All aides, n=1249 | Agency-hired aides, n=634 | Client-hired aides, n=615 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | Per cent | 95% CI | n | Per cent | 95% CI | n | Per cent | 95% CI | p Value* | |
Work-related injuries resulting in lost worktime or medical care | ||||||||||
Any work-related injury | 140 | 11.2 | (9 to 13) | 86 | 13.6 | (10.9 to 16.2) | 54 | 8.8 | (6.5 to 11.0) | 0.007 |
Client handling injury | 24 | 1.9 | (1.2 to 2.7) | 9 | 1.4 | (0.5 to 2.3) | 15 | 2.4 | (1.2 to 3.7) | 0.195 |
Slip, trip, fall outside home | 22 | 1.8 | (1.0 to 2.5) | 12 | 1.9 | (0.8 to 3.0) | 10 | 1.6 | (0.6 to 2.6) | 0.686 |
Slip, trip, fall inside home | 16 | 1.3 | (0.7 to 1.9) | 10 | 1.6 | (0.6 to 2.6) | 6 | 1 | (0.2 to 1.8) | 0.350 |
Traffic accident | 16 | 1.3 | (0.7 to 1.9) | 9 | 1.4 | (0.5 to 2.3) | 7 | 1.1 | (0.3 to 2.0) | 0.634 |
Burn | 8 | 0.6 | (0.2 to 1.1) | 3 | 0.5 | (0 to 1.0) | 5 | 0.6 | (0.1 to 1.5) | 0.811 |
All other work-related injuries | 14 | 1.1 | (0.5 to 1.7) | 8 | 1.3 | (0.4 to 2.1) | 6 | 1 | (0.2 to 1.8) | 0.619 |
Back Pain | ||||||||||
Any back pain | 420 | 33.6 | (31.0 to 36.2) | 201 | 31.2 | (28.1 to 35.3) | 219 | 35.6 | (31.8 to 39.4) | 0.099 |
At least once/week | 249 | 19.9 | (17.7 to 22.2) | 110 | 17.4 | (14.4 to 20.3) | 139 | 22.6 | (19.3 to 25.9) | 0.022 |
Requiring medication | 285 | 22.8 | (20.0 to 25.2) | 131 | 20.7 | (17.5 to 23.8) | 154 | 25 | (21.6 to 28.5) | 0.070 |
Pain considered work related | 320 | 25.6 | (23.2 to 28.0) | 147 | 23.2 | (19.9 to 26.5) | 173 | 28.1 | (24.6 to 31.7) | 0.318 |
Sharps injuries | ||||||||||
At least one needlestick or other sharps injury†,‡ | 23 | 1.8 | (1.1 to 2.6) | 12 | 1.9 | (0.8 to 3.0) | 11 | 1.8 | (0.7 to 2.8) | 0.896 |
*Test of H0: no difference in the percentage of OSH hazard reported by agency-hired versus client-hired aides.
†A ‘sharps injury’ was defined as being stuck or cut by a previously used sharp medical device (a ‘sharp’) such as a needle or lancet, while working in home care.
‡23 aides reported at least one sharps injury in the past 12 months. A total of 50 sharps injuries were reported by these aides.
OSH, Occupational Safety and Health.