P-227 Prevalence and Impact of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Surgeons After the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction COVID-19 severely disrupted healthcare systems. Surgeons are dealing with prolonged waiting-lists, leading them to work longer hours under high stress. We aimed to describe the physical and psychosocial demands on surgeons in the UK, their experience of musculoskeletal pain and their impacts in the post-Covid era. Methods UK surgeons were surveyed about body pain and work-related factors. Specifically, they answered questions about weekly occupational activities, job dissatisfaction, work-life balance, access to favourable working conditions, provision for physical comfort at work, and their mental wellbeing. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed across eight bodily sites. Poisson regression modelling with robust confidence intervals was used to explore relationships between work-related factors and musculoskeletal pain. Results Surgeons (N=242) reported high engagement with strenuous occupational activities and an imbalance between work and their private life, while 1 in 6 reported being dissatisfied with their job. The one-month prevalence of musculoskeletal pain ranged from 46% at the lower back, to 12% at the ankle, while only 17% reported no pain. Better work-life balance had a protective effect against pain (PRR=0.92, 95% CI=0.85-0.99), while risk of pain increased with number of physically demanding activities at work (PRR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01-1.07) in the age- and sex-adjusted models. Discussion This study demonstrated high physical and mental demands in surgeons in the post-Covid era. Pain prevalence rates exceeded those seen in other occupations, and related physical and emotional links were identified. Conclusion Fit surgeons ensure optimal patient care. Our findings suggest that they face health issues and work-life conflict, potentially limiting their longevity and career span.