Safety & Health for Home Care Workers in Social Assistance and Healthcare

描述（由申请人提供）：家庭医疗保健（HC）是美国增长最快的行业之一，在未来几十年内，这一趋势将继续增长。这反映了许多因素：传统的住院医疗程序现在在家里进行，技术的进步，医疗保健成本控制，改进的感染控制，以及大多数美国人希望在家里得到照顾。与此同时，美国人口的寿命更长，患有多种慢性病，需要越来越复杂的医疗和个人家庭护理。几乎没有考虑到将家庭作为工作场所，也没有考虑到碳氢化合物工人的职业安全和健康（奥什）危害。拟议研究的目的是定性和定量评估HC工人经历的各种奥什危害，重点是助手，并与HC机构，工会和一线工人合作，以确定和传播有效的奥什干预措施。这项研究将建立在以前的NIOSH资助的研究，2004-2008年，并将扩大一个积极的网络HC行业和劳动力合作伙伴。 公共卫生相关性：本研究旨在改善家庭护理（HC）工作者的职业安全与健康（奥什），这是一个快速增长、研究不足、低工资、多样化的人群。在医疗保健中投保奥什可以改善病人/客户以及工人的健康和安全。时机至关重要，因为HC是增长最快的行业之一，美国人口正在老龄化，复杂的医疗和个人护理越来越多地在家中完成。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Home Healthcare (HC) is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. and the trend will increase in the next decades. This reflects numerous factors: traditionally in-hospital medical procedures now performed at home, advances in technologies, healthcare cost containment, improved infection control, and the desire of most Americans to be cared for at home. At the same time, the U.S. population is living longer with multiple chronic conditions that require increasingly complex medical and personal home care. Little consideration has been given to the home as a workplace or to the occupational safety and health (OSH) hazards of HC workers. The objective of the proposed study is to assess qualitatively and quantitatively a broad range of OSH hazards experienced by HC workers, with a focus on aides, and to work with HC agencies, unions, and frontline workers to identify and disseminate effective OSH interventions. The research will build on a previous NIOSH- funded study, 2004-2008, and will expand an active network of HC industry and labor partners. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This study aims to improve the occupational safety & health (OSH) of home care (HC) workers, a rapidly growing, under-studied, low-wage, diverse population. Insuring OSH in HC improves the health & safety of patient/clients, as well as that of workers. Timing is critical, as HC is one of the fastest growing industries, the U.S. population is aging, and complex medical and personal care is increasingly done at home.