ArticleBMC public health2026
Prevalence and predictors of musculoskeletal disorders among otolaryngologists: a cross-sectional analytic study.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundOtolaryngologists frequently work in prolonged neck positions and perform repetitive upper-limb movements, which may increase their risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Yet the prevalence and contributing factors of conditions such as lateral epicondylitis and cervical disc herniation remain insufficiently explored in this group. This study aims to determine their burden and identify associated factors among otolaryngologists.
methodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study included 129 otolaryngologists from university hospitals across Iran. Data on neck and elbow symptoms and related diagnoses were collected using a structured musculoskeletal questionnaire. Associations with demographic and occupational factors were analyzed using Chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariable regression. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
resultsAmong 129 otolaryngologists, neck pain was reported by 90.7%, elbow pain by 31.0%, cervical disc herniation by 11.6%, and lateral epicondylitis by 15.5%. After adjustment, elbow pain remained independently associated with older age and rhinology subspecialty. Lateral epicondylitis showed a borderline association with older age. It was also independently associated with the rhinology subspecialty. No independent associations were identified for neck pain, cervical disc herniation, or disability.
conclusionMusculoskeletal symptoms were common, with age ≥ 50 years and rhinology practice being independently associated with elbow pain and, rhinology practice being independently associated with lateral epicondylitis. No associations were identified for neck pain or disc herniation. Targeted ergonomic measures and further longitudinal research are needed.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.