Meta-analytic study on substance intake and work-related accidents calls for attention to bio-psycho-social factors

Pasquale Bufano; Anello Marcello Poma; Sergio Frumento; Benedetta Persechino; Danilo Menicucci; Marco Laurino; Angelo Gemignani

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104987

Meta-analytic study on substance intake and work-related accidents calls for attention to bio-psycho-social factors

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Jan:144:104987. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104987. Epub 2022 Dec 5.

Authors

Pasquale Bufano¹, Anello Marcello Poma¹, Sergio Frumento², Benedetta Persechino³, Danilo Menicucci², Marco Laurino⁴, Angelo Gemignani⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi,1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
² Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
³ Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi,1, 56124 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: laurino@ifc.cnr.it.
⁵ Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Clinical Psychology Branch, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, via Roma, 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy.

PMID: 36470326
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104987

Abstract

Accidents at work are a major concern because of their social and economic impact. The causes are highly variable and often linked to risk behaviors that could be avoided, of which substance use is a prime example. The aim of this paper was to meta-analytically review the scientific literature on substance intake and its link to work-related accidents. From an initial pool of 19954 papers, we considered a final sample of 27 clustered in three groups according to substances class (alcohol, recreational drugs, medicines). Despite different pharmacological effects, substances consumed for recreational purposes significantly increased the risk of work-related accidents (odds ratio: alcohol 1.78, recreational drugs 1.47), whereas medicines did not: however, these results require caution due to the heterogeneity of the included studies and suspected publication bias. While bio-psycho-social factors could have helped to understand this association, selected studies neglected both the variegated effects and the root causes of recreational substance consumption. Future studies and interventions should consider these complexity factors to transcend the mere description of the phenomenon.

Keywords: Injuries; Job; Occupational; Substances; Workplace.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Accidents
Humans
Illicit Drugs*
Social Factors
Substance-Related Disorders*

Substances

Illicit Drugs