Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care
Abstract Background There is limited literature that explores the experiences of osteopaths injured while engaging in clinical practice. Evidence from other similar health professions has described the numerous effects of work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WRMI). Work-related musculoskeletal inj...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2017-10-01
|
Series: | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-017-0158-7 |
id |
doaj-6061b7aa4b9b4d7eba28401e6cdb66f1 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-6061b7aa4b9b4d7eba28401e6cdb66f12020-11-25T02:43:29ZengBMCChiropractic & Manual Therapies2045-709X2017-10-0125111110.1186/s12998-017-0158-7Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient careGopi Anne McLeod0Katerina Annels1Jessica Cohen2Samuel Edwards3Daniel Hodgins4Brett Vaughan5School of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross UniversitySchool of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross UniversitySchool of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross UniversitySchool of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross UniversitySchool of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross UniversitySchool of Health & Human Sciences, Southern Cross UniversityAbstract Background There is limited literature that explores the experiences of osteopaths injured while engaging in clinical practice. Evidence from other similar health professions has described the numerous effects of work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WRMI). Work-related musculoskeletal injury refers to trauma to joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons resulting from injury sustained while undertaking work duties. This research aimed to gain a contextualised understanding of the experiences of osteopaths who have sustained a work-related musculoskeletal injury while performing clinical practice. Method This research used a descriptive qualitative design. Participants were recruited as part of a larger cross-sectional study. Thirteen Australian osteopaths who had sustained a work-related musculoskeletal injury consented to participate in semi-structured interviews during May and June 2016. Thematic analysis was used to elicit important themes from the interview transcripts that had been recorded and transcribed verbatim. The qualitative accounts provided by the participants were coded for the impacts of their injuries on work, home life and leisure activities. Results The participants provided detailed, contextual information about their injuries, including the contributing factors and the experience of living with a WRMI. The findings indicate that injured osteopaths often continue working because of financial commitments and their dedication to patient care. The participants offered insights into the challenges they faced due to the injury and the management strategies they used to deal with the impact on their work and personal life. The injuries were mostly unreported, the burden being carried by the participants and their families. Conclusion This is the first research that explores the experiences of osteopaths who have sustained a WRMI. We anticipate that this research will encourage a broad and constructive discussion within the profession of the issues associated with WRMIs, including risk minimisation and injury prevention. Further research is warranted to understand the relationship between osteopaths training in ergonomics and injury prevention. This would lead to the development of guidelines and educational curricula addressing safe work for osteopaths.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-017-0158-7Work-related musculoskeletal injuriesOsteopathOsteopathic medicineOsteopathy education |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Gopi Anne McLeod Katerina Annels Jessica Cohen Samuel Edwards Daniel Hodgins Brett Vaughan |
spellingShingle |
Gopi Anne McLeod Katerina Annels Jessica Cohen Samuel Edwards Daniel Hodgins Brett Vaughan Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care Chiropractic & Manual Therapies Work-related musculoskeletal injuries Osteopath Osteopathic medicine Osteopathy education |
author_facet |
Gopi Anne McLeod Katerina Annels Jessica Cohen Samuel Edwards Daniel Hodgins Brett Vaughan |
author_sort |
Gopi Anne McLeod |
title |
Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care |
title_short |
Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care |
title_full |
Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care |
title_fullStr |
Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care |
title_full_unstemmed |
Work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care |
title_sort |
work related musculoskeletal injuries sustained by australian osteopaths: qualitative analysis of effects on practitioner health, clinical practice, and patient care |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
issn |
2045-709X |
publishDate |
2017-10-01 |
description |
Abstract Background There is limited literature that explores the experiences of osteopaths injured while engaging in clinical practice. Evidence from other similar health professions has described the numerous effects of work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WRMI). Work-related musculoskeletal injury refers to trauma to joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons resulting from injury sustained while undertaking work duties. This research aimed to gain a contextualised understanding of the experiences of osteopaths who have sustained a work-related musculoskeletal injury while performing clinical practice. Method This research used a descriptive qualitative design. Participants were recruited as part of a larger cross-sectional study. Thirteen Australian osteopaths who had sustained a work-related musculoskeletal injury consented to participate in semi-structured interviews during May and June 2016. Thematic analysis was used to elicit important themes from the interview transcripts that had been recorded and transcribed verbatim. The qualitative accounts provided by the participants were coded for the impacts of their injuries on work, home life and leisure activities. Results The participants provided detailed, contextual information about their injuries, including the contributing factors and the experience of living with a WRMI. The findings indicate that injured osteopaths often continue working because of financial commitments and their dedication to patient care. The participants offered insights into the challenges they faced due to the injury and the management strategies they used to deal with the impact on their work and personal life. The injuries were mostly unreported, the burden being carried by the participants and their families. Conclusion This is the first research that explores the experiences of osteopaths who have sustained a WRMI. We anticipate that this research will encourage a broad and constructive discussion within the profession of the issues associated with WRMIs, including risk minimisation and injury prevention. Further research is warranted to understand the relationship between osteopaths training in ergonomics and injury prevention. This would lead to the development of guidelines and educational curricula addressing safe work for osteopaths. |
topic |
Work-related musculoskeletal injuries Osteopath Osteopathic medicine Osteopathy education |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-017-0158-7 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT gopiannemcleod workrelatedmusculoskeletalinjuriessustainedbyaustralianosteopathsqualitativeanalysisofeffectsonpractitionerhealthclinicalpracticeandpatientcare AT katerinaannels workrelatedmusculoskeletalinjuriessustainedbyaustralianosteopathsqualitativeanalysisofeffectsonpractitionerhealthclinicalpracticeandpatientcare AT jessicacohen workrelatedmusculoskeletalinjuriessustainedbyaustralianosteopathsqualitativeanalysisofeffectsonpractitionerhealthclinicalpracticeandpatientcare AT samueledwards workrelatedmusculoskeletalinjuriessustainedbyaustralianosteopathsqualitativeanalysisofeffectsonpractitionerhealthclinicalpracticeandpatientcare AT danielhodgins workrelatedmusculoskeletalinjuriessustainedbyaustralianosteopathsqualitativeanalysisofeffectsonpractitionerhealthclinicalpracticeandpatientcare AT brettvaughan workrelatedmusculoskeletalinjuriessustainedbyaustralianosteopathsqualitativeanalysisofeffectsonpractitionerhealthclinicalpracticeandpatientcare |
_version_ |
1724768904791719936 |