Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department

Occupational accidents are a serious public health issue. In this retrospective observational study, we examined all injuries involving healthcare workers of the Abruzzo Local Health Authority No. 1 (Italy) during the three years 2019–2021. Data were collected by tracing the injury reports filed by...

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Main Authors: Claudia Cipollone, Paola Guerriero, Mario Muselli, Riccardo Mastrantonio, Giada Mastrangeli, Stefano Filauri, Leila Fabiani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Safety
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/10/3/67
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author Claudia Cipollone
Paola Guerriero
Mario Muselli
Riccardo Mastrantonio
Giada Mastrangeli
Stefano Filauri
Leila Fabiani
author_facet Claudia Cipollone
Paola Guerriero
Mario Muselli
Riccardo Mastrantonio
Giada Mastrangeli
Stefano Filauri
Leila Fabiani
author_sort Claudia Cipollone
collection DOAJ
description Occupational accidents are a serious public health issue. In this retrospective observational study, we examined all injuries involving healthcare workers of the Abruzzo Local Health Authority No. 1 (Italy) during the three years 2019–2021. Data were collected by tracing the injury reports filed by the emergency service during the workers’ admission and analyzing the cause, type, distribution by sex, and geographical district to which they belonged, taking into account the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Most injuries (45.7%) were reported in the Marsica area; the most common cause was commuting accidents (10.7%). Assaults were more common among men (8.6%), while commuting accidents were more common among women (11.8%). In 36% of cases, the upper limbs were affected. The most common type of injury was contusions (22.2%). When the frequency of reports was compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, there was an increase in injuries in healthcare assistants (<i>p</i> = 0.052), while the percentage of injuries in administrative (<i>p</i> = 0.056) and other categories decreased (<i>p</i> = 0.002). This analysis allows us to identify points of interest relating to the Marsica area, to specific types of accidents, such as aggression and commuting accidents, and to specific duties.
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spelling doaj-art-e1cdf2b4de9f46c2a39c638aa3bfa3be2025-08-20T01:55:50ZengMDPI AGSafety2313-576X2024-08-011036710.3390/safety10030067Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency DepartmentClaudia Cipollone0Paola Guerriero1Mario Muselli2Riccardo Mastrantonio3Giada Mastrangeli4Stefano Filauri5Leila Fabiani6Occupational Medicine Unit, Abruzzo Local Health Authority No. 1, L’Aquila 67100, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila 67100, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila 67100, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila 67100, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila 67100, ItalyLocal Health Authority No. 1, L’Aquila 67100, ItalyDepartment of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila 67100, ItalyOccupational accidents are a serious public health issue. In this retrospective observational study, we examined all injuries involving healthcare workers of the Abruzzo Local Health Authority No. 1 (Italy) during the three years 2019–2021. Data were collected by tracing the injury reports filed by the emergency service during the workers’ admission and analyzing the cause, type, distribution by sex, and geographical district to which they belonged, taking into account the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Most injuries (45.7%) were reported in the Marsica area; the most common cause was commuting accidents (10.7%). Assaults were more common among men (8.6%), while commuting accidents were more common among women (11.8%). In 36% of cases, the upper limbs were affected. The most common type of injury was contusions (22.2%). When the frequency of reports was compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, there was an increase in injuries in healthcare assistants (<i>p</i> = 0.052), while the percentage of injuries in administrative (<i>p</i> = 0.056) and other categories decreased (<i>p</i> = 0.002). This analysis allows us to identify points of interest relating to the Marsica area, to specific types of accidents, such as aggression and commuting accidents, and to specific duties.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/10/3/67workplaceoccupationaccidenthealthcare workersinjurylocal health authority
spellingShingle Claudia Cipollone
Paola Guerriero
Mario Muselli
Riccardo Mastrantonio
Giada Mastrangeli
Stefano Filauri
Leila Fabiani
Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department
Safety
workplace
occupation
accident
healthcare workers
injury
local health authority
title Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department
title_full Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department
title_fullStr Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department
title_full_unstemmed Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department
title_short Trends in Accidents Involving Healthcare Workers in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods: Injury Notifications from an Emergency Department
title_sort trends in accidents involving healthcare workers in the pre pandemic and pandemic periods injury notifications from an emergency department
topic workplace
occupation
accident
healthcare workers
injury
local health authority
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/10/3/67
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