Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Physicians at Mortaz Hospital in Yazd, Iran (2020)

Background: Due to their difficult working conditions, physicians are prone to injuries and musculoskeletal disorders affecting different parts of the body. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among physicians at Mortaz hospital in Yazd, Iran (2020) Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on 50 physicians at Mortaz Hospital in Yazd. The Nordic questionnaire and the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) method were employed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and analyze body postures at work. Chi-square and t-test were used to determine statistically significant relationships. Results: Seventy percent of the subjects were male. The mean age of the samples was 47.3 ± 8.4 years. The point prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the lower back, neck, and knees were 52%, 30%, and 24% respectively; and the periodic prevalence of these disorders were 56%, 38%, and 34% in the back, neck, and shoulders respectively. According to the QEC results, 76% of the subjects needed further investigation and intervention in the future, and 20% were at an unacceptable risk level needing to be addressed immediately. Conclusion: Physicians are exposed to many risk factors due to the working conditions that make them prone to various musculoskeletal disorders. Hence, to reduce the risk and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, interventional measures should be taken.