Ergonomic Risk Factors Among Eye Care specialists- A Study of Community Outreach Health Camps of Assam

Abstract

Healthcare professionals are likely to face debilitating musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) when screening their patients for any health-related abnormalities. This holds for most of the community outreach eye camps of rural Assam. Field studies at 17 health camps provided insights into the present scenario of eye care services and potential risk factors associated with specific routine procedures. A rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) worksheet, along with a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), was used for the study. Perceived discomfort level and occurrence after a health camp were measured using Borg's and Likert scales, respectively. Stick diagrams of postures adopted by the specialists during eye screening were prepared for RULA analysis. 170 observations corresponding to each screening procedure at the eye camps was used in the analysis. Objective refraction followed by indirect ophthalmoscopy, subjective refraction, and slit-lamp examination reported mean RULA scores of 6.87, 6, 5.77, and 5.09, respectively. The perceived discomfort level of the eye care experts ranged from 2 to 6.47, with knees being the least rated region and lower back the most. Job-related risk factors like performing the same task repeatedly, working for an extended period, awkward postures, insufficient breaks were reported by the respondents as contributors to musculoskeletal disorders while performing the routine procedures at the campsites. The study's findings contribute to understanding the physical discomforts that the eye care specialists face in the community outreach health camps. A high rate of musculoskeletal abnormalities was observed during the analysis that accounts for immediate ergonomic intervention.