The impact of work-related pain on surgical team members' burnout and personal and professional performance.

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal disorders and pain are common among surgeons, but literature is limited on the broader surgical team, particularly in relation to how work-related pain impacts burnout and subjective performance impairment.

METHODS

We surveyed surgical teams and collected self-reported data on musculoskeletal pain (intraoperative and related to computer use), burnout, and subjective measures of personal and professional performance. We assessed the relationships between pain and burnout and pain and subjective performance impairment.

RESULTS

Overall, 62 ​% of the 488 participants reported musculoskeletal pain from surgery and 31 ​% from computer work. 42 ​% reported burnout. Work-related pain and burnout were correlated across most roles (r ​= ​0.14-0.42). The intensity of pain was associated with increasing numbers of subjective performance impairments (p ​< ​0.001).

CONCLUSION

Work-related pain is prevalent among surgical team members and strongly associated with burnout and performance impairments. Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate work-related pain and improve the well-being of surgical teams.