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

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.