How we can better support podiatrists in training

Background A podiatrist’s job scope is diverse, ranging from general foot care to wound management, orthotic fabrication and nail surgery. Many of these tasks require repetitive movements which could lead to chronic strains and pain. This study investigated the prevalence of occupational injuries among podiatrists working in Singapore, the perceived causes and coping strategies. Methods An online work climate survey was disseminated to podiatrists working in Singapore through the podiatry association (Dec 2019 – Feb 2020). In the questionnaire, 6 questions were related to injury: type of injury, perceived causes and whether the injury resulted in time off work. Completed surveys were returned to Podiatry Association Singapore and deidentified before analysis. Results The survey gathered responses from 53 participants (60% response rate). 44 (83%) participants indicated that they experienced work-related injuries, with 32 (60%) reporting more than one type of injury. 72.7% of the injured individuals reported neck, back, wrist, hand & finger injuries, 54.5% sharps injuries, 31.8% skin irritations and infections, 18.1% reported mental health challenges and 11.3% experienced noise induced discomfort. Amongst injured respondents, 56.8% soldiered on with difficulty, 20.4% of podiatrists took own time-off to rest and 11.3% obtained treatment and rest through workman compensation. Injuries in the upper limb & back were attributed to poor posture, ergonomics, instruments, repetitive movements and work load. Sharps injuries were attributed to carelessness, accidents, time constraints and awkward unstable positions. Mental health strain was attributed to high patient load and the lack of support. Noise induced discomfort was attributed to the lack of access to hearing protection. Dust from grinding and drilling, reaction to sanitizers and exposure to verruca virus in spite of personal protective equipment (PPE) were also cited as work-related hazards. About half of the respondents surveyed indicated that they may leave the podiatry workforce in the next 3-5 years. Conclusions Majority of podiatrists surveyed experienced work-related injuries. The two most common types are upper limb injuries and sharps injuries. More can be done to improve occupational safety of podiatrists. Further studies are required to investigate injury mechanisms and potential contributory factors such as ergonomics, repetitive strain and work load.