Anna Schuh-Renner1, Michelle Canham-Chervak2, Tyson L Grier2, Bruce H Jones2. 1. U.S. Army Public Health Center, Injury Prevention Division, 8977 Sibert Road E-1570, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA. Electronic address: usarmy.apg.medcom-phc.mbx.injuryprevention@mail.mil. 2. U.S. Army Public Health Center, Injury Prevention Division, 8977 Sibert Road E-1570, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-reported injury data are frequently used in epidemiologic investigations. These data provide useful information about the activities and mechanisms of injuries because injury cause-coding is often not required for outpatient medical visits. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the accuracy of self-reported military injuries when compared to injuries in outpatient medical records. METHOD: Injuries reported by survey were compared to diagnoses for injuries (International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM 800-999)) and injury-related musculoskeletal disorders (selected ICD-9-CM 710-739) obtained from medical records. Self-reported injury responses from military personnel were matched to diagnoses by date and body part. A new methodology for including secondary matching body parts was proposed and implemented. RESULTS: Infantry Soldiers (n = 5490) completed surveys that requested details about their most recent injury. About one-quarter (24%, n = 1336) reported injuries on the survey and had an injury diagnosis in their medical record in a six month period. Seventy-five percent of the self-reported injuries (n = 996 of 1336) were confirmed by medical records with a date match within 3 months and an identical or nearby body part. Common self-reported injuries were ankle sprains (10%), knee sprains (9%), lower back strains (4%), shoulder strains (3%), and lower back pain (3%). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of self-reported injuries were accurate when compared with medical records, substantiating the use of survey data for the evaluation of injury outcomes. This is the first effort to validate self-reported injuries and musculoskeletal disorders with medical records in a large military population.
BACKGROUND: Self-reported injury data are frequently used in epidemiologic investigations. These data provide useful information about the activities and mechanisms of injuries because injury cause-coding is often not required for outpatient medical visits. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the accuracy of self-reported military injuries when compared to injuries in outpatient medical records. METHOD: Injuries reported by survey were compared to diagnoses for injuries (International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM 800-999)) and injury-related musculoskeletal disorders (selected ICD-9-CM 710-739) obtained from medical records. Self-reported injury responses from military personnel were matched to diagnoses by date and body part. A new methodology for including secondary matching body parts was proposed and implemented. RESULTS: Infantry Soldiers (n = 5490) completed surveys that requested details about their most recent injury. About one-quarter (24%, n = 1336) reported injuries on the survey and had an injury diagnosis in their medical record in a six month period. Seventy-five percent of the self-reported injuries (n = 996 of 1336) were confirmed by medical records with a date match within 3 months and an identical or nearby body part. Common self-reported injuries were ankle sprains (10%), knee sprains (9%), lower back strains (4%), shoulder strains (3%), and lower back pain (3%). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of self-reported injuries were accurate when compared with medical records, substantiating the use of survey data for the evaluation of injury outcomes. This is the first effort to validate self-reported injuries and musculoskeletal disorders with medical records in a large military population.
Authors: Nicholas I Wood; James Hentig; Madison Hager; Candace Hill-Pearson; Jamie N Hershaw; Alicia R Souvignier; Selena A Bobula Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-05-24 Impact factor: 4.964
Authors: Rubén Gajardo-Burgos; Manuel Monrroy-Uarac; René Mauricio Barría-Pailaquilén; Yessenia Norambuena-Noches; Dina Christa Janse van Rensburg; Claudio Bascour-Sandoval; Manuela Besomi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-19 Impact factor: 3.390