A scheme for describing injury events.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a data collection system that provides a more comprehensive picture of the components of the preinjury and injury phases of injury events than is usually available in medical records.

METHOD: Based on a scheme originally designed for study of occupational injuries among off-shore petroleum drilling workers, eight data areas were designated and lists of categories were developed to permit applicability to a general injury surveillance program. Medical records for 1600 injured patients treated at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont were reviewed to determine current frequency of recording such information.

RESULTS

A scheme for injury surveillance was designed that included location of the event, general and specific activities at time of injury, work relationship, nature of the event, animal or person contact, products or materials being used and those causing injury, and energy type and mechanism.

CONCLUSION

An acceptable scheme has been developed that can be used for general surveillance, or modified to focus in greater detail on specific environments, products, or event types.