The Need for Ergonomics Training in Interventional Pulmonary Fellowship

The study of ergonomics and its relation to medicine has gained importance over the past decade in various medical and surgical specialties. Ergonomics is defined as the study of the interaction and efficiency between a person and their workplace (1). With the increase in technological advances in medicine, including the more frequent use of robotics and growing need for procedures, it is more important now than ever to emphasize ergonomics in the medical workplace (1, 2). Although the ergonomic relationship between procedures in surgical specialties and gastroenterology have been explored, there is a paucity of data outlining ways to improve ergonomics in bronchoscopy (3–6). The need for ergonomic advancement in bronchoscopy has been defined before. In 2011, an online survey was sent to pulmonologists regarding pain during bronchoscopy, with 39% of respondents experiencing pain (7). In 2012, an editorial was published identifying either the need for improved bronchoscope design or further efforts toward an improved work environment for pulmonologists performing bronchoscopy (8). Finally, in 2013, another survey was distributed to members of the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, which revealed that musculoskeletal pain was present in 51% of respondents, of which 49% were interventional pulmonary (IP) trained (9). Despite these findings, further research in the education of bronchoscopy ergonomics is lacking. Here, we present the results from a survey of IP fellows and program directors (PDs) to assess the need for ergonomics education early in bronchoscopy training. © 2024 by the American Thoracic Society.