Unintentional cutting or piercing injuries at home amongst young and middle-aged New Zealanders resulting in hospital admission: context and characteristics.

AIM

This study investigated the characteristics and contexts of unintentional cutting or piercing injuries at home amongst young and middle-aged adults.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based study of individuals aged 20-64 years who were admitted to hospital in the Auckland, Waikato and Otago regions of New Zealand following an unintentional cutting or piercing injury sustained at home. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire covering a range of factors including demographic information, circumstances of the injury, and personal factors such as medication, alcohol and recreational drug use.

RESULTS

Of 340 eligible cases, 267(78.5%) were interviewed. The overall age-specific hospitalisation rate for cutting or piercing injuries was 30.7 per 100,000 (95% CI 27.4-33.9). The highest hospitalisation rates occurred amongst males aged 20-24 and 60-64 years. Common mechanisms of injury were: contact with sharp glass (30.0%), contact with a powered hand tool or household machinery (29.7%), contact with knife (10.8%), and contact with non-powered hand tool (10.8%). The mechanism of injury varied significantly by gender, age, and ethnicity.

CONCLUSION

Prevention strategies aimed at reducing the burden of cutting or piercing injuries occurring at home should focus on those most at risk including males aged 20-24 years, from injury by sharp glass, and those aged 40-64 years, from powered lawnmower, hand tool or household machinery-related injuries.