Karen Schaepe, M Susan Hallbeck, Mandeep Singh, Yifan Li
Drawing on structuration theory, we found that physical strain becomes embedded within routines and reinforced through team dynamics, institutional practices, and cultural expectations. Ergonomic improvement requires attention not only to technical design but also to the social organization of procedural work.
BACKGROUND: In high-volume image-guided procedural suites, clinicians work in constrained spaces requiring frequent twisting, reaching, and bending, contributing to fatigue and long-term musculoskeletal strain.
OBJECTIVE: Within a broader evaluation of an over-the-patient worktable designed to improve procedural posture and reduce physical strain, this qualitative study examined how interventional cardiologists understand physical discomfort as part of their work and professional identity.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine clinicians (1 female) at a quaternary care hospital in the U.S. Midwest, representing early (n = 2), mid- (n = 3), and late-career (n = 4) stages. Sixty hours of ethnographic observation of TAVR procedures and related clinical activities provided contextual insight into workflow, interactions, and ergonomic practices.
FINDINGS: Drawing on structuration theory, we found that physical strain becomes embedded within routines and reinforced through team dynamics, institutional practices, and cultural expectations. Ergonomic improvement requires attention not only to technical design but also to the social organization of procedural work.