Citation

Berdahl TA, Zodet MW. Med. Care. 2010; 48(7): 645-651.

Affiliation

From the Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, American Public Health Association, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181dbdc1c

PMID

20548257

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To examine racial-ethnic/gender differences in the odds of injury and in the odds of seeking medical treatment among workers in the United States. METHODS:: Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of having a work injury and the odds of seeking medical treatment for these injuries in a sample of non-Latino Black, Latino, and non-Latino white workers from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2002-2006). RESULTS:: Significant variation in the odds of injury was observed across racial-ethnic/gender groups. Although race-gender groups had significant variation in the odds of experiencing a work injury, we found few differences in treatment seeking. Among the 6 subgroups, we found that white women were significantly less likely to report an injury and significantly more likely to seek treatment when injured. Having health insurance played a key role in utilization among injured workers. The odds of seeking treatment were 33% lower for uninsured workers compared with those with private insurance. Publicly insured workers were no different from privately insured workers. CONCLUSIONS:: Our study sheds light on current trends in work injuries and associated medical care utilization among a nationally representative sample of workers.

Language: en