Study: Pain degrades surgical team performance, increases burnout

Editor's Note

Pain is common among surgeons, but new research in the American Journal of Surgery reveals the extent of the impact on the rest of the surgical team.

Published July 6, the research involved surveying surgical teams and collecting self-reported data on musculoskeletal pain, comparing this data to self-reported performance measures and burnout. Of the 488 participants, 62% reported musculoskeletal pain related to surgery; 31% reported pain related to computer work; and 42% reported burnout. Work-related pain and burnout were correlated across most roles (r=0.14-0.42). The intensity of pain was associated with increasing numbers of subjective performance impairments (p < 0.001).

Although the survey covered the entirety of the surgical team, scrub nurses reported more pain, burnout, and performance impacts than other team members, researchers write. “Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate work-related pain and improve the well-being of surgical teams.”