Literature review and discussion of collected experimental data

Neck Pain in Pharmacists

The work of Plagakis (2010) reports that his time spent working as a pharmacist had ultimately resulted in his neck being bent downward. He reports that he experienced extreme pain in 2009 beginning with discomfort across his shoulders and neck. Plagakis reports that he had to enter physical therapy to combat the pain and bent posture. The study reported by Markotic-Bogavcic (2012) reports the study objective of establishing the effect of working at personal computers on vision and neck pain in pharmacists. The cross-sectional study examined vision and subjective disturbances at work in 50 pharmacists with the average age being 41.8 years of age that used PCs at work for 40 hours per week. The report states "Pharmacists work mostly in the standing position…Excessive lacrimation and neck-pain during work" was found to be pronounced in pharmacists.

The study results are stated to support "the recommendations set by the Ordinance on Safety and Health Protection when Working with Personal Computers (1), that employer should make sure that work with screen interchanges regularly with other activities in order to diminish vision load at work. This also refers to the work of pharmacists because their activities involve continuous interchanges between serving customers, looking at PC screen, and issuing medicines. In addition, the pharmacists should take at least 5-minute breaks every hour and take relaxation exercises to diminish the strain for the spine." (p.1)

The work of Alemohammad (2012) reports a study that examined musculoskeletal disorders in female dentists and pharmacists. The cross-sectional study was conducted using the Musculoskeletal Nordic Questionnaire among 211 female general pharmacists who were at least one year in clinical practice and selected using the random sampling method. The study excluded those with a history or traumatic event causing fracture in the spinal column or extremities and connective tissue diseases. Data were analyzed by uivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The study reports " 87.7% of the female pharmacists reported having at least one musculoskeletal symptom in the previous 12 months. 12-month period prevalence symptoms of neck (OR=3.17), upper back (OR=2.19) and upper extremity (OR=1.99)." (p.1)

Medscape Today reports in the work entitled "One Pharmacist's Battle with Work-Related Injuries" as follows:

"Mae Jackson's list of work-related injuries would make a quarterback wince. Years of twisting the caps off medication and prescription bottles, stretching her 5' 1" frame to reach high shelves, cradling a phone on her shoulder while entering data into a computer, and standing all day on a concrete floor without padding has contributed to her carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), de Quervain's disease, and thoracic outlet syndrome. Yet, just like a star football player clinging to hopes of glory, Jackson cannot bring herself to leave the profession she loves." (English, 2001, p.1)

According to English "Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker. This ideal has not been achieved during Jackson's career. Pick almost any area of the body and Jackson can tell you where it hurts. Jackson blames the pains in her shoulders, back, neck, wrists, legs, and feet on improper ergonomics." (2001, p.1) Additionally reported is that the counters and shelves "high above head level" have resulted in Jackson having hunched shoulders, which "became her natural position out of habit." (English, 2001, p.1) Jackson reports "My shoulders were up by my ears because I was trying to get my arms up to do the job." (English, 2001, p.1) An occupational therapist at Beaufort Physical Therapy in Beaufort North Caroline is reported to have developed a "rigorous rehabilitation regime for Jackson. It is reported that Jackson

"For CTS…does splinting, tendon glides, and nerve glides. Cross-friction massage, iontopheresis (using electricity/polarity to drive a charged pharmaceutical agent into the skin), and splinting are used for the de Quervain's disease -- a painful disorder that affects the tendons at the base of the thumb. And, to address thoracic outlet syndrome, trigger point therapy and ischemic compression with stretch and spray (after compression, the muscle is stretched and sprayed with Fluori-Methane, which deactivates the trigger point) are used. Farrell also recommends modifying positions while performing specific tasks in the pharmacy." (English, 2001, p.1)

English reports that the OSHA standard was designed to provide protection to employee's health and to bring about a reduction in the costs of health care associated with treatment of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which affect approximately 1.8 million workers in the United States every year. Employers are required by these standards to provide current and new employees with information on the symptoms and signs of MSDs and to implement a program, where there are work-related injuries that include management leadership and participation of employees, MSD management, training and job hazard analysis, reduction and control. Also required was identification of potential triggers of MSDs including such as "repetition, forceful exertions, awkward postures, and contact stress -- all features of pharmacy practice -- was also required." (English, 2001, p.1) However, English reports that the compliance price of approximately $4.5 billion a year for employers is that which was "the standard's undoing." (2001, p.1) These standards were ultimately repealed. (English, 2001, p.1)

Discussion