Factors associated with work-related injury among hospital employees: a case-control study.
The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) spends $1 million annually on occupational illnesses and injuries. To address the problem of injuries among hospital employees, a retrospective case-control study was conducted to examine select risk factors for work-related injuries (WRI) among CAVHS employees. Study methods included a review of employee health charts and computer and manual databases from 1997 to 2002 (N = 2,050). The researchers found that WRI increased with age; WRI occurred more often in women than in men; WRI was greater among maintenance and custodial staff compared to direct caregivers, and less among clerical staff; WRI occurred less often in part-time than full-time staff; and WRI increased with increasing body mass index. Developing standards, guidelines, and policies for preplacement screening, preventive measures, training, and education may help to minimize WRI and associated costs.
Thomas
Nancy I
NI
Jacksonville Neurology Clinic, North Little Rock, AR, USA.
Brown
Norman DePaul
ND
Hodges
Linda C
LC
Gandy
Jay
J
Lawson
Louanne
L
Lord
Janet E
JE
Williams
David K
DK
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001131:Arkansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*