Musculoskeletal pain and reported workplace assault: a prospective study of clinical staff in nursing homes

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gore RJ ; Miranda H ; Punnett, Laura
• Corporate Authors:
  ProCare Research Team
• Description:
  Objective: This study examined prospectively the effect of workplace violence on musculoskeletal symptoms among nursing home workers. Background: Previously we reported a cross-sectional relationship between physical assaults at work and musculoskeletal pain. This follow-up provides stronger evidence of the effect of workplace violence on musculoskeletal outcomes within the same workforce over two years. Method: Nursing home workers who responded to three consecutive annual surveys formed the study cohort (n = 344). The outcomes were any musculoskeletal pain, widespread pain, pain intensity, pain interference with work and sleep, and co-occurring pain with depression. The main predictor was self-reported physical assault at work during the 3 months preceding each survey. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were assessed with log-binomial regression, adjusting for other workplace and individual factors. Results: Every fourth nursing home worker, and 34% of nursing aides, reported persistent workplace assault over the 2 years. Among respondents assaulted frequently, two thirds experienced moderate to extreme musculoskeletal pain, and more than 50% had pain interfering with work and/or sleep. Baseline exposure to assault predicted pain outcomes 1 year later. Repeated exposure was associated with a linear increase over 2 years in the risks of pain intensity, interference with work, and interference with sleep; co-occurring pain and depression had an adjusted PR of 3.6 (95% CI = 1.7-7.9). Conclusion: Workplace assault, especially when repeated over time, increases the risk of pain that may jeopardize workers' ability to remain employed. Application: More effective assault prevention would protect and support the workforce needed to care for our increasing elderly and disabled population. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Environmental Monitoring Lung Lung Diseases Mining Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Depression Epidemiology Health Care Health Care Personnel Mental Health Multisite Pain Musculoskeletal Musculoskeletal System Nurses Pain Tolerance Psychological Effects Sleep Sleep Deprivation Total-Worker-Health Total Worker Health Work Ability Work Capability Workplace Violence

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• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  215-227
• Volume:
  56
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20043507
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 2014 Feb; 56(1):215-227
• Contact Point Address:
  Laura Punnett, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
• Email:
  Laura_Punnett@uml.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Performing Organization:
  University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20060701
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:abd77612938420e96d79df95113ddda55e3c1a12aec7b8372803f3a5d5f0de73f8d49e23132534da1c49491188e1554de148c55dca809625afecb0783e34e194
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/195394/cdc_195394_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 466.87 KB ]