Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective study
Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of occupational injuries due to exposure to many hazards at work. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these occupational risks, particularly with hospital employees working in increasingly demanding environments. HCW shortages further incre...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMJ Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e001586.full |
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| author | Hani Mowafi Samar Al-Hajj Carine J Sakr Ghassan M Khairallah Khalil El-Asmar Diana Rahme |
| author_facet | Hani Mowafi Samar Al-Hajj Carine J Sakr Ghassan M Khairallah Khalil El-Asmar Diana Rahme |
| author_sort | Hani Mowafi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of occupational injuries due to exposure to many hazards at work. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these occupational risks, particularly with hospital employees working in increasingly demanding environments. HCW shortages further increase the risk of injury to remaining HCWs who shoulder the patient load with fewer human resources. This study aims to explore trends of occupational injuries in Lebanon—a country that faced a multi-faceted healthcare crisis with a severe economic collapse, a resulting massive HCW exodus, coupled with increased workload due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study further investigates the association between HCW injuries and objective workload measures.Methods This is a retrospective study examining incident reports completed by HCWs over 5 years (January 2018 to December 2022). The data were complemented by monthly workload measures (admissions, occupied beds, procedures, ED visits, clinic visits) and absenteeism data. Analysis was performed using linear regression models to assess the relationship between workload predictors and injury rate.Results 2291 injuries were recorded, and 22.61% were sustained by registered nurses. The mean monthly injury rate was 1.68 per 100 EFTE, with an increased yearly trend. 40.39% of injuries were due to needle-pricks. Higher injury rates were found to be positively associated with workload: with each 1000 additional procedures each month (8.8% increase), the mean injury rate increased by 0.11 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.18, p value=0.002) (6.34% increase).Conclusion HCWs sustain a high burden of occupational injuries. Understanding the socio-economic factors and the changes in workload in relation to injury trends is crucial. The study offers valuable insights into suitable staffing and workload levels and can inform policies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4289d04e19b45f9924cebb722a3bea2 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2753-4294 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4289d04e19b45f9924cebb722a3bea22025-07-02T06:20:20ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Public Health2753-42942025-05-013110.1136/bmjph-2024-001586Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective studyHani Mowafi0Samar Al-Hajj1Carine J Sakr2Ghassan M Khairallah3Khalil El-Asmar4Diana Rahme5Emergency Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USAFaculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonEmployee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonEmployee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonFaculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonEmployee Health Unit, Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonBackground Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at an increased risk of occupational injuries due to exposure to many hazards at work. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these occupational risks, particularly with hospital employees working in increasingly demanding environments. HCW shortages further increase the risk of injury to remaining HCWs who shoulder the patient load with fewer human resources. This study aims to explore trends of occupational injuries in Lebanon—a country that faced a multi-faceted healthcare crisis with a severe economic collapse, a resulting massive HCW exodus, coupled with increased workload due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study further investigates the association between HCW injuries and objective workload measures.Methods This is a retrospective study examining incident reports completed by HCWs over 5 years (January 2018 to December 2022). The data were complemented by monthly workload measures (admissions, occupied beds, procedures, ED visits, clinic visits) and absenteeism data. Analysis was performed using linear regression models to assess the relationship between workload predictors and injury rate.Results 2291 injuries were recorded, and 22.61% were sustained by registered nurses. The mean monthly injury rate was 1.68 per 100 EFTE, with an increased yearly trend. 40.39% of injuries were due to needle-pricks. Higher injury rates were found to be positively associated with workload: with each 1000 additional procedures each month (8.8% increase), the mean injury rate increased by 0.11 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.18, p value=0.002) (6.34% increase).Conclusion HCWs sustain a high burden of occupational injuries. Understanding the socio-economic factors and the changes in workload in relation to injury trends is crucial. The study offers valuable insights into suitable staffing and workload levels and can inform policies.https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e001586.full |
| spellingShingle | Hani Mowafi Samar Al-Hajj Carine J Sakr Ghassan M Khairallah Khalil El-Asmar Diana Rahme Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective study BMJ Public Health |
| title | Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective study |
| title_full | Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective study |
| title_short | Occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a retrospective study |
| title_sort | occupational injuries among healthcare workers and objective workload at a tertiary hospital in lebanon a retrospective study |
| url | https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e001586.full |
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