Collaborating With Sonographers and Vascular Technologists to Develop Ergonomics Interventions to Address Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sommerich, Carolyn M.; Evans, Kevin D.; Lavender, Steven A.; Sanders, Elizabeth; Joines, Sharon; Lamar, Sabrina; Radin Umar, Radin Zaid; Yen, Wei-Ting; Park, SangHyun
• Is Part Of: Journal of diagnostic medical sonography. Volume 35:Number 1(2019:Feb.)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 37
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Sonography -- engineering controls -- musculoskeletal injury -- ultrasound -- co-design; Diagnostic ultrasonic imaging -- Periodicals; Ultrasonic imaging -- Periodicals; Échographie -- Périodiques; Échographie; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.07543
• DOI: 10.1177/8756479318810710
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8756-4793

Abstract

For more than two decades, surveys of imaging technologists have consistently reported high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal discomfort (WRMSD). Yet, workplace intervention research involving sonographers is limited. In this study, a transdisciplinary team of researchers used a participatory approach to work with diagnostic medical sonographers (DMS) and vascular technologists (VT) to identify needs and opportunities for developing new approaches to work that will reduce sonographers' exposures to WRMSD risk factors. In this paper, we describe the approach and the resulting identified needs. We also describe the prototyping and testing of two work approaches that target specific needs of DMS and VT, respectively. We would like designers, manufacturers, engineers, and ergonomists, in collaboration with sonographers and their managers, to recognize this area of opportunity and come together to apply their knowledge of biomechanics and design in developing useful and usable workplace interventions (solutions) to reduce sonographers' WRMSD risk factor exposure.