Citation

Tveito TH, Sembajwe G, Boden LI, Dennerlein JT, Wagner GR, Kenwood C, Stoddard AM, Reme SE, Hopcia K, Hashimoto D, Shaw WS, Sorensen G. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2014; 56(8): 802-808.

Affiliation

From Uni Research Health (Drs Tveito and Reme), Bergen, Norway; Harvard School of Public Health (Drs Tveito, Sembajwe, Dennerlein, Wagner, Reme, Hashimoto, and Sorensen); The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dr Sorensen), Boston, Mass; Clinic Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dr Tveito), Vestfold Hospital Trust, Stavern, Norway; The City University of New York (Dr Sembajwe); Boston University School of Public Health (Dr Boden) and Northeastern University (Dr Dennerlein), Boston, Mass; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Dr Wagner), Washington, DC; New England Research Institutes (Mr Kenwood and Dr Stoddard), Watertown, Mass; University of Illinois at Chicago (Dr Hopcia); Partners Health Care (Dr Hashimoto), Boston; Boston College Law School (Dr Hashimoto), Newton Centre; and Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety (Dr Shaw), Hopkinton, Mass.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000189

PMID

25099405

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess relationships between perceptions of organizational practices and policies (OPP), social support, and injury rates among workers in hospital units.

METHODS: A total of 1230 hospital workers provided survey data on OPP, job flexibility, and social support. Demographic data and unit injury rates were collected from the hospitals' administrative databases.

RESULTS: Injury rates were lower in units where workers reported higher OPP scores and high social support. These relationships were mainly observed among registered nurses. Registered nurses perceived coworker support and OPP as less satisfactory than patient care associates (PCAs). Nevertheless, because of the low number of PCAs at each unit, results for the PCAs are preliminary and should be further researched in future studies with larger sample sizes.

CONCLUSIONS: Employers aiming to reduce injuries in hospitals could focus on good OPP and supportive work environment.

Language: en