Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Program

Differences in Hospitals' Workplace Violence Incident Reporting Practices: A Mixed Methods Study

Rachel Odes
Susan Chapman
Sara Ackerman
Robert Harrison, MD, MPH
Oisaeng Hong, RN, PhD, FAAN
2022

Workplace violence (WV) is a significant and growing problem for health care workers. Increased recognition of the need for improved protections has led to policy initiatives at the state and federal levels, including national Joint Commission requirements that went into effect January 2022. California's WV prevention legislation was phased in during 2017-2018 and requires hospitals to use a new incident reporting system, the Workplace Violent Incident Reporting System (WVIRS) for Hospitals. We analyzed WVIRS data collected during the first three years of its implementation, July 1,...

Systematic Review of the Influence of Physical Work Environment on Office Workers' Physical Activity Behavior

Victoria F Michalchuk
Soo-Jeong Lee, RN, PhD, ANP
Catherine M Waters
Oisaeng Hong, RN, PhD, FAAN
2022

Background: Many American workers spend over 7 hours a day at work in primarily sedentary office work. Physical activity is a key aspect of optimizing health and preventing disease; yet, 80% of American adults do not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. In this systematic review, the relationship between physical work environment and physical activity among office workers was explored.

Methods: Of the 321 studies screened, 26 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included for evaluation in this systematic review.

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Depression, Healthcare Utilization, Missed Work, and Health Behaviors Among US Young Workers: Data From the 2015 National Health Interview Survey

Cherry Y Leung
Soo-Jeong Lee, RN, PhD, ANP
2021

Objective: We examined the prevalence of depression and its impact on healthcare utilization, work absenteeism, and health behaviors among United States (US) young workers.

Methods: Data of 1053 young workers (ages 18 to 25) from the 2015 US National Health Interview Survey were analyzed to examine these associations.

Results: Seven percent of US young workers reported feeling often depressed (daily or weekly). Often depressed young workers had increased odds for healthcare provider visits, mental healthcare use, 1 to 2...

Impact of California Safe Patient Handling Legislation: Health Care Workers' Perspectives

Soo-Jeong Lee, RN, PhD, ANP
Laura Stock, MPH
Victoria Michalchuk
Kelsie Adesoye
Kathleen Mullen
2021

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries from patient handling are significant problems among health care workers. In California, legislation requiring hospitals to implement safe patient handling (SPH) programs was enacted in 2011. This qualitative study explored workers' experiences and perceptions about the law, their hospital's SPH policies and programs, patient handling practices, and work environment.

Methods: Three focus groups were conducted with 21 participants (19 nurses and 2 patient handling specialists) recruited from 12 hospitals located...

Gender differences in experience and reporting of acute symptoms among cleaning staff

Soo-Jeong Lee, RN, PhD, ANP
Minjung Kyung
Cherry Leung
Oisaeng Hong, RN, PhD, FAAN
2021
Background:

Cleaning tasks pose risks of hazardous chemical exposure and adverse health effects for cleaning workers. We examined gender differences among cleaning staff in the experience of chemical-related symptoms and in reporting to supervisors.

Methods:

We analyzed cross-sectional reports from 171 university hospital or campus cleaning staff on chemical exposures to cleaning products, experience of acute symptoms, reporting of symptoms to supervisors, as well as demographic and psychosocial factors (risk perception, job demand/control, supervisor/co-worker support, and...

Identifying an Optimal Cut-Off Point for Musculoskeletal Pain in the Upper Extremities to Prevent Lowered Work Performance

Suyoung Kwon
Soo-Jeong Lee, RN, PhD, ANP
A B de Castro
Jerald R Herting
Stephen Bao
Kurt Johnson
2021

Objective: This study identified when musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in the upper extremities indicates lowered work performance to gauge when secondary prevention of musculoskeletal disorders is needed.

Methods: Seven hundred thirty-three subjects from 12 manufacturing or healthcare facilities in Washington state participated. Work performance was measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand work module (DASH-Work). Each DASH-Work score was compared to the mean among U.S. workers to determine if workers had lowered work performance. ROC...

Mobile Medical Clinics in the United States Post-Affordable Care Act: An Integrative Review

Angela Coaston
Soo-Jeong Lee, RN, PhD, ANP
Julene Johnson
Marcella Hardy-Peterson
Sandra Weiss
Caroline Stephens
2022

Despite changes brought about by the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), millions of individuals are still unable to access health care in the United States. Mobile medical clinics have been an invisible force of care delivery for vulnerable and marginalized populations for decades; however, little is known about their impact post-ACA. Guided by the Anderson Behavioral Model, the purpose of this article was to review and critique the state of the current literature about mobile medical clinics in the United States since 2010. Following Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review...

The short form effort−reward imbalance: Measure of occupational stress for firefighters

Dal Lae Chin
Minjung Kyung
Jian Li
Stephanie Phelps
Oisaeng Hong, RN, PhD, FAAN
2022

Purpose: The original effort-reward imbalance (ERI) questionnaire has been widely used as a measure of occupational stress. The need for brief measurement of psychosocial stress at work has risen. This study examined the psychometric properties of a 16-item short form ERI (S-ERI) questionnaire.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 247 career firefighters in the United States. An internet-based survey contained the S-ERI questionnaire, and assessed perceived health, demographics, and work characteristics....

Personal Care Aides: Assessing Self-Care Needs And Worker Shortages In Rural Areas

Susan A Chapman
Lillie Greiman
Timothy Bates
Laura M Wagner
Ari Lissau
Kirsi Toivanen-Atilla
Rayna Sage
2022

Previous research has documented shortages of personal care aides who provide Medicaid home and community-based services, but there are few detailed geographic data to determine the areas of greatest need and assess the availability of personal care aides nationwide. Using 2013-17 data from the American Community Survey and the Office of Management and Budget, we analyzed potential need for personal care aide services among adults and the supply of aides across the US. Areas with the highest percentages of adults with self-care disability were mainly in the South, and the gap between...

Preschool-Age Children's Pesticide Exposures in Child Care Centers and at Home in Northern California

Abbey Alkon
Robert B Gunier
Kimberly Hazard
Rosemary Castorina
Peter D Hoffman
Richard P Scott
Kim A Anderson
Asa Bradman
2021

Introduction: Young children may be exposed to pesticides used in child care centers and their family homes. We examined pesticide use and environmental and behavioral factors potentially associated with child exposures in these settings.

Method: Preschool-age children (n = 125) wore silicone wristbands to assess pesticide exposures in their child care centers and home environments. Information about environmental and behavioral exposure determinants was collected using parent surveys, child care director interviews, and observations.

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