| Occupational injuries are a major public health problem. The purpose of this study was to identify the extent of work-related injuries among Minnesota veterinarians during 1996 and to identify pertinent risk factors. A conceptual model, based on previous knowledge of animal-related and medical-setting injuries, was developed and employed as a guide in designing questions, analysis of data, and interpretation of results. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression was used to model the dependence of veterinary work-related injury on each exposure of interest and related confounders in a nested case-control study. Case-crossover techniques were used for determination of effects of transient exposures.;Among the 1,010 veterinarians in the cohort, 234 sustained one or more injuries (23%); a total of 354 injuries were sustained (35 per 100 veterinarians). Women had a higher frequency of injury than did men (27% vs. 21%); and large animal practitioners more than small (29% vs. 20%).;Increased rates were observed in the case-control study for: prior injuries (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.7); participation in sports (RR = 1.7); perception of higher risk (RR = 4.1); no sharps boxes present (RR = 1.8); no hydraulic lifts available (RR = 5.9); current smoking (RR = 4.1); and six or fewer hours of sleep (RR = 1.8). A dose-response was identified for lifting animal patients: 41--75 pounds (RR = 3.1); 76--100 pounds (RR = 3.2); over 100 pounds (RR = 6.1). Decreased rates were observed for: participation in aerobic activities (RR = 0.6); veterinary experience (RR = 0.6); and lifting to waist height vs. higher or lower (RR = 0.5).;In the case-crossover study, results included increased rates for six or fewer hours of sleep (RR = 5.0), while for emergency hours worked, the results were essentially null for both methods: case-crossover RR = 1.26, case-control RR = 1.01. Since the two designs study different populations, a difference in the effect measure was not unexpected.;Sufficient sleep, avoidance of smoking, participation in aerobic activities, and the use of assistance for lifting would appear to be indicated to reduce injuries in this population. However, future studies will be important to elaborate upon this effort. |
