Assessment of Musculoskeletal Injuries Associated with Palpation, Infection Control Practices, and Zoonotic Disease Risks among Utah Clinical Veterinarians.
Abstract: Practicing veterinarians are exposed to unique occupational hazards and zoonotic diseases. National studies have highlighted an increase risk to injuries and a lack of veterinary awareness for these hazards. In Utah (and likely other states), reports of acquired zoonoses are sporadic, and underlying risk factors poorly understood. To better clarify occupational risk factors, the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Utah veterinarians were examined. A total sample of 809 Utah veterinarians were identified from the 2017 licensure listing provided by the Utah Division of Professional Licensing. These individuals were invited to participate in an internet-based survey to self-report musculoskeletal injuries associated with large animal palpation practices. The relationships between some variables and Precaution awareness (PA) score rankings were examined using logistic regression and odds ratios. Of 809 veterinarians, 223 (28%) responded, with 209 self-identifying as clinical veterinarians. Frequent palpation of large animals (equine or bovine) was performed by 43 (22%) of 197 responding veterinarians. Joint pain or injury was experienced by 29 (67%) of 43 responding veterinarians who frequently palpated large animals (equine or bovine). Animal bites, needle-sticks, and cuts were the most frequently reported injuries within the past year. There were 44 (22%) of 197 respondents who reported having contracted a zoonotic disease. Most of the respondents failed to use appropriate PPE when examining an ill animal or when handling potentially infectious specimens. Clinical veterinarians who have less than 10 years of experience and work in a practice providing clinic-based services were 2.3 and 3.8 times more likely to have low PA rankings, respectively. Our work underscores the importance for continued clinical veterinarian education on occupational risks associated with musculoskeletal injuries, animal bites, needle-sticks, and cuts. The fact that survey veterinarians reported a high level of zoonotic disease infection illustrates the need for education and training on proper PPE use. Further work is needed to understand why precaution awareness scores were low among this sample of participants in this study. Additional follow-up with veterinarians is recommended to assess availability of large animal handling facilities and safety practices to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
Publication Date: 2018-10-26 PubMed ID: 30362924DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2018.1536574Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the occupational risks for veterinarians in Utah, particularly focusing on musculoskeletal injuries from large animal interactions, the potential for zoonotic disease transmission, and the safety precautions taken. Based on survey results, the paper reveals a high rate of such injuries and diseases, alongside underutilization of personal protective equipment, prompting a call for more focus on educating veterinarians about these hazards.
Background and Objectives
- The study was prompted by the occupational hazards and risks of zoonotic diseases which veterinarians are exposed to, as well as concerns that these risks are often underestimated by the vets themselves.
- The researchers aimed to better understand these occupational risk factors by examining the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Utah veterinarians, with a focus on injuries related to large animal palpation practices and zoonotic diseases.
Methods and Participants
- An internet-based survey was sent to a sample of 809 Utah veterinarians identified from 2017 licensure listings provided by the Utah Division of Professional Licensing.
- The survey sought self-reports on issues such as musculoskeletal injuries, instances of zoonotic disease contraction, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
Results
- A total of 223 veterinarians, 28% of those surveyed, responded to the survey.
- Out of those respondents, 43 frequently interacted with large animals and consequently reported a high prevalence of joint pain/musculoskeletal injuries.
- Animal-related injuries such as bites, needle-sticks, and cuts were common, and a significant 22% portion also reported contracting a zoonotic disease.
- A surprising finding was that most vets were not appropriately using PPE while examining sick animals or handling potentially infectious materials.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The study discovers that the less-experienced veterinarians along with those working in clinic-based settings were more likely to score low on precautionary measures, indicating a lack of awareness regarding occupational risks.
- Given the high rates of injury and disease, the researchers advocate for more education on these occupational hazards, particularly on proper PPE use.
- The authors also call for more research to understand the reasons for the low precaution awareness scores and suggest increased monitoring and adjustment of safety practices to minimize injury risk.
Cite This Article
APA
Rood KA, Pate ML.
(2018).
Assessment of Musculoskeletal Injuries Associated with Palpation, Infection Control Practices, and Zoonotic Disease Risks among Utah Clinical Veterinarians.
J Agromedicine, 24(1), 35-45.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2018.1536574 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- a Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences , Utah State University , Logan , Utah , USA.
- b Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering , Penn State University , University Park , Pennsylvania , USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Aged
- Animals
- Bites and Stings / epidemiology
- Cattle
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Infection Control / methods
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Needlestick Injuries / veterinary
- Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
- Occupational Exposure / statistics & numerical data
- Occupational Injuries / epidemiology
- Palpation / veterinary
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Utah / epidemiology
- Veterinarians / statistics & numerical data
- Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
- Zoonoses / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Steffey MA, Griffon DJ, Risselada M, Buote NJ, Scharf VF, Zamprogno H, Winter AL. A narrative review of the physiology and health effects of burnout associated with veterinarian-pertinent occupational stressors.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1184525.
- Kinnunen PM, Matomäki A, Verkola M, Heikinheimo A, Vapalahti O, Kallio-Kokko H, Virtala AM, Jokelainen P. Veterinarians as a Risk Group for Zoonoses: Exposure, Knowledge and Protective Practices in Finland.. Saf Health Work 2022 Mar;13(1):78-85.
- Cherry CC, Sureda MEN, Gibbins JD, Hale CR, Stapleton GS, Jones ES, Nichols MC. Large animal veterinarians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding livestock abortion-associated zoonoses in the United States indicate potential occupational health risk.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022 Feb 16;260(7):780-788.
- Mishra S, Palkhade R. Risk factors and prevalence of work-related injuries and accidents among veterinarians in India.. Vet World 2020 Nov;13(11):2555-2564.
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