Journal Article

Obscured by administrative data? Racial disparities in occupational injury

Boden, Leslie I, Hashimoto, Dean, Williams, Jessica AR, Hopcia, Karen, Sorensen, Glorian, Sabbath, Erika L

2017

Overview

Objectives Underreporting of occupational injuries is well documented, but underreporting patterns may vary by worker characteristics, obscuring disparities. We tested for racial and ethnic differences in injury reporting patterns by comparing injuries reported via research survey and administrative injury database in the same group of healthcare workers in the US. Methods We used data from a cohort of 1568 hospital patient-care workers who were asked via survey whether they had been injured at work during the year prior (self-reported injury; N=244). Using the hospital's injury database, we determined whether the same workers had reported injuries to the hospital's occupational health service during that year (administratively reported injury; N=126). We compared data sources to test for racial and ethnic differences in injury reporting practices. Results In logistic regression models adjusted for demographic and occupational characteristics, black workers' odds of injury as measured by self-report data were 1.91 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.04–3.49] compared with white workers. The same black workers' odds of injury as measured by administrative data were 1.22 (95% CI 0.54–2.77) compared with white workers. Conclusions The undercount of occupational injuries in administrative versus self-report data may be greater among black compared to white workers, leading to underestimates of racial disparities in workplace injury.

• Publisher: Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health,Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health,Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
• Subject: administrative data / Adult / Asian Americans / Black or African American / Black People - statistics & numerical data / Black white differences / Blood pressure / Confidence intervals / Cultural differences / Database administration / Demographics / Demography / Ethnic differences / Ethnicity / Female / Health care administration / Health care industry / Health disparities / health disparity / health inequality / Health services / Health Status Disparities / healthcare worker / Hispanics / Hospital Administration / Hospitals / Humans / Injuries / injury data / Male / Medical personnel / Middle Aged / Minority & ethnic groups / minority worker / Nurses / Occupational accidents / Occupational health / Occupational Health - trends / Occupational health and safety / Occupational Injuries - ethnology / occupational injury / Occupational safety / Occupations / Patient Care Team - statistics & numerical data / Patients / Physical trauma / Polls & surveys / Public health / Race / Racial differences / Racial discrimination / racial disparity / Racial inequality / Racism / Regression analysis / Regression models / Self destructive behavior / Self Report / Self reports / Statistical analysis / Surveys and Questionnaires / Underreporting / United States / White People - statistics & numerical data / Workers / Working conditions / Workplace - statistics & numerical data / workplace injury / Workplaces