Summary: SGNA Study Results

Does Manual Abdominal Pressure During Colonoscopy Put Endoscopy Staff and Patients at Risk?

Experiences of Endoscopy Nurses and Technicians

Costello, Bridget PhD, CIP; James, Tamara MA; Hall, Connie BSN, RN, CGRN, CER; Shergill, Amandeep MD, MS; Schlossberg, Nancy BSN, RN, CGRN, CER (Gastroenterology Nursing. 2023)

At a national meeting of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, 185 attendees were asked to recall injuries they had experienced themselves or injuries that they had observed in other staff or patients during colonoscopy.

Some of the results of the study include...

• Nearly 85% reported either experiencing or observing staff injury.
• Nearly 26% reported observing patient complications.
• Among respondents who perform manual repositioning and who apply manual pressure during colonoscopy, nearly 86% reported experiencing musculoskeletal disorders from performing these tasks.
• Over 81% reported no awareness of colonoscopy-specific ergonomics policies at their facility.
• Implementing safety and ergonomic protocols may reduce staff injury and the negative effects on patients.