Affiliations: Salo, Inc. d.b.a. Interim HealthCare, Columbus, OH,
USA | Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, The Ohio
State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Carolyn M. Sommerich, The Ohio State
University, Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, 210 Baker Systems
Engineering Bldg., 1971 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Tel.: +1 614 292
9965; E-mail: Sommerich.1@osu.edu
Abstract: Objective: The goals of this project were to improve the
understanding of risk factors that may lead to injury and increased turnover in
home health aides, discover unexplored opportunities for intervention, and test
those intervention ideas for potential effects, feasibility, and acceptance by
home health aides and their employers. Methods: Analysis of injury data, extensive direct observation and
analysis of aide-patient interactions, participatory intervention ideation
focus group discussions, and intervention pilot testing was conducted. Results: A method of categorizing each patient's level of skill in
transfer and bathing activities, and their mobility assistance requirements was
developed from information collected during the study as well as a review of
the literature. In a pilot test, the new categorization scheme was used to
control the aides' daily exposure to higher needs patients. The percentage of
time that aides worked with patients in higher needs categories was found to be
related to the aides' self-reports of end-of-shift fatigue and pain. Conclusion: Home health care companies may find that developing a
scheduling system that manages the exposure of their aides to higher needs
patients may be a feasible and effective method for reducing the aides'
exposure to risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries.
Keywords: Home health aide, musculoskeletal disorder, risk factor exposure control, patient handling
