Evaluation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among sonographers in general hospitals in Guangdong province, China.

Introduction. Research on the prevalence of and potential risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among sonographers in China is scarce. More evidence is required to mitigate WMSDs among sonographers in Guangdong province, China. Objective. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of and potential associated factors for WMSDs among sonographers in general hospitals in Guangdong province, China. Methods. A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to sonographers from 14 general hospitals selected by convenience sampling in Guangdong province. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze associations between potential factors and WMSDs in the most affected body areas. Results. In this study, 249 sonographers completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 75.5%. The 12-month period prevalence of WMSDs was 95.2%, and the four most affected regions were the right shoulder (81.1%) followed by the neck (74.7%), right wrist/hand (59.4%) and lower back (57.0%). Among symptomatic sonographers, 31.2% were absent from work. Gender, years of experience, number of patients per day, shift type and lumbar support were associated with WMSDs in the most affected regions. Conclusion. Lower workload, more regular rest breaks and good ergonomics of working conditions are encouraged to alleviate WMSDs among sonographers in Guangdong province.