| Document ID (ISN) | 111656 |
| CIS number |
11-0372 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
0962-7480 - Occupational Medicine |
| Year |
2011 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Alamgir H., Ngan K., Drebit S., Guiyun Li H., Keen D. |
| Title |
Predictors and economic burden of serious workplace falls in health care |
| Bibliographic information |
2011, Vol.61, p.234-240. 21 ref. |
| Abstract |
The objective of this study was to examine the demographic and workplace risk factors of serious falls and associated economic burden in Canadian health care workers. Fall Injury data during 2005-2008 from a workplace safety and health surveillance system were linked with workers' compensation claims and payroll records. The costs for treatment and wage loss and days lost for accepted time-loss claims were calculated. Demographic and work-related factors were identified to distinguish the risk for more serious falls from less serious falls. A total of 938 fall injury claims were captured among 48,519 full-time equivalent workers. Workers aged over 60 years, part time or employed in the long-term care sector sustained a higher proportion of serious falls. Over 75% of falls were serious for care aides, facility support service workers and community health workers. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of serious falls remained higher for workers in the long-term care sector (odds ratio (OR) 1.71) compared with those in acute care and for care aides (OR 1.72), facility support service workers (OR 2.58) and community health workers (OR 3.61) compared with registered nurses (RNs). The median number of days lost was higher for women, long-term care workers, licensed practical nurses and care aides. Females, long-term care workers, RNs, licensed practical nurses, care aides and maintenance workers had the most costly falls. Implications of these findings are discussed. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
Canada; health care personnel; risk factors; falls of persons; economic aspects |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
maintenance; statistical evaluation; age-linked differences; sex-linked differences; accident absenteeism |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Subject(s) |
Commerce, services, offices
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Industries and occupations
Mechanical hazards, transport
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Accident research
Health care services
Economic aspects
|
