Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Visiting and Office Home Care Workers

Zeytinoglu, Işık U.; Denton, Margaret; Webb, Sharon; Lian, Jason

doi:10.1300/j013v31n02_01

Cited by 26 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Albeit the accumulated literature shows that both physical and psychosocial demands are associated with workrelated MSDs (Devereux et al 2002, Nancy 2007, this association still remains controversial. A recent Canadian study (Zeytinoglu et al 2000) found an association only for homecare workers' physical risk factors, such as an unsafe client's home or moving ⁄ lifting clients in their homes. Other studies found no relationship between physically demanding work and MSDs for female workers in general occupations and for male crane operators (Svensson & Anderson 1989, Burdorf & Zondervan 1990.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…2002, Nancy 2007), this association still remains controversial. A recent Canadian study (Zeytinoglu et al. 2000) found an association only for homecare workers’ physical risk factors, such as an unsafe client’s home or moving/lifting clients in their homes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Homecare workers are likely to have higher levels of work-related psychological and physical health problems, as well as lower levels of income and job security than those in comparable occupations (Fleming & Taylor 2007). The most frequently diagnosed symptoms are MSDs, such as neck, shoulder and low back pain (Johansson 1995, Zeytinoglu et al 2000. Few studies, however, have supported this empirical evidence for homecare workers, compared to the well-established association between physical ⁄ psychosocial demand and MSD in general occupations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Physically demanding workloads and the risks of musculoskeletal disorders in homecare workers in the USA

Kim

Geiger-Brown

Trinkoff

et al. 2010

Health &Amp; Social Care in the Community

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Although musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent among homecare workers, little is known about the MSD risk factors. This study investigated whether physically demanding workloads among homecare workers are related to MSDs, especially in neck, shoulder and back pain. Data were taken from two waves of a random sample (June to December 2003 and December 2003 to February 2004). The sample included 1643 homecare workers at Wave 1 and 1198 homecare workers at Wave 2, respectively. A basic telephone interview and 30 minutes computer-assisted interview were performed for homecare workers in Wave 1 and Wave 2. The prevalence of neck, shoulder and back MSDs was assessed at Wave 1 and Wave 2 using the Nordic questionnaire of musculoskeletal symptoms. The incidence of MSDs at 6 months was estimated at Wave 2 using only those who were in the asymptomatic reference group at Wave 1 as the denominator. At Wave 1, back MSDs were the most prevalent (10.2%), followed by neck (9.6%) and shoulder (7.1%) MSDs. After 6 months, the incidence of neck MSDs was the highest (7.0%), followed by back (6.4%) and shoulder (4.8%) MSDs. Physical demands of work were assessed using items developed from focus groups of workers. When compared with asymptomatic workers, those with MSDs showed a dose-response effect for physical job demands. After controlling for age, psychosocial demands and social support on-the-job, physical demands among homecare workers were significantly associated with an excessive odds of neck, shoulder and back MSDs incident at 6 months (odds ratios of 1.14-1.17 for each unit increase on a physical demand scale). Our study shows that the physical demands of work are a significant risk factor for MSDs among homecare workers. Considering the high physical demands among homecare workers, the finding in this study clearly indicates that practical intervention strategies should be implemented to protect homecare workers from exposure to MSD risk factors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physically demanding workloads and the risks of musculoskeletal disorders in homecare workers in the USA

Kim

Geiger-Brown

Trinkoff

et al. 2010

Health &Amp; Social Care in the Community

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“…7,9 Research on the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of home care workers is limited internationally. 7 The research that exists has looked at the impacts of healthcare restructuring on the health and safety of home care workers; [10][11][12][13][14] regulatory challenges associated with work located within a private residence; 7,14 and transport and OHS challenges. 7 This paper adds to the limited knowledge of home care OHS by documenting the work-related health and safety experiences of NL unionized home care workers in Eastern Canada, and by examining how government and home care agency policies impact unionized home care workers' OHS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Move and Working Alone: Policy Implications of the Experiences of Unionised Newfoundland and Labrador Homecare Workers

Fitzpatrick

Neis

2015

Policy and Practice in Health and Safety

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Home care work is female-dominated, generally precarious, and takes place in transient and sometimes multiple workplaces. Home care workers can engage in relatively complex employment-related geographical mobility (E-RGM) to, from, and often between work locations that can change frequently and are remote from the location of their employer. Like other precarious workers, home care workers may be more likely to experience work-related health and safety injuries and illnesses than non-precarious workers. Their complex patterns of E-RGM may contribute to the risk of injury and illness. This paper explores patterns of E-RGM and ways they influence the risk of injury and illness among unionized home care workers living and working in two regions of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) on Canada's east coast. It uses Quinlan & Bohle's pressure, disorganization, and regulatory failure (PDR) model to help make sense of the vulnerability of these workers to occupational health and safety (OHS) risks. The study uses a qualitative, multi-methods approach consisting of semi-structured interviews and a review of government and home care agency policies, as well as 20 NL home care collective agreements. It addresses two main questions: What are the work-related health and safety experiences of interviewed NL unionized home care workers? How do policies (government and home care agency) and collective agreements interact with E-RGM to mitigate or exacerbate the OHS challenges confronting these workers? Findings show that these workers experience numerous work-related health and safety issues many of which are related to working in remote, transient, and multiple workplaces. While collective agreements mitigate some health and safety issues, they do not fully address particular OHS risks associated with working alone,

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“…Previous studies have provided some evidence concerning risk factors for self-reported musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among home care workers, which have been found to involve hazards in the clients’ homes, injuries occurring when moving clients, and stress [Zeytinoğlu, 2001]. However, risk factors for back injuries in HHAs have rarely been investigated, such as the availability and use of ergonomic equipment to assist with patient handling and lifting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of ergonomic and psychosocial workplace factors in the reporting of back injuries among U.S. home health aides

Arlinghaus

Caban‐Martinez²,

Marino

et al. 2013

American J Industrial Med

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Background Due to the aging population and a shift to patient home care, Home Health Aides (HHAs) are a fast-growing occupation. Since little is known about workplace risk factors for back injuries among HHAs, we examined the role of ergonomic and psychosocial factors in injury reporting among HHAs. Methods We used the 2007 U.S. National Home Health Aide Survey data (weighted n=160,720) to predict the risk of back injuries by use of/need for ergonomic equipment and supervisor support with logistic regression, adjusted for socio-demographic variables. Results The annual prevalence of back injuries for U.S. HHAs was 5.2%. Injury risk was increased in HHAs reporting the need of additional ergonomic equipment in patient homes, and marginally associated with low reported supervisor support. Conclusions Improvement of workplace ergonomic and psychosocial factors could be targeted as a strategy to decrease work-related injuries in HHAs.

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Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Visiting and Office Home Care Workers

Cited by 26 publications

References 40 publications

Physically demanding workloads and the risks of musculoskeletal disorders in homecare workers in the USA

Physically demanding workloads and the risks of musculoskeletal disorders in homecare workers in the USA

On the Move and Working Alone: Policy Implications of the Experiences of Unionised Newfoundland and Labrador Homecare Workers

The role of ergonomic and psychosocial workplace factors in the reporting of back injuries among U.S. home health aides

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