Occupational health issues experienced by UK embryologists: informing improvements in clinical reproductive science practice. (8th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Priddle, Helen; Pickup, Sarah; Hayes, Catherine
• Is Part Of: Human fertility. Volume 25:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 608
• Page End: 617
• Publication Date: 2022-08-08
• Subjects: Healthcare science -- occupational health -- embryologists -- reproductive scientists -- workplace stress -- musculoskeletal disorders.; Fertility, Human -- Periodicals; Infertility -- Periodicals; 616.692
• DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2021.1871782
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-7273

Abstract

Abstract: A consultation exercise was undertaken with UK embryologists to construct knowledge of the occupational health issues they experience in everyday practice. Data were obtained from 223 eligible survey responses. Work-related ill health was self-reported by 58.3% of respondents, 76.2% of whom reported multiple issues. The most frequently disclosed ill-health conditions were musculoskeletal disorders (45.3%) and stress and mental health problems (27.8%). Other issues with an incidence above 3% were ocular and auditory problems and needlestick and liquid nitrogen injuries. Shoulder injury or pain correspondingly increased in incidence with length of time in service. Absence from work and/or light duties were necessitated for 34.5% of those affected. Assessment of the evidence base for these work-related ill-health conditions explored contributory and ameliorating factors, which enabled a series of evidence-based recommendations to be formulated via the adoption of a GRADE-based framework.