Use of statewide electronic emergency department data for occupational injury surveillance: a feasibility study in Massachusetts.
Am J Ind Med
; 55(4): 344-52, 2012 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22125024
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Statewide datasets of emergency department (ED) visits may be useful for occupational injury surveillance. Using data from 12 hospitals, we evaluated two indicators of work-relatedness in reported ED data and the availability of employment information in medical charts.METHODS:
Workers' compensation as payer and/or "yes" in an injury-at-work field were used to define probable work-related (PWR) injury visits in the Massachusetts ED dataset. Charts were reviewed for a sample of 1,002 PWR and 250 probable nonwork-related (PNWR) cases.RESULTS:
Using chart information as the gold standard, indicators of work-relatedness had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 97%, and predictive value positive of 86%. Employer name was in charts for 89% of PWR and 42% of PNWR cases. Occupation was available for 34% of PWR cases.CONCLUSION:
Electronic ED data are useful for state surveillance of occupational injuries. Improvements in attribution of work-relatedness and collection of available employer identifiers and occupational information would enhance its usefulness. The performance of indicators of work-relatedness in ED datasets should be examined in different states.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vigilância da População
/
Coleta de Dados
/
Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência
/
Traumatismos Ocupacionais
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Ind Med
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos