Associated Factors and Latent Patterns of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Digestive Endoscopy Nurses: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have been reported to be very common among hospital workers and particularly nurses. They are assumed or found to be a result of physical workload or poor posture at work and only secondarily a consequence of (general) stress. Due to the increasing workload, more and more digestive endoscopy nurses have WMSDs, but there is still a lack of comprehensive research on the specific factors and patterns of WMSDs in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 digestive endoscopy nurses from 35 cities across 10 provinces in China. Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression and latent class analysis (LCA) to identify associated factors and WMSD occurrence patterns. Results: The overall 12-month prevalence of WMSDs was high (82.5%), particularly in the neck, shoulder, and lower back. Frequent participation in complex endoscopic procedures (adjusted OR range 1.6–1.7) and 6–10 years of work experience (adjusted OR range 1.7–2.5)—rather than daily procedure volume alone—were independently associated with an increased likelihood of WMSDs (p < 0.05). BMI, analyzed using three categories (<24, 24–27.9, ≥28 kg/m2), was not significantly associated with WMSDs in any body region. The LCA revealed three distinct WMSD patterns characterized by multisite pain: a Full-body Pain group (19.0%), a Neck–Shoulder–Lower Back–Upper Back Pain group (42.25%), and a Mild Pain group (38.75%). Conclusions: This study found that digestive endoscopy nurses were at high risk for WMSDs, mainly due to repetitive physical strain and ergonomic challenges. As this was a cross-sectional study, the reported associations should not be interpreted as causal. Ergonomic training, improved workstation design, and workload optimization are important measures to ensure nurses’ health and improve the quality of care.