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332681
Evaluating the connection between home care aide and patient safety using the care bond


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 5:02 p.m. - 5:18 p.m.

Daniel Okyere, BSc, MSc, RN, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Margaret M. Quinn, ScD, CIH, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
David Kriebel, ScD, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Manuel Cifuentes, MD, ScD, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Pia Markkanen, ScD, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Catherine Galligan, MSc, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Susan Sama, ScD, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Rebecca Gore, PhD, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Natalie Brouillette, MSc, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Chuan Sun, MSc, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Objectives: We developed a conceptual framework, called the Care Bond (CareBond), to represent how patient and home care (HC) aide safety are connected via the interpersonal relationship that they develop during the delivery of care.    We then measured the CareBond quantitatively and identified occupational safety and health (OSH) factors that influence it.   

Methods:  We developed the CareBond framework based on our previous studies and a review of literature.  We evaluated the CareBond using a questionnaire in a cross-sectional survey of HC aides.  Questionnaire responses used to measure dimensions of the CareBond were analyzed using Principal Components Analysis; impacts of OSH factors on the CareBond were evaluated using Poisson regression. 

Results:  1,249 HC Aides completed the questionnaire and contributed information on 3,484 patient visits.  Three major dimensions of the CareBond were identified: worker safety, patient safety and collaboration.  OSH conditions that weakened the CareBond included lack of equipment for patient mobility, prevalence ratio (PR) =0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.90, 0.99; experiencing slip, trip and falling hazards (PR=0.68; CI = 0.57, 0.81); presence of uncontrolled pets (PR=0.78; CI =0.64, 0.94); catching a patient while falling (PR=0.94; CI =0.87, 1.02); patient on home dialysis (PR =0.70; CI= 0.52, 0.95); mopping the floors (PR=0.94; CI =0.89, 1.00); and exposure to feces (PR=0.90; CI =0.84, 0.97).    

Conclusions:  The CareBond is a promising framework for characterizing and quantifying the connection between HC worker and patient safety.   Factors that weaken the CareBond can be targeted for prevention policies to improve OSH and quality of care.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Occupational health and safety
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss a new conceptual framework, called the Care Bond, to represent the connection between home care worker and patient safety. Describe methods to measure the Care Bond. Identify occupational health and safety factors that impact the Care Bond. Discuss workplace and public health policies aimed at preventive interventions that can strengthen the Care Bond.

Keyword(s): Occupational Health and Safety, Caregivers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a degree and licensing in nursing and have worked in many types of healthcare institutions. I also have a degree in demography, with a focus on the quantitative assessment of social disparities in health. I have been a research assistant on the Safe Home care project, which provided the data for this study, for more than 4 years. The research described in this abstract is my doctoral dissertation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4443.0: Protecting healthcare workers from H&S hazards