An Audit of Farming Related Injuries seen by Advanced Nurse Practitioners at Portiuncula University Hospital
Farm accidents in Ireland have increased by 13% in the last 5 years and by up to 31% in the last 10 years (TEAGASC, 2018). Portiuncula University Hospital is based in Ballinasloe a semi-rural town in the west of Ireland. There are approximately 8,500 farms in its catchment area. The Emergency Department registers over 26,500 patients annually approximately 10% of these are seen by the Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP). The aim of this study was to assess farm related injuries for the 9 month period from the 1st July 2017 to 31st March 2018 that were suitable for treatment by the ANP.
A retrospective audit of this cohort of patients was carried out by recording the Gender, Age, type of complaint, mechanism of injury, body part affected and treatment on an Excel spread sheet over the 9 month period.
78 farm related injuries were deemed suitable for treatment by the ANP. The majority of patients were male 65 with 13 female patients. Most of the patients 55 were in the 16-64 age group with 11 in the 65-74, 3 in the 4-16 and 9 were over the age of 75. The most common mechanism of injury was blunt trauma 24 followed by fall 22 and laceration 17. Of the 78 patients, 36 of them were discharged after treatment, 24 were brought back for review in emergency department, 13 were referred on to orthopaedics, and 4 were referred to the plastics team while 1 patient was referred to the surgical team for admission.
Injury prevention cannot be overemphasised. The need for improved support and education of farmers and staff about mechanism of prevention and health safety measures was highlighted. All age group are affected and included farmers; their children and staff. The audit also reflected the age profiles of patients and the possible link between medical comorbidities and risk of falls which influence the type of farm activity. Further study is envisaged in this area. The study has influenced Patient Information Leaflets on reducing risk while carrying out various farming tasks.
