Occupational Risks in Cath Labs: A Seven-Dimension Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR)

Abstract

Background: Cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) environments expose healthcare professionals, particularly technicians, to multiple occupational health risks, including radiation exposure, musculoskeletal strain, and psychological stress. Existing research remains fragmented and largely risk-focused, with limited integration into broader healthcare service quality frameworks.

Aims: This scoping review aims to map existing literature on occupational health risks among cardiac catheterisation laboratory technicians and reinterpret these risks through seven healthcare service quality dimensions: communication, tangibility, acumen, receptiveness, credibility, reliability, and consistency.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Embase were searched alongside grey literature sources. Studies addressing occupational health risks in cath lab settings were included without date restriction. Data were charted using a predefined framework and synthesized narratively, with thematic categorization aligned to the seven service quality dimensions.

Results: A total of 67 studies were included. Findings indicate that occupational health risks are multidimensional, with radiation exposure and musculoskeletal disorders being the most extensively studied. When mapped to the seven dimensions, tangibility and reliability were strongly represented, while communication, receptiveness, and consistency were underexplored. Psychological and organizational risks were primarily linked to gaps in communication, receptiveness, and credibility.

Conclusions: Reframing occupational health risks through a service quality perspective highlights critical gaps beyond traditional risk-based approaches. Future research should prioritize dimension-specific analysis, particularly focusing on communication, consistency, and receptiveness, to enhance occupational safety and service quality in cath lab environments.