Risk factors for injury among veterinarians.
Work-related injuries among veterinarians are a major problem, but little is known of the specific risk factors involved. The purpose of this nested case-control study, conducted from a comprehensive population-based study of practicing Minnesota veterinarians, was to identify risk factors for job-related injuries. We questioned cases (N = 193) on exposures occurring in the month before their injury, and we questioned controls (N = 495) on exposures occurring in a randomly selected month. We used logistic regression to model the dependence of veterinary work-related injury on each exposure of interest and associated confounders. We observed increased rates for prior injuries (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.6), participation in sports (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.05-2.6), no sharps boxes present (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.01-3.2), current smoking (RR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.8-9.1), and 6 or fewer hours of sleep (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0-3.3). We identified a dose response for lifting patients, as follows: lifting 41-75 lb (RR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.6-5.9), lifting 76-100 lb (RR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.6-5.9), and lifting more than 100 lb (RR = 6.1, 95% CI = 2.5-15.0). Decreased rates were observed for participation in aerobic activities (RR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.99), perception of lower risk (RR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.9), and experience (RR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.9).
Gabel
Christine L
CL
Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Center for Violence Prevention and Control, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, USA.
Gerberich
Susan G
SG
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*