DATABASE ANALYSIS OF INJURY PATTERNS IN AN INSTITUTION FOR DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES

This paper reports the results of a statistical analysis of injuries t o the clients and the employees of a state facility for people with de velopmental disabilities, as recorded in the respective databases of t he institution. The goal of the analysis was to identify the character istics and patterns of injuries in order to identify priorities far te chnological intervention. Databases for 2000 client injuries and for 9 00 direct care staff injuries between 1988 and 1991 were analyzed retr ospectively. Most of the injuries were sustained by the direct care st aff and involved their backs. The injuries occurred in the institution 's bedrooms (approximately 25%) and bathrooms (approximately 15%) and took place mainly during the early morning (approximately 30%) and eve ning rush (20%). The time of day and location of the injuries of clien ts coincided with those of the injuries of employees. These findings d irect the focus of technological based interventions.