Evaluation of injury mechanisms, clinical characteristics and costs of patients applying to the emergency department DUE to occupational accidents

Aim: Occupational accident is a situation that occurs in the workplace and causes disability and death due to the trauma it causes. The loss of workforce causes financial burden and effects on the health systems of countries and the budgets of institutions. In this study; It was aimed to evaluate the demographic data and hospital costs of the patients brought to the emergency department due to work accidents.. Materials and Methods: In the study, patients who were brought to the Emergency Department of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Hospital between 01.01.2020 and 31.12.2020 due to work accidents were evaluated. Frequency values and categorical analyzes were performed using the patients' demographic data, injury locations, admission periods and costs using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22 program. Results: Of the 150 patients followed in the emergency department, 124 (82,66%) were male patients. The mean age of these patients was 36.5±10.4 years. The most common occupational accident was the stab wound of 41 people (27.33%). The most common injury occurred between 08-16 hours, which is the first shift of the day. There was no significant difference between shifts (p=0,6875). The most common area was the upper extremity with 53.3%. While no mortality was observed in the patients followed, 96.67% of the patients were discharged from the emergency department. The mean cost of the patients was found to be 116.8±136.4 TL. Conclusion: Measures should be taken and training should be increased to prevent head, upper and lower extremity injuries, which can be seen frequently in occupational accidents. We believe that this will be effective in reducing morbidity, mortality and cost. Keywords: Emergency Department, Work Accidents, Cost