Correlates of Fall among Workers in the Retailing Industry

A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

【Objective】This study aimed to examine the correlates of fall among workers in the retailing industry.

【Methods】This study targeted the workers of 3 shops and 3 delivery centers of the Consumer Co-operative Kobe, a grocery-retailing company. Among them, 397 workers responded to the questionnaire and agreed to the use of their health data which the company had. The questionnaire inquired about fall experience during 1 year in occupational and non-occupational settings, Demura's fall risk assessment chart (physical function, disease and physical symptoms, environment, and behavior and character), and demographic factors (gender, age, exercise habit, and use of glass). From the health data, smoking habit, grip strength, body mass index, corrected visual acuity, blood pressure, urinary acid concentration, and diagnosis of diabetes were used.

【Results】Among participants, 6.5% fell in occupational settings. Logistic regression analysis revealed that those who worked at delivery centers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 15.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.12‒73.46; p=0.001) and those who fell in non-occupational settings (AOR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.07‒9.07; p=0.038) were more likely to fall in occupational settings, and that those with higher grip strength (AOR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13‒0.87; p=0.024) were less likely to fall in such settings. Other factors were not significantly correlated with fall in occupational settings.

【Conclusion】This study found that fall in non-occupational settings, working in delivery centers, and lower status of grip strength are correlated with fall in occupational settings among workers in a retailing company.