ABSTRACT
Background The orthopedic surgery workforce constitutes a vital role in the healthcare system, with data being scarce. Therefore, through this study, we share an overview of the orthopedic workforce distribution, demographic trends, and changes over the past decade in Saudi Arabia. Methods All practicing orthopedic surgeons in Saudi Arabia from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021, were included in the study. Data regarding orthopedic surgeons' demographics and numbers were obtained from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), whereas the data related to the geographical distribution of orthopedic surgeons was obtained from the Ministry of Health Statistical Yearbook of 2020. Results The ratio of orthopedic surgeons per 100,000 people was 5.42 in 2010, which grew subsequently to 12.29 in 2021. The number of Saudi orthopedic surgeons has been noticeably rising through the years, while a slowly growing pattern can be seen among non-Saudi orthopedic surgeons. In addition, the highest ratios of orthopedic surgeons per 100,000 were in Makkah (1.72), Riyadh (1.26), and the Eastern Region (1.06). Conclusion In this study, we demonstrate the progress of the orthopedic workforce in Saudi Arabia over a period of 12 years. The number of orthopedic surgeons per 100,000 people showed a significant rise due to several factors, one of which is road traffic accidents. Also, although the number of female orthopedic surgeons has been rising lately, they are still much fewer than males in this field. In addition, Saudi Arabia has been developing a new healthcare system via the privatization of some of the governmental hospitals, which will lead to changes in the future workforce and its accommodations.
ABSTRACT
Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) afflicting the upper limbs with a prevalence of approximately 14.4% in the general population. Previous studies have noted the increasing prevalence of MSDs among teachers but have not investigated in depth the prevalence and predictors of CTS symptoms in this population. The aim of this study was to help fill this gap in the literature by investigating teachers working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods We conducted this cross-sectional study in Riyadh using an online survey. We distributed the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire (BCTQ) to schoolteachers in the city through the social media applications Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram. We assessed the respondents' symptoms using Univariate association analyses with a Wilcoxon rank sum test for the continuous variables and Fisher's exact test and Pearson's chi-squared test for the categorical variables. We assessed the independent risk factors for CTS by constructing multivariate binary logistic regression models and expressed the results using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results The sample for this study included 490 teachers. Among them, the prevalence of moderate to severe CTS symptoms was 40.0%, and self-reported CTS was 9.1%. The teachers who were female, relatively old, left-handed, retired, and spent significant time using a pen, keyboard, and/or blackboard were more likely than those who were male, relatively young, right-handed, and did not spend significant time using a pen, keyboard, and/or blackboard to self-report CTS and exhibit moderate to severe symptoms. Conclusions We found a relatively high percentage (40.0%) of CTS symptoms among teachers working in Riyadh. This finding suggests that any sign of CTS symptoms should be checked to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, which contribute to positive outcomes, particularly given the recent increase in such risk factors for CTS as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and high BMI in populations worldwide.
