Kendra MA, Weiker A, Simon S, Grant A, Shullick D, et al.
Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.). Date of publication 1996 Apr 1;volume 13(2):83-9.
1. Public Health Nurs. 1996 Apr;13(2):83-9. doi:
10.1111/j.1525-1446.1996.tb00224.x.
Safety concerns affecting delivery of home health care.
Kendra MA(1), Weiker A, Simon S, Grant A, Shullick D.
Author information:
(1)Cleveland State University, Department of Nursing, Cleveland, Ohio
44115-1123, USA.
Factors influencing the remarkable growth of home health care include increased
elderly population, decreased average length of hospital stay, and technological
advancements that reduce the need for hospitalization. Societal changes have
prompted increasing concern about personal risk to home care providers. The
purpose of this pilot study was to: 1) ascertain factors related to perception
of risk by home health care administrators and staff and to identify strategies
used by home health care administrators to reduce risk to staff; and 2)
determine whether quality of care is affected when home-visit situations present
risk. A convenience sample of 36 home health care administrators and 62 staff
was surveyed about risks and measures provided by the home health care agency to
minimize risk. Factors associated with risk are geographic location, high
incidence of crime, inappropriate patient or caregiver behavior, infectious
diseases, and evening assignments. Strategies used to minimize risk include
safety programs, preplanning of visits, personal protective equipment, escorts,
and buddy systems. Perceived ability to refuse high-risk assignments, however,
is questionable, as 66% of the staff stated that they leave a situation "as soon
as possible." These findings will be used to strengthen inservice programs and
to provide a basis for future studies.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.1996.tb00224.x
PMID: 8936240 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
