Saf Health Work.  2018 Dec;9(4):434-440. 10.1016/j.shaw.2018.02.001.

Interruptions, Unreasonable Tasks, and Quality-Threatening Time Pressure in Home Care: Linked to Attention Deficits and Slips, Trips, and Falls

• Elfering A
• Kottwitz M
• Häfliger
• Celik Z
• Grebner S

• KMID: 2430720
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2018.02.001

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In industrial countries, home care of community dwelling elderly people is rapidly growing. Frequent injuries in home caregivers result from slips, trips, and falls (STFs). The current study tests attentional cognitive failure to mediate the association between work stressors and STFs.
METHODS
A sample of 125 home caregivers participated in a questionnaire study and reported work interruptions, unreasonable tasks, quality-threatening time pressure, conscientiousness, attentional cognitive failures, and STFs.
RESULTS
In structural equation modeling, the mediation model was shown to fit empirical data. Indirect paths with attentional cognitive failures as the link between work stressors and STF were all significant in bootstrapping tests. An alternative accident-prone person model, that suggests individual differences in conscientiousness to predict attentional cognitive failures that predict more frequent work stressors and STFs, showed no significant paths between work conditions and STFs.
CONCLUSION
To prevent occupational injury, work should be redesigned to reduce work interruptions, unreasonable tasks, and quality-threatening time pressure in home care.

Keyword

fall prevention; home care; occupational health

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls*
Aged
Caregivers
Home Care Services*
Humans
Independent Living
Individuality
Negotiating
Occupational Health
Occupational Injuries