ArticleBMC surgery2026
Mitigating occupational hazards: the impact of physical activity on surgeons' physical and mental health - a scoping review.
Article in BMC surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSurgeons work in high-pressure, high-risk environments, which can lead to physical and mental health challenges. Physical activity (PA) has known benefits for health, stress reduction, and professional performance. However, despite these benefits, research on surgeons’ engagement in PA and its impact on their well-being is limited. Promoting PA is crucial for improving both their health and professional performance, as it can help reduce burnout and enhance job satisfaction, ultimately benefiting patient care.
objectivesThis scoping review aims to (1) map the existing literature on PA interventions or observational studies related to surgeons’ physical and mental health and (2) identify research gaps and future directions.
methodsA systematic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CNIK. Studies published in English and Chinese on surgeons’ physical and/or mental health concerning PA were included. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts for eligibility. Of the initial 7717 records screened, 19 studies were included. Data were extracted and synthesized according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines.
results19 studies were included, covering interventional studies, cross-sectional surveys, and qualitative research. Preliminary findings suggest that regular PA is associated with reduced stress, improved cardiovascular health, and better musculoskeletal outcomes in surgeons. However, heterogeneity in study designs and lack of standardized outcome measures limit definitive conclusions.
conclusionsThe evidence indicates potential benefits of PA for surgeons’ physical and mental health, yet robust, high-quality studies remain scarce. Future research should focus on developing standardized interventions, consistent outcome measures, and larger sample sizes. Addressing barriers such as time constraints and workload is crucial for implementing PA programs in surgical practice.
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.