Law Commons^™

Schedule Control And Mental Health: The Relevance Of Coworkers’ Reports, David Hurtado, M. Glymour, Lisa Berkman, Dean Hashimoto, Silje Reme, Glorian Sorensen

Dean M. Hashimoto

Supervisors’ Support For Nurses’ Meal Breaks And Mental Health, David Hurtado, Candace Nelson, Dean Hashimoto, Glorian Sorensen

Dean M. Hashimoto

Understanding The Hospital Sharps Injury Reporting Pathway, Leslie Boden, Yolanta Petrofsky, Karen Hopcia, Gregory Wagner, Dean Hashimoto

Dean M. Hashimoto

Background: Patient-care workers are frequently exposed to sharps injuries, which can involve the risk of serious illness. Underreporting of these injuries can compromise prevention efforts.

Methods: We linked survey responses of 1,572 non-physician patient-care workers with the Occupational Health Services (OHS) database at two academic hospitals. We determined whether survey respondents who said they had sharps injuries indicated that they had reported them and whether reported injuries were recorded in the OHS database.

Results: Respondents said that they reported 62 of 78 sharps injuries occurring over a 12-month period. Only 28 appeared in the OHS data. Safety practices were positively …

Impact Of Organizational Policies And Practices On Workplace Injuries In A Hospital Setting, T. Tveito, G. Sembajwe, L. Bodden, J. Dennerlein, G. Wagner, C. Kenwood, A. Stoddard, S. Reme, K. Hopcia, Dean Hashimoto, W. Shaw, G. Sorensen

Dean M. Hashimoto

Objective: This study aimed to assess relationships between perceptions of organizational practices and policies (OPP), social support, and injury rates among workers in hospital units. Methods: A total of 1230 hospital workers provided survey data on OPP, job flexibility, and social support. Demographic data and unit injury rates were collected from the hospitals' administrative databases. Results: Injury rates were lower in units where workers reported higher OPP scores and high social support. These relationships were mainly observed among registered nurses. Registered nurses perceived coworker support and OPP as less satisfactory than patient care associates (PCAs). Nevertheless, because of the low …

Physical Activity And Body Mass Index: The Contribution Of Age And Workplace Characteristics, Candace Nelson, Gregory Wagner, Alberto Caban-Martinez, Orfeu Buxton, Cristopher Kenwood, Erika Sabbath, Karen Hopcia, Dean Hashimoto, Jennifer Allen, Glorian Sorensen

Dean M. Hashimoto

Background: The workplace is an important domain for adults, and many effective interventions targeting physical activity and weight reduction have been implemented in the workplace. However, the U.S. workforce is aging, and few studies have examined the relationship of BMI, physical activity, and age as they relate to workplace characteristics.

Purpose: This paper reports on the distribution of physical activity and BMI by age in a population of hospital-based healthcare workers and investigates the relationships among workplace characteristics, physical activity, and BMI.

Methods: Data from a survey of patient care workers in two large academic hospitals in the Boston area …

Association Between Work-Family Conflict And Musculoskeletal Pain Among Hospital Patient Care Workers, Seung-Sup Kim, Cassandra Okechukwu, Orfeu Buxton, Jack Dennerlein, Leslie Boden, Dean Hashimoto, Glorian Sorenson

Dean M. Hashimoto

Background

A growing body of evidence suggests that work–family conflict is an important risk factor for workers' health and well-being. The goal of this study is to examine association between work–family conflict and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers.

Methods

We analyzed a cross-sectional survey of 1,119 hospital patient care workers in 105 units in two urban, academic hospitals. Work–family conflict was measured by 5-item Work–Family Conflict Scale questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression was applied to examine associations between work–family conflict and self-reported musculoskeletal pain in the past 3 months, adjusting for covariates including work-related psychosocial factors and physical work …

Barriers To Use Of Workers' Compensation For Patient Care At Massachusetts Community Health Centers, Lenore Azaroff, Letitia Davis, Robert Naparstek, Dean Hashimoto, James Laing, David Wegman

Dean M. Hashimoto

Objectives

To examine barriers community health centers (CHCs) face in using workers' compensation insurance (WC). Data Sources/Study Setting

Leadership of CHCs in Massachusetts. Study Design

We used purposeful snowball sampling of CHC leaders for in-depth exploration of reimbursement policies and practices, experiences with WC, and decisions about using WC. We quantified the prevalence of perceived barriers to using WC through a mail survey of all CHCs in Massachusetts. Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Emergent coding was used to elaborate themes and processes related to use of WC. Numbers and percentages of survey responses were calculated. Principal Findings

Few CHCs formally discourage use …

Ergonomic Practices Within Patient Care Units Are Associated With Musculoskeletal Pain And Limitations, Jack Denerlein, Karen Hopcia, Christopher Kenwood, Anne Stoddard, T. Tveito, Dean Hashimoto, Glorian Sorenson

Dean M. Hashimoto

Background

With the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) for patient care unit workers, prevention efforts through ergonomic practices within units may be related to symptoms associated with typical work-related MSDs.

Methods

We completed a cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (n = 1,572) in two large academic hospitals in order to evaluate relationships between self-reported musculoskeletal pain, work interference due to this pain, and limitations during activities of daily living (functional limitations) and with ergonomic practices and other organizational policy and practices metrics within the unit. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses tested the significance of these associations.

Results …

Longer-Term Use Of Opioids, Dongchung Wang, Dean Hashimoto, Kathryn Mueller

Dean M. Hashimoto

With opioid misuse a top public health problem in the United States, this study examined longer-term use of narcotics in 21 states and how often recommended treatment guidelines for monitoring injured workers with longer-term use were followed by physicians. The information provided will help public officials identify means to strengthen the design or implementation of public policies related to narcotic use, and help payors target efforts to better manage the use of narcotics while providing appropriate care to injured workers and reducing unnecessary risks to patients and unnecessary costs to employers. The study is based on nearly 300,000 workers' compensation …

Occupational Injuries For Consecutive And Cumulative Shifts Among Hospital Registered Nurses And Patient Care Asscoiates: A Case-Control Study, Karen Hopcia, Jack Dennerlein, Dean Hashimoto, Terry Orechia, Glorian Sorensen

Dean M. Hashimoto

Nontraditional work shifts for hospital registered nurses and patient care associates and associated injuries were examined through a case-control study. Inpatient care requires that many staff work nontraditional shifts, including nights and 12-hour shifts, but some characteristics remain unexplored, especially consecutive shifts. A total of 502 cases (injured workers) were matched to single controls based on their hospital, unit type, job type, gender, and age (± 5 years). Conditional logistic regression was used for the analysis, controlling for weekly hours scheduled. For both, consecutive shifts of 2 or more days and some various cumulative shifts over a week and month …

Relationship Of Sleep Deficiency To Perceived Pain And Functional Limitations In Hospital Patient Care Workers, Orfeu Buxton, Karen Hopcia, Grace Sembajwe, James Porter, Jack Dennerlein, Christopher Kenwood, Anne Stoddard, Dean Hashimoto, Glorian Sorensen

Dean M. Hashimoto

Objective: Health care workers are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms and pain. This study tested the hypothesis that sleep deficiency is associated with pain, functional limitations, and physical limitations that interfere with work. Methods: Hospital patient care workers completed a survey (79% response rate) including measures of health, sociodemographic, and workplace factors. Associations of sleep deficiency with pain, work interference due to this pain, and functional limitations were determined. Results: Of 1572 respondents (90% women; mean age, 41 years), 57% reported sleep deficiency, 73% pain in last 3 months, 33% work interference, and 18% functional limitation. Sleep deficiency …

Musculoskeletal Pain And Psychological Distress In Hospital Patient Care Workers, Sijn Reme, Jack Dennerlein, Dean Hashimoto, Glorian Sorenson

Dean M. Hashimoto

Purpose

The aim of the study was to assess the association of psychological distress and musculoskeletal pain, how it is related to pain interference with work and multiple pain areas, and potential differences between the different pain areas in hospital patient care workers.

Methods

Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (n = 1,572) from two large hospitals.

Results

Patient care workers with musculoskeletal pain reported significantly more psychological distress than those without pain. Psychological distress was significantly related to pain interference with work, even after adjusting for pain and demographics (OR = 1.05; CI = …

Occupational Injuries Among Nurses And Aides In A Hospital Setting, Leslie Boden, Grace Sembajwe, Torill Tveito, Dean Hashimoto, Karen Hopcia, Christopher Kenwood, Anne Stoddard, Glorian Sorenson

Dean M. Hashimoto

Background

Patient care workers in acute care hospitals are at high risk of injury. Recent studies have quantified risks and demonstrated a higher risk for aides than for nurses. However, no detailed studies to date have used OSHA injury definitions to allow for better comparability across studies.

Methods

We linked records from human resources and occupational health services databases at two large academic hospitals for nurses (n = 5,991) and aides (n = 1,543) in patient care units. Crude rates, rate ratios, and confidence intervals were calculated for injuries involving no days away and those involving at least 1 day …

The Role Of The Work Context In Multiple Wellness Outcomes For Hospital Patient Care Workers, Dean Hashimoto, Glorian Sorensen, Anne Stoddard, Sonia Stoffel, Orfeu Buxton, Grace Sembajwe, Jack Dennerlien, Karen Hopcia

Dean M. Hashimoto

Objective: To examine the relationships among low back pain (LBP), inadequate physical activity, and sleep deficiency among patient care workers, and of these outcomes to work context.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (N = 1572, response rate = 79%).

Results: A total of 53% reported LBP, 46%, inadequate physical activity, and 59%, sleep deficiency. Inadequate physical activity and sleep deficiency were associated (P = 0.02), but LBP was not significantly related to either. Increased risk of LBP was significantly related to job demands, harassment at work, decreased supervisor support, and job title. Inadequate physical activity was significantly …

Interstate Variations In Medical Practice Patterns For Low Back Conditions, Dean Hashimoto, Dongchun Wang, Kathryn Mueller, Sharon Belton, Xiaoping Zho

Dean M. Hashimoto

No abstract provided.

The Proposed Patients' Bill Of Rights: The Case Of The Missing Equal Protection Clause, Dean Hashimoto

Dean M. Hashimoto

Congress is considering passing a patients' bill of rights. The proposed reform provides for appeals of disagreements between managed care organizations and patients over treatment decisions and also ensures access to specialists and emergency rooms. These reforms place a heavy emphasis on regulating managed care groups by assigning due process rights to patients of privately funded health plans. This article offers a vision of an alternative reform based on principles of both equality and due process. Empirical research demonstrates that although managed care systems appear to provide roughly adequate health care for the general public, they may not be providing …