Trauma due to Risky Driving Behaviors among Health Workers

Abstract

Introduction:

Recent studies revealed that an alarming 24% of health workers had experienced traumatic incidents directly linked to risky driving behaviors, emphasizing the pressing need to address this critical issue that affected the overall health and resilience of these indispensable professionals. The aim of this review was to assess the prevalence of trauma resulting from risky driving behavior among health workers.

Methods:

This comprehensive review employed a meticulous search strategy across electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, using a combination of keywords and MeSH terms to explore the relationship between trauma and risky driving behaviors among health workers. The inclusion criteria, focusing on English-language studies addressing health workers and traumatic driving experiences, guided a rigorous two-step study selection process, followed by systematic data extraction and quality assessment. The synthesis of findings, utilizing a narrative approach and considering socio-demographic factors, adhered to established systematic review guidelines, ensuring transparency and a robust evidence synthesis process.

Results:

This review synthesized findings from seven prospective cohort studies, offering a quantitative examination of the connection between trauma and risky driving behaviors among health workers. The studies, characterized by varied sample sizes (359 to 2,528 health workers) and demographic diversity, highlighted the substantial impact of specific behaviors on health professionals, with prevalence rates of traumatic driving injuries ranging from 12% to 21%. The identified determinants, such as long working hours and high work-related stress, underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance the well-being of health professionals on the road.

Conclusions:

This comprehensive review, based on seven prospective cohort studies, highlights the significant impact of specific risky driving behaviors, such as speeding and fatigue-related driving, on the well-being of health workers, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to mitigate associated risks.