To the Editor,
The purpose of my letter is to provide additional information to strengthen the evidence already published in the September/October 2013 issue of Gastroenterology Nursing, "The Incidence of Upper Extremity Injuries in Endoscopy Nurses Working in the United States." As indicated in the published research article, in addition to studying disability of the upper extremities, the research study included work on disability of the neck and of the back. The original research design included study on these disabilities and can be found in the published article referenced previously.
The following findings were significant for neck and back disabilities in this study group.
Significant results for work activities and scores on the test for Disabilities of the Neck (Northwick Neck Pain Questionnaire) included significantly higher disability scores associated with transferring sedated patients, missing work for upper extremity symptoms, missing work for back symptoms, missing work for neck symptoms, doctor visits for upper extremity symptoms, doctor visits for back symptoms, doctor visits for neck symptoms, surgery for upper extremity symptoms, and having neck surgery for neck symptoms. Significant findings were discovered between medication-taking activities and increased disability scores. Increased disability of the neck was associated with regular (daily) use of anti-inflammatories for upper extremity symptoms, occasional use of anti-inflammatories for upper extremity symptoms (1-3 times per week), regular use of analgesics for upper extremity symptoms, occasional use of analgesics for upper extremity symptoms, regular use of anti-inflammatories for neck pain, occasional use of anti-inflammatories for neck pain, regular use of analgesics for neck symptoms, occasional use of analgesics for neck pain, rare use of analgesics for neck pain, regular use of anti-inflammatories for back pain, regular use of analgesics for back pain, occasional use of analgesics for back pain, the use of herbal preparations for upper extremity symptoms, the use of herbal preparations for neck symptoms, and use of herbal preparations for back symptoms.
Lower neck disability scores were associated with the use of disposable turning and lifting devices, when ergonomic assessments were available, and if physiotherapy assessments were available.
Significant results for work activities and scores on the test for Disabilities of the Back (Oswestry Disability Index) included significantly higher disability scores associated with moving heavy equipment, missing work for upper extremity symptoms, missing work for back symptoms, missing work for neck symptoms, doctor visits for upper extremity symptoms, doctor visits for back symptoms, doctor visits for neck symptoms, surgery for upper extremity symptoms, and having surgery for neck symptoms. Regarding the medication-taking habits and disability scores for the back, increased disability was associated with regular (daily) use of anti-inflammatories for upper extremity symptoms, occasional use of anti-inflammatories for upper extremity symptoms (1-3 times per week), regular use of anti-inflammatories for neck pain, occasional use of anti-inflammatories for neck pain, regular use of anti-inflammatories for back pain, occasional use of anti-inflammatories for back pain, regular use of analgesics for upper extremity symptoms, rare use of analgesics for upper extremity symptoms, regular use of analgesics for neck symptoms, occasional use of analgesics for neck pain, rare use of analgesics for neck pain, regular use of analgesics for back pain, occasional use of analgesics for back pain, rare use of analgesics for back pain, the use of herbal preparations for upper extremity symptoms, the use of herbal preparations for neck symptoms, and use of herbal preparations for back symptoms. Lower disability scores were associated with the use of disposable turning and lifting devices, when ergonomic assessments were available, and if physiotherapy assessments were available.
The author may be contacted for tables and results of detailed data computation for these findings by e-mail: mailto:[email protected]. Thank you for your attention to this work, which was inspired by membership in SGNA and which may impact the way work is done in gastroenterology in the future.
Susan A. Drysdale, RN, BA, CGRN, CGN(C)
Medical Adjudicator Specializing in Gastroenterology
Service Canada
Canada Pension Plan Disability Unit
Past President Canadian Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Manitoba Chapter
Secretary and Education Chair Canadian Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Manitoba Chapter