A Snapshot of the Type of Injuries, Incidence and Perceptions of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Radiation Therapists in Canada

Abstract

The surprising physical demands of a radiation therapist's day-to-day occupational duties are not often directly discussed or mentioned. The lifting of patient-positioning equipment and treatment-related equipment, as well as positioning patients on the treatment couch, are all motions that place stress upon the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. Combined with the speed that the daily clinical schedule allots for each patient, MSK injuries often appear. No data has been published to capture the incidence and types of MSK injuries that radiation therapists have experienced or been known to experience. A web-based self-administered quantitative survey was sent out nationally. Questions within the survey grouped radiation therapists based on injury status. Radiation therapists that indicated they experienced an MSK injury were asked questions pertaining to the site(s) of injury. Therapists that were not injured were asked whether or not they were afraid of being injured. Both groups were asked questions about their attitudes and perceptions towards MSK injuries. As of February 8th, 2018, 157 radiation therapists met the inclusion criteria. Approximately 63% of respondents (n=99) indicated they had experienced a MSK injury during their occupational duties. The most commonly injured areas were the shoulders (n=66), the neck (n=49) and the wrists and hands (n=46). Uninjured radiation therapists showed that they were most afraid of injuring their lower back (n=42), shoulders (n=37) and neck (n=33). There were significant differences between uninjured and injured radiation therapists and their answers towards questions related to their attitudes and perceptions of MSK injuries. MSK injuries in radiation therapy are not a trifling matter and should be examined more closely. A full data analysis of the survey results is underway and should be published within the near future.