The Impact of Intraoperative Stretching Microbreaks on Otolaryngologists

George Washington University (GW)

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Postural; Strain

Treatments: Behavioral: Otolaryngology stretching micro-breaks (OSMB)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04806308

ergonomics

Details and patient eligibility

About

There have been numerous survey-based and observational studies reporting a high percentage of otolaryngologists suffering from work-related musculoskeletal symptoms, in which more than half attributed to poor ergonomics in the operating room. Interventions have been implemented in the past to alleviate ergonomic hazards in general surgery such as intra-operative stretch breaks. However, there has not yet been an intervention done to alleviate ergonomic hazards in otolaryngologists. Our study aims to explore the efficacy of implementing intraoperative stretch breaks and assess their effect on otolaryngologists' practices and musculoskeletal pain.

Full description

The study subjects will be recruited voluntarily from George Washington University Hospital otolaryngology attending physicians, residents, and fellows, as well as Children's otolaryngology faculties. Pre-survey will be sent prior to the intervention to obtain background information and baseline ergonomic assessment conducted by physical therapy students. Interventions will include intra-operative stretch breaks that will be implemented by surgeons at their convenient time during the surgery. Post-survey will be sent out to obtain the subjects' experiences after each intervention.

Each survey will be sent via email using a secured third-party vendor, RedCap. Results will be retrieved only by the research assistants listed on the institutional review board (IRB). The survey will not ask for any identifying information and will not publish identifying information. The raw data will be analyzed by the PI and research assistant for publication. The study should take less than a year for data collection and analysis.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 100 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Otolaryngologists
• Currently practicing

Exclusion criteria

• Non-otolarynglogists
• Currently not practicing

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

Cross over study so each participant will have 3 control days without intervention and 3 intervention days with stretching exercise.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Otolaryngology stretching micro-breaks (OSMB)

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Cross over study so each participant will have 3 control days without intervention and 3 intervention days with stretching exercise.