ORIGINAL PAPER
Investigation and analysis of occupational physical injuries among healthcare staffs during allopatric medical aid for the fight against COVID-19
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The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China (Nursing Department)
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The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China (Emergency Department)
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Jincheng General Hospital, Jincheng, China (Medical Department)
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Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, China (Digestive Department)
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Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, China (Nursing Department)
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Yuanqu County People’s Hospital, Yuncheng, China (Department of Critical Care Medicine)
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The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China (Department of Vascular Surgery)
Online publication date: 2022-05-27
Corresponding author
Honglin Dong
The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Department of Vascular Surgery, 382 Wuyi Road, Xinghualing District, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2022;73(3):209-18
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ABSTRACT
Background: Occupational health impairment of medical personnel manifested as a prominent problem in COVID-19. The aim of this study is to investigate the occupational physical injuries of front-line medical staffs in Hubei province during the fight against COVID-19. Material and Methods: questionnaire survey was conducted among 476 medical staffs from 3 regions of Hubei Province, including general characteristics and the physical discomfort/damage suffered in the isolation wards during working hours. Results: A total of 457 valid questionnaires were collected. The common physical discomfort/damage included skin injuries (22.76%), conjunctivitis (15.10%), falls (9.19%), intolerant unwell symptoms (8.53%) and sharp injuries (6.13%). Logistic regression analysis showed that: lack of protective work experience (OR = 2.049, 95% CI: 1.071–3.921), continuous working for 4 h (OR = 3.771, 95% CI: 1.858–7.654), and working >4 h (OR = 7.076, 95% CI: 3.197–15.663) were high-risk factors for skin injuries. Working continuously for 4 h (OR = 3.248, 95% CI: 1.484–7.110) and working >4 h (OR = 3.096, 95% CI: 1.232–7.772) were high-risk factors for conjunctivitis. Lack of protective work experience was a high risk factor for falls (OR = 5.508, 95% CI: 1.299–23.354). The high risk factors for intolerant unwell symptoms were continuous working for 4 h (OR = 5.372, 95% CI: 1.239–23.301) and working >4 h (OR = 8.608, 95% CI: 1.843–40.217). Working in a COVID-19 critical care unit (OR = 3.249, 95% CI: 1.344–7.854) and implementation of nursing (OR = 9.766, 95% CI: 1.307–72.984) were high risk factors for sharp injuries. Conclusions: Occupational physical injuries are universal in the COVID-19 ward. Those who take up nursing, work in a critical care ward, with no experience in an isolation ward for infectious diseases, and work continuously for ≥4 h on the same day should get more attention. Med Pr. 2022;73(3):209–18