Article: Gaps in Workplace Injury Reporting Among Physicians to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics

Authors: Andrew T Gabrielson, Kristin Chrouser, M Susan Hallbeck, Tara Cohen, Claudia Corwin

Journal: J Occup Environ Med. 2025 Mar 1;67(3):e158-e165

Abstract:
Objective: This study aimed to identify gaps in nonfatal injury and illness (NII) reporting between physicians and other occupations.

Methods: Bureau of Labor Statistics data (2011-2019) were analyzed, comparing annualized NII incidence rates using incidence rate ratios (IRR), with physicians as the reference.

Results: Between 2011 and 2019, physicians reported significantly lower NII rates compared to high-hazard nonmedical occupations (IRR, 17.2-70.8; all P < 0.01) and most low-hazard nonmedical occupations (IRR, 1.2-6.3; all P < 0.01), except lawyers. NII rates among physicians were also lower than those in nonphysician medical occupations (IRR, 1.4-27.6; all P < 0.01). In 2020, relative NII rates between physicians and nonphysician medical occupations decreased but returned to prepandemic levels by 2021.

Conclusions: Physicians report significantly lower NII rates than other occupations, likely due to underreporting or undercounting, highlighting a potential gap in occupational injury data.

Link to journal online: https://journals.lww.com/joem/fulltext/2025/03000/gaps_in_workplace_injury_reporting_among.13.aspx