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Injuries caused by work‐related violence: Frequency, need for medical treatment and associations with adverse mental health and alcohol use among Finnish police officers
Author(s) -
Leino Tuula,
Eskelinen Kaisa,
Summala Heikki,
Virtanen Marianna
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22026
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational safety and health , injury prevention , suicide prevention , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , medical emergency , psychiatry , mental health , pathology
Background We examined the associations of the frequency and the need for medical treatment caused by work‐related violence with adverse mental health among Finnish police officers (n = 1,734). Methods The data were collected via a questionnaire. Results Employees who had suffered more than one injury were at a 4.86‐fold risk (95% CI = 2.72–8.66) of increased alcohol consumption, a 4.40‐fold risk (95% CI = 2.87–6.76) of psychological distress symptoms, and a 2.49‐fold risk (95% CI = 1.73–3.59) of fear of future violence compared to those who had suffered no injuries. Among those who had suffered injuries (n = 843), the need for medical treatment when injured was associated with a 2.33‐fold risk (95% CI = 1.19–4.57) of psychological distress symptoms and with a 2.09‐fold risk (95% CI = 1.08–4.03) of fear of future violence when compared to those who did not need medical care for their injury. Conclusions Among police officers, high frequency and the need for medical treatment of injuries is associated with an increased risk of adverse mental health. High frequency of injuries may also increase alcohol consumption among police officers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:691–697, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.