Integrating Ergonomics Education into Surgical Training: A Quality Improvement Study on Knowledge, Practices, and Perceived Barriers

OBJECTIVE: A career in surgery is physically demanding and often leads to musculoskeletal (MSK) discomfort and disease. Optimization of ergonomics in the operating room (OR) can mitigate these risks, but there is a lack of formal education on the matter in surgical training. This Quality Improvement initiative aimed to identify baseline practices and knowledge of ergonomics amongst a cohort of surgical residents and provide targeted education to prevent work-related MSK injuries. DESIGN: In this quality improvement study (QI), a pre-education survey gathered demographic information, presence of physical symptoms, and prior knowledge and implementation of ergonomic principles. Participants then received a 30-minute didactic lecture on ergonomics in the OR. A posteducation survey evaluated the lecture's impact on ergonomic knowledge, intention to incorporate learnings into practice, and barriers to implementation. SETTING: This study was conducted at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in London, ON, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: All surgical residents at our institution were invited to participate. Seventy-seven residents attended ergonomics teaching, with 56 and 27 responding to pre- and posteducation surveys respectively. RESULTS: The pre-education surveys revealed that most residents experienced negative physical symptoms attributed to surgical training, had limited knowledge of operative ergonomic principles, and were hesitant to make adjustments in the OR. Posteducation surveys indicated improved awareness of MSK injury risks and prevention methods. Despite awareness, barriers such as hierarchical dynamics and discomfort speaking up in the OR persisted. While the sessions were deemed practical and valuable, only about half of respondents anticipated implementing changes into their daily practice. CONCLUSION: This work emphasizes the importance of integrating ergonomics education into surgical training to enhance resident well-being and mitigate workplace injuries. Effective communication and collaboration among surgical teams are crucial for promoting ergonomic practices.