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The ill surgeon: a review of common work-related health problems amongst UK surgeons.
- Source :
- Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery; Dec2014, Vol. 399 Issue 8, p967-979, 13p
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Introduction: Health-care workers are subjected to various occupational hazards within the National Health Service (NHS). Surgeons are not excluded from this group due to the nature of work carried out on a daily basis. As a result, we set out to investigate the common work-related health issues a surgeon practising in the UK may encounter. Method: A literature search conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE® and Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC) revealed 66 literature papers between the years 1990 and 2013. Thirty-seven were excluded from our review process for various reasons. Results: Surgeons in the UK are likely to be susceptible to stress, sharp injuries, burnout and psychiatric morbidities, substance abuse and musculoskeletal pain. Noise-induced hearing loss has been reported amongst orthopaedic surgeons due to the use of electric and air-powered drills and saws. No reports of skin-related illness, respiratory illness, nosocomial infections or malignancies were found within the published UK literature of our targeted group although they have been noted in other specialties. Conclusion: These occupational hazards pose a huge risk to the NHS and the personal well-being of its surgeons. As such, the importance of early awareness and education alongside prompt intervention is duly emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- OCCUPATIONAL diseases
SURGEONS
OCCUPATIONAL hazards
WORK-related injuries
DISEASES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14352443
- Volume :
- 399
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 99455774
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-014-1233-3