Although the industry of home healthcare workers is expanding rapidly, few studies to date have been completed in order to find out if they are at an increased risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, this study’s aim was to examine the exposure risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders for home healthcare nurses and aides.
Subjects for the study were recruited from Utah, Wisconsin, Iowa and Canada from 24 different home healthcare agencies. The prevalence rates for low back, neck, and shoulder pain were all calculated for both nurses and aides. Also, variables such as age, gender, body mass index, tobacco, work-related and personal psychosocial stressors were included in the data collection.
Initial analysis of the data gathered indicates that home healthcare workers are at a significantly increased risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, shoulder, and low back. There is also an indication that aides are at a generally higher risk compared to nurses.
Further analysis of the data is ongoing and will hopefully provide additional insight into the risk factors for this specialized area of the work force.
