Work related injuries among home health aides in the U.S.: An old problem revisited in a new representative sample

Background This cross sectional study explored the 2007 National Home Health Aide Survey data to obtain national estimates of work-related non-fatal injuries among home health aides workers and to determine whether certain psychosocial factors predict injuries. Data were collected via computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) and consisted of a representative sample of 3,377 from the first U.S. national probability survey of home health aides who provided information on injury, their perceptions and attitudes about their jobs, and the organization and settings where they work. Method and analysis The main outcome was an aggregate measure of work related injuries that was created by counting self-reported injuries that occurred during the previous 12 months. Chi-square tests and standard errors for each potential predictor of work related injury were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to quantify the association between personal and job characteristics and work-related injuries. Results Just over eleven percent (11.7%) of work-related injuries was reported. This translates nationally to approximately 18,533 occupational injuries during 2007-2008 in this group. Six factors significantly predictive of work-related injury are: white race (OR=2.07, 95% CI 1.18, 3.63); inappropriate work load (OR=3.27, 95% CI 1.55, 6.93); multiple jobs (OR=2.73, 95% CI 1.30, 5.71); job dissatisfaction (OR=2.7, 95% CI 1.23, 5.96); higher hourly pay rate (OR=2.38, 95% CI 1.31, 4.33); and working in both inpatient facility and patient's home compared to working in patient's home only (OR=2.57, 95% CI 1.51, 4.40). Conclusions Results suggest a relationship between certain predictors and work-related injuries that are modifiable.