Physician Perspectives on Children’s Musculoskeletal and Vision Disorders in Geneva, Switzerland

This survey of Geneva, and its surrounding areas’ medical professionals (Pediatricians, Orthopedic Surgeons, and Ophthalmologists) addressed four questions. First, in the past three years has a physician treated or referred any early stage discomfort; musculoskeletal or vision disorders in children/ adolescents caused by environmental and/or behavioral practices; age of children, amount of children within a certain age bracket, and what major problems were seen in that age bracket; 1a. what were the most common disorders seen by the physicians and; 1b. Physicians’ perspectives if the incidence of disorders is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same. Second, what are the disorders’ major contributors? Third, what preventative measures do physicians advise to reduce musculoskeletal and vision disorders that are directly linked to environmental and/or behavioral causes. Fourth, what other problems relate to children that physicians feel are important or have seen an alarming increase of. Twenty-one thorough surveys were returned (a response rate of 27%). Physicians have treated and referred children with musculoskeletal and vision disorders as young as 10 years old and below, with the majority of children in all age brackets from 10 and under to 23 years of age being seen for back pain, the most common disorder seen by physicians. Out of eleven physicians, 2 physicians reported that the incidence is increasing, 8 physicians reported the incidence is staying the same, and 1 physician reported he/she did not recognize a trend. The major contributors to disorders included several factors with a repetitive theme around poor posture. Although several preventative measures were advised by the physicians, physical activity and improvement of posture were the major factors that are directly linked to reduce future disorders. The majority of problems related to young people that physicians have seen an alarming case of include less physical activity and an increase of sedentary and static activities (computer, videogames, and television) which increases risk for injury.