title: Factors associated with work-related injury among hospital employees: a case-control study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Jacksonville Neurology Clinic, North Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Norman DePaul
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gandy
authors.forename: Louanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: 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*