[Road safety in work commuting for primary care profesionals]

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk behavior patterns for basic health care professionals in road safety. Also to measure the incidence of road traffic accidents

Method: Cross-sectional survey; population: complete Leon Area Basic Health Care team (N = 1048). Survey included different kind of variables: sociodemografic, labour, type of journey, road accidents going to work in the last three years and perceived risk; using a Likert scale people were asked about frequency of errors and driving offences (traffic offences). An bivariate analysis was made in order to study relationship between incidences and workers' characteristics with perceived risk.

Results: 54,3% of workers were analyzed. We found that 84.6% used the car as a means of transportation. Most common infraction declared were: driving after getting little sleep, speeding or being in a rush to get to work. Self-perceived risk as well as accident incidence is higher in nursing area workers, locum, those who travel more than 30km per day and those declared themselves as offenders. Accident incidence is 4.9% workers per year.

Conclusion: Primary Health Care workers run high risk of accidents and it is well-perceived by them.