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

Abstract

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.

“That's not my job”: A mixed methods study of challenging client behaviors, boundaries, and home care aide occupational safety and health

“…This study found that requests for tasks outside the job are a commonly‐encountered issue for aides, and are ranked among the top job hazards for which they would like intervention. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses suggest that extra requests may be associated with OSH hazards and negative outcomes that have been previously identified as concerns in HC, including psychosocial stress, conflict or abusive client behaviors, and injury and musculoskeletal pain . The types of tasks requested, as identified in the qualitative analysis, reflect potential pathways to the negative outcomes found in the quantitative analysis.…”

“…Both quantitative and qualitative analyses suggest that extra requests may be associated with OSH hazards and negative outcomes that have been previously identified as concerns in HC, including psychosocial stress, 15,21,22 conflict or abusive client behaviors, 9,[23][24][25][26][27] and injury and musculoskeletal pain. 9,28,29 The types of tasks requested, as identified in the qualitative analysis, reflect potential pathways to the negative outcomes found in the quantitative analysis.…”

Complexity of occupational exposures for home health-care workers: nurses vs . home health aides

“…Lack of ergonomic aids, as reported by Arlinghaus et al . (), as well as lack of colleague support in the home‐care setting may further increase these risks. Similar to the HHN characteristics, HHAs in the present study were mostly obese and over the age of 40 years.…”

“…Arlinghaus et al . () report data supporting an increase in back injuries for HHAs who reported insufficient ergonomic aids. Overall, the physical burden appears to be high for home health‐care workers but relatively little is known about the frequency of ergonomic concerns.…”

“…The study data supported the notion that the more time a HHA spent with a higher-need patient, the greater the incidence of end-of-shift pain and fatigue. Arlinghaus et al (2013) report data supporting an increase in back injuries for HHAs who reported insufficient ergonomic aids. Overall, the physical burden appears to be high for home health-care workers but relatively little is known about the frequency of ergonomic concerns.…”