Authors
Amuwo-S; Sokas-RK; McPhaul-K; Lipscomb-J
Source
Home Health Care Serv Q 2011 Apr; 30(2):96-114
Abstract
This cross-sectional study of home care aides examines self-reported occupational exposure to blood and body fluids to determine if factors that place these workers at risk can be identified. Home care aides working for two agencies in the Chicagoland area were surveyed. A total of 62 (6.3%) of the home care aides reported instances of blood and body fluid exposure either via sharps or mucous membrane contact. Although few aides reported performing health care-related tasks such as colostomy care, caring for a urinary catheter, or bowel stimulation (which were outside their scope of duties), those who did were significantly more likely to experience blood and body fluid exposure (p=.01). Level of assistance needed by clients in tasks such as feeding, laundry, and transportation was also found to be significantly associated with blood and body fluid exposure (p=.01). These data highlight the importance of, and need for, home care aid training in the use of universal precautions.
Keywords
Biohazards; Biological-transport; Bloodborne-pathogens; Body-fluids; Exposure-assessment; Health-care; Health-care-personnel; Health-hazards; Medical-care; Medical-personnel; Medical-services; Pathogenicity; Risk-analysis; Quantitative-analysis; Safety-research; Statistical-analysis; Work-environment; Work-performance; Work-practices;
Author Keywords: bloodborne pathogen exposure; home care; sharps injuries; worker health and safety
Contact
Shakirudeen Amuwo, PhD, MPH, Illinois Public Health Research Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Science Department, 2121 West Taylor Street, M/C 922, Chicago, IL 60612, U
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
shakirudeen@yahoo.com
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-008237; B10122011
Source Name
Home Health Care Services Quarterly
Performing Organization
University of Maryland, Baltimore