in the field of veterinary medicine, research investigating musculoskeletal discomfort in veterinarians, including prevalence and risk factors, has been limited; with even less research looking into these issues in veterinary technicians. Methods: In Phase 1, an electronic survey was conducted to capture work history, musculoskeletal health/discomfort, psychosocial factors, and demographic information of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, registered in the state of Ohio and working for the past 12-months. In total, 53 veterinarians and 31 veterinary technicians participated in the survey. In Phase 2, observations were made of nine veterinarians and six veterinary technicians performing their daily work tasks and postural assessments were made using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Results: Participants responded from all areas of Ohio, with 51.2% from Central Ohio, and across four main practice types, with 79.7% from small animal practices. The 12-month prevalence for MSD was 98% for veterinarians and 96.8% for veterinary technicians across seven body regions. For veterinarians, the body regions with the highest prevalence of MSD symptoms were the lower back (84.9%), neck (66%), legs/feet (47.2%) and upper back (45.3%). Those same regions of the body also had the highest prevalence of MSD symptoms in participating veterinary technicians: lower back (90%), neck (58.1%), legs/feet (61.3%) and upper back (58.1%). Burnout scores (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory) were overall higher than average for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians, with personal burnout and work-related burnout being statistically higher for veterinary technicians when compared to the scores for the veterinarians. With regards to work postures, 55.6% of observed veterinarian tasks received REBA scores between 4 and 7, indicating medium risk. Veterinary technicians had a wider diversity of REBA scores, with highest percentage, 36.7%, of scores between 8 and 10, indicating high risk. Overall, neck/trunk/leg posture scores were higher for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians when compared with arm/wrist posture scores, with frequent high-risk postures including standing + bending (>20o trunk flexion), kneeling, and squatting. Conclusions: The current study found high prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort among veterinarians and veterinary technicians, with low percentages of reported lost time. This demonstrates that many of these individuals may be working in pain, even though large percentages of study participants reported that work tasks make their musculoskeletal discomfort worse. As has occurred with human healthcare professions, further investigation into ergonomic interventions will be necessary to improve veterinary medicine work through implementation of equipment and process changes that will reduce musculoskeletal stress on the body and improve working conditions overall.
Carolyn Sommerich (Advisor)
Steven Lavender (Committee Member)
156 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Seagren, K. E. (2018). Investigation of Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Ohio Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1534524177634121

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Seagren, Kelly. Investigation of Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Ohio Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians. 2018. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1534524177634121.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Seagren, Kelly. "Investigation of Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Ohio Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1534524177634121

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)