The Impact of Intraoperative Stretching Microbreaks on Otolaryngologists

There have been numerous survey-based and observational studies reporting a high percentage of otolaryngologists suffering from work-related musculoskeletal symptoms, in which more than half attributed to poor ergonomics in the operating room. Interventions have been implemented in the past to alleviate ergonomic hazards in general surgery such as intra-operative stretch breaks. However, there has not yet been an intervention done to alleviate ergonomic hazards in otolaryngologists. Our study aims to explore the efficacy of implementing intraoperative stretch breaks and assess their effect on otolaryngologists' practices and musculoskeletal pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Postural; Strain
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Otolaryngology stretching micro-breaks (OSMB)

Detailed Description

The study subjects will be recruited voluntarily from George Washington University Hospital otolaryngology attending physicians, residents, and fellows, as well as Children's otolaryngology faculties. Pre-survey will be sent prior to the intervention to obtain background information and baseline ergonomic assessment conducted by physical therapy students. Interventions will include intra-operative stretch breaks that will be implemented by surgeons at their convenient time during the surgery. Post-survey will be sent out to obtain the subjects' experiences after each intervention.

Each survey will be sent via email using a secured third-party vendor, RedCap. Results will be retrieved only by the research assistants listed on the institutional review board (IRB). The survey will not ask for any identifying information and will not publish identifying information. The raw data will be analyzed by the PI and research assistant for publication. The study should take less than a year for data collection and analysis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Esther Lee, BS; Phone Number: 6072204029; Email: estlee@mfa.gwu.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Philip Zapanta, MD; Phone Number: (202) 741-3250; Email: pzapanta@mfa.gwu.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • District of Columbia
    • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20037
      • Recruiting
      • Medical Faculty Associates
      • Contact: Esther Lee, BS; Phone Number: 607-220-4029; Email: estlee@mfa.gwu.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Philip Zapanta, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Otolaryngologists
• Currently practicing

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-otolarynglogists
• Currently not practicing

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention group; Cross over study so each participant will have 3 control days without intervention and 3 intervention days with stretching exercise.	Behavioral: Otolaryngology stretching micro-breaks (OSMB); Standardized microbreak stretch that is designed to perform intraoperatively within the sterile field at medically convenient 20-40 min intervals throughout each procedure.
No Intervention: Control group; Cross over study so each participant will have 3 control days without intervention and 3 intervention days with stretching exercise.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body part discomfort	Body Part Discomfort is a validated survey with 0-5 score on the neck, shoulder R/L, hand R/L, lower/upper back, knee R/L, foot R/L. 0 with no pain to 5 with high pain.	Given before each surgery during control days as a baseline
Body part discomfort	Body Part Discomfort is a validated survey with 0-5 score on the neck, shoulder R/L, hand R/L, lower/upper back, knee R/L, foot R/L. 0 with no pain to 5 with high pain.	Given before each surgery during intervention days
Body part discomfort	Body Part Discomfort is a validated survey with 0-5 score on the neck, shoulder R/L, hand R/L, lower/upper back, knee R/L, foot R/L. 0 with no pain to 5 with high pain.	Given after each surgery during control days as a baseline
Body part discomfort	Body Part Discomfort is a validated survey with 0-5 score on the neck, shoulder R/L, hand R/L, lower/upper back, knee R/L, foot R/L. 0 with no pain to 5 with high pain.	Given after each surgery during intervention days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: George Washington University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Park AE, Zahiri HR, Hallbeck MS, Augenstein V, Sutton E, Yu D, Lowndes BR, Bingener J. Intraoperative "Micro Breaks" With Targeted Stretching Enhance Surgeon Physical Function and Mental Focus: A Multicenter Cohort Study. Ann Surg. 2017 Feb;265(2):340-346. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000001665.
• Hallbeck MS, Lowndes BR, Bingener J, Abdelrahman AM, Yu D, Bartley A, Park AE. The impact of intraoperative microbreaks with exercises on surgeons: A multi-center cohort study. Appl Ergon. 2017 Apr;60:334-341. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.12.006. Epub 2016 Dec 29.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): March 16, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 10, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 19, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 19, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Sprains and Strains
• Other Study ID Numbers: ergonomics

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No