Physical and Psychosocial Demands on Shift Work in Nursing Homes

Details

• Personal Author:
  He C
• Description:
  There has been a plethora of research investigating the adverse health effects of shift work and to a lesser extent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The health care industry, specifically nurses and nurse aides, is probably the most integrated profession with shift work. The high prevalence of the low back pain and injuries among nursing aides indicates the need of investigation on the physical and psychosoical demands for shiftwork. The objective of the current study was to determine the physical and psychosocial work demands for long-term nursing aides for different shifts (Day, Evening and Night) and shift lengths (8-hour versus 12-hour) and adverse musculoskeletal outcomes. Fifty four female nursing aides who were permanent employee of five nursing homes in Cincinnati metropolitan area completed a psychosocial questionnaire developed from the Quality of worklife, Job Content and Dundee State Stress questionnaires. The nursing aides were also observed with a specially developed REBA checklist that quantified the postural demands. In addition, 2 nursing aides from each shift were monitored to quantifying the amount of time sitting, standing, and walking, as well as energy expenditure. Finally the nursing aides completed body discomfort symptom survey. One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Fisher Exact Tests was used to identify significant differences among shifts. The results indicated more severe postures for shoulders and elbows in night shifts and for neck in 8-hour day shift. Walking steps and energy expenditure on day shift were significantly greater than on night shift and posed a significant amount of activity. Hourly energy expenditure on 8-hour shift was greater than 12-hour shift. The 8-hour shifts (especially evening and night) ranked lower when compared to the 12-hour shift for psychosocial factors: relationship with the coworkers and supervisor and had family interference with work, The 8-hour day shift nursing aides reported more hand-wrist pain while the 8-hour night shift workers had more knee pain and lost days due to ankle/foot pain than other shifts. The 12-hour day shift nursing aides had more current hip pain than the other shifts. Both the time and the duration of the shifts have some effect on physical and psychosocial demands as well as musculoskeletal disorders. However, the results were not completely consistent with all variables. The relationship with the supervisor and coworkers may be a major underlying factor of MSDs and turn-over rates for night shifts. The bottom line was that the demands on the nursing aides were significant and complex with the different shifts having unique demands. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Health Personnel Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Shift Work Schedule Women
• Keywords:
  MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Nurses Nursing Posture Psychosocial Factors Shift Work
• Publisher:
  University of Cincinnati
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Dissertation
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-187
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056195
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, 2013 Jul; :1-187
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Physical and psychosocial demands on shift work in nursing homes
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2574fba4c4afa546a6b695c255a818806398e19fe40f988e6153509204ae12522218e32d915af64151acb962304e63eedd172005d1c8196c6c36f725792cc43c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213850/cdc_213850_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.26 MB ]