Musculoskeletal discomfort in New Zealand (non-clinical) veterinarians

摘要

Whilst musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) is common in society, previous studies of MSD in veterinarians are sparse and limited in scope and size but suggest a moderate to high prevalence of those involved in clinical practice. However the prevalence of MSD amongst “non clinical” (regulatory, university/ research, pathology and “other”) veterinarians is unknown. We therefore investigated the prevalence of self-reported MSD in a cross-section of 155 non-clinical veterinarians as part of a larger study of 867 registered New Zealand veterinarians (41% of the total population of registered veterinarians in New Zealand) using an online approach based on a modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. The questionnaire also enquired if MSD affected normal activities and absence from work. The prevalence of MSD symptoms in non-clinical vets was 93% (95% CI 94-97%). The neck (59%, 95% CI 60-66%) and the lower back (59%, 95% CI 51-67%) were the most commonly affected body sites. It is concluded that the prevalence of MSD amongst non-clinical veterinarians in NZ is very high.