Hepatitis C in the workplace: a survey of occupational health and safety knowledge and practice in the beauty therapy industry

OBJECTIVE: To examine current knowledge and practice of occupational health and safety (OH&S) regarding hepatitis C in beauty therapy practice. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all beauty therapy practices identified through the Telstra Yellow Pages and distributed via beauty therapy product agencies. RESULTS: 119 questionnaires were completed by employers and employees in 99 beauty therapy practices in metropolitan Adelaide. Beauty therapists reported carrying out many practices that had exposed them to blood in the past. More than 80% of the procedures carried out by beauty therapists in the previous week were reported to have led to exposure to blood. 39.5% of respondents had not received information about OH&S practices related to blood spills and 77.5% of respondents had received no OH&S information about hepatitis C. Knowledge of hepatitis C and its transmission was poor, with 62% of respondents incorrectly identifying the prevalence of hepatitis C and respondents incorrectly identifying sneezing (28%), kissing (46%) and sharing coffee cups (42%) as a modes of transmission. 80% of beauty therapy practices had no OH&S representative. CONCLUSION: Beauty therapy practice can expose both operator and client to blood and is therefore a potential site for the transmission of blood-borne diseases including hepatitis C. OH&S information is inadequate in this industry and knowledge of hepatitis C is poor. IMPLICATIONS: Health promotion information about hepatitis C and OH&S practice to prevent transmission of blood-borne diseases is required.     

Nursing accidents at the workplace and their relation with the security and occupational health status

The purpose of this study was to examine the accidents and incidents that take place in the workplace and their relationship with the occupational health and safety climate. The sample for this study was chosen by convenience and was composed of 154 professional nurses. The Occupational Health and Safety Climate Scale. (Roduguez et al., 2000) was used for the research. The results of the study reveal that the variables that contribute to understanding the determinants of the occupational health and safety climate are the individual's relationships with peers and supervisors, the number of trainings in the area of occupational health and safety and the number of accidents that the individual has experienced.     

Hepatitis C in the workplace: a survey of occupational health and safety knowledge and practice in the beauty therapy industry

Objective :To examine current knowledge and practice of occupational health and safety (OH&S) regarding hepatitis C in beauty therapy practice.
Methods : A questionnaire was sent to all beauty therapy practices identified through the Telstra Yellow Pages and distributed via beauty therapy product agencies.
Results : 119 questionnaires were completed by employers and employees in 99 beauty therapy practices in metropolitan Adelaide. Beauty therapists reported carrying out many practices that had exposed them to blood in the past. More than 80% of the procedures carried out by beauty therapists in the previous week were reported to have led to exposure to blood. 39.5% of respondents had not received information about OH&S practices related to blood spills and 77.5% of respondents had received no OH&S information about hepatitis C. Knowledge of hepatitis C and its transmission was poor, with 62% of respondents incorrectly identifying the prevalence of hepatitis C and respondents incorrectly identifying sneezing (28%), kissing (46%) and sharing coffee cups (42%) as a modes of transmission. 80% of beauty therapy practices had no OH&S representative.
Conclusion : Beauty therapy practice can expose both operator and client to blood and is therefore a potential site for the transmission of blood-borne diseases including hepatitis C. OH&S information is inadequate in this industry and knowledge of hepatitis C is poor.
Implications : Health promotion information about hepatitis C and OH&S practice to prevent transmission of blood-borne diseases is required.     

Translating knowledge to practice: an occupational therapy perspective

Background/Aim:  Translating knowledge to practice, also called ‘knowledge translation’, is increasingly recognised as a driving force to strengthen and improve the healthcare system. How knowledge translation fits with occupational therapy practice deserves examination. Methods:  This paper will explore how an action process model, the Knowledge‐To‐Action Process, may advance knowledge translation in occupational therapy. Occupational therapists typically view knowledge in a broad sense, encompassing research, tacit knowledge, expert opinion and client evidence. The Knowledge‐To‐Action Process facilitates application of client, therapist and research knowledge to occupational therapy practice. Results:  Examination of knowledge translation through the lens of the Knowledge‐To‐Action Process creates awareness of the value of client, therapist and research knowledge. It also highlights opportunities as practitioners to implement knowledge translation. Conclusions:  Models able to flexibly reflect an occupational therapy perspective of knowledge have a potentially vital role in successful knowledge translation. Furthermore, these models allow therapists and other stakeholders to analyse complex situations and identify targeted knowledge translation strategies.     

Epileptic disease and fitness for specific jobs involving driving motor vehicles

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the problems the occupational health physician meets in health surveillance of workers with a clinical history of epilepsy, in order to assess fitness for specific jobs requiring driving of motor vehicles. METHODS: A health protocol was used which required acquisition of all information related to job features, work organization, past and current clinical-functional status of epilepsy and any treatment in progress. SUBJECTS: The cases of four workers with clinical history of epilepsy were examined who were judged to be representative both of the most frequent forms of epileptic disease and of jobs requiring driving of motor vehicles. RESULTS: Application of the chosen health protocol allowed us to make balanced assessments of fitness for the different specific jobs performed by the four workers. DISCUSSION: With the use of this protocol it was possible to protect the health and the safety of both the workers concerned and their fellow workers and also, as far as possible, to respect the occupational competence of such workers. We also addressed the problems related to anti-epileptic drug consumption and in itinere road accidents. Lastly, the different medical-legal aspects of the problem were further investigated, analysing national and international legislation with respect to epilepsy and fitness for driving motor vehicles.     

Workers' perceptions, knowledge and responses regarding occupational health and safety: a report on a Canadian study

This paper presents data from interviews with 492 rank and file workers. It examines aspects of workers' perceptions, knowledge and actions regarding workplace hazards and views these as indicators of the potential strength of labour in improving occupational health and safety. Respondents had a strong consciousness of ways in which their work might damage their health and they or their fellow workers had experienced half of the symptoms they mentioned. However, they lacked information on the results of environmental and medical monitoring, their core legal rights and the more effective strategies for reducing hazards. Few respondents sought information and few were persistent in dealing with their worries about hazards. Knowledge of their rights under the current occupational health and safety legislation was linked with taking such actions. It is suggested that workers' pursuit of their health and safety concerns might be facilitated if they had better access to information about their legal rights and mechanisms for dealing with hazards in the workplace.     

A survey of recruitment and retention issues for occupational therapists working clinically in mental health

Background:  Mental health services Australia-wide have difficulty recruiting and retaining clinical occupational therapists.
Methods:  A survey of occupational therapists to identify factors that could influence their retention or loss from clinical mental health practice was undertaken.
Results:  Typically, respondents were female, aged 30 years or younger, working full-time at a grade 2 or 3 level, and had worked entirely in mental health. The main positive aspects that respondents identified about their positions were the 'social/emotional environment', 'aspects/nature of their roles', and 'using occupational therapy skills'. The main position constraints were 'insufficient time/workload' and 'insufficient use of occupational therapy skills/generic nature of work'.
Conclusions:  Recruitment and retention strategies are required to retain occupational therapists in clinical mental health positions.     

Current trends in the practice of home health care of occupational therapists treating patients who have had a stroke

The present study was designed to examine current practices in home health care among occupational therapists in the United States of America treating patients who have had a stroke. On any given day an estimated 1 237 100 patients receive home health care in the USA. This makes home health care a rapidly expanding industry of the 1990s. One of the most significant populations with whom occupational therapists work are patients who have had a stroke. General guidelines for occupational therapists working in home health care include: environmental safety, motor coordination, sensory deficits, perception, cognition, ADL/IADL, and leisure activities. Two hundred surveys were sent to registered occupational therapists working in home health care in the Midwestern region of the USA. Forty-three of the returned surveys were used in the data analysis. The results indicated that therapists are utilising an adaptive approach to treatment techniques within an eclectic frame of reference. Remedial techniques, such as Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT), were used often by therapists. The results also indicated that the most frequently used evaluations were standardised tests. Non-reimbursement of services was found to be a result of the patients' insurance not covering occupational therapy services. Further research regarding psychosocial issues with this population in home health care was indicated. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.     

Characteristics of each activity domain comprising ADL for partially dependent older adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of each activity domain which make up activities of daily living (ADL). We used the ADL index with a unidimensional scale for partially dependent older adults, and examined the distribution of the ADL score and self-evaluation of health and physical fitness. There were 466 subjects from age 60 to 98 (132 male, 81.7 +/- 8.22 years; 334 female, 82.5 +/- 7.25 years). Seventeen items representing 7 domains (holding and changing the posture of the body, dressing, toilet usage, bathing, manual activity, walking, and locomotion and carrying) were selected as ADL items. Each item was measured on a dichotomous scale. A questionnaire consisting of 17 ADL items and two questions concerning self-evaluation of health and physical fitness were administered on subjects by institutional therapists (OT, PT, nurse, social worker). An examination of the cumulative relative frequency distribution curve of total score showed that ADL scores of all domains can be used to assess ADL achievement ability level with a wide range from low to high level. It is inferred that the total score will be low when the score is low for holding and changing body-posture, toilet usage and manual activity. On the other hand, it will be high when the score is high for dressing and walking. ADL abilities for all domains also tended to be higher in persons with higher perceptual levels of health and physical fitness.     

Occupational therapy evaluation: use of self-report and/or observation?

Background: The Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model (OTIPM) serves to guide occupational therapists in their professional reasoning. The OTIPM prescribes evaluation of task performance based on both self-report and observation. Although this approach seems ideal, many clinicians raise the issue that time to perform evaluations is limited. It is, therefore, relevant to examine whether similar information concerning task performance can be obtained using self-report or observation. Objective: The aims were to investigate what information can be obtained regarding the quality of ADL task performance based on self-report and observation, respectively, and to examine the relationship between measures of self-reported and observed quality of ADL task performance. Methods: The quality of ADL task performance among 20 adults with depression was evaluated using the ADL Interview (ADL-I) and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Results and conclusions: Results indicated that participants both reported and demonstrated increased effort and/or fatigue, increased use of time, need for assistance, and safety problems. However, little relationship was found between measures of self-reported and observed quality of ADL task performance, supporting the use of both self-report and observation as part of the evaluation phase outlined in the OTIPM.     

Occupational therapy practice with clients from non-English speaking backgrounds: A survey of clinicians in south-west Sydney

Australia is a multicultural society and this has important implications for the health care worker. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of occupational therapists who work with clients from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). The ‘cross-cultural therapy questionnaire’ was developed by the author and distributed to 65 occupational therapists employed in either the South-Western Sydney Area Health Service or Western Sydney Area Health Service. Issues explored in this questionnaire included barriers to cross-cultural care, strategies employed to overcome these barriers and theoretical models used to guide practice with ethnic clients. It was found that the majority of respondents experienced a number of obstacles to cross-cultural care within occupational therapy practice. An extensive list of strategies for overcoming cross-cultural barriers was compiled. The implications of these results for the profession of occupational therapy are discussed and future research directions are suggested.     

Multicompetent allied health professionals: current approaches and suggestions for baccalaureate level programs

A study of the need for multicompetency was conducted by the University of Florida College of Health Related Professions among the graduates of its baccalaureate programs in dietetics, medical technology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Most responding dietitians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists said they had felt a need during their professional practice to be competent in areas outside their profession, while most responding medical technologists did not feel such a need. The respondents listed those areas outside their profession in which they had felt a need for competency. This article also describes current approaches to the education of multicompetent allied health professionals and suggests new strategies for educating these personnel at the baccalaureate level.     

中国老年人日常活动能力的影响因素——基于CHARLS数据的分析

目的了解老年人日常生活能力(Activities of daily living,ADL)现状,分析ADL的影响因素,尤其是医疗保险的作用。方法利用2011年"中国健康与养老追踪调查(China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study,CHARLS)"数据,对中国健康与养老追踪调查的28个省区150个县级单位449个村级或社区单位7 188名60岁及以上的老年人ADL状况及影响进行分析。结果老年人的ADL受损率为22.38%。Logistic分层回归分析显示,年龄、受教育程度、是否饮酒、睡眠状况、是否患慢性病、抑郁、地域、医疗保险是ADL的影响因素。其中,城市职工医疗保险、公费医疗的老年人,其ADL受损率是无保险老年人的0.612倍,而其他类型保险的老年人(城市居民医疗保险、新型农村合作医疗、商业保险和其他保险),ADL受损率与无保险老年人无显著差异。结论中国老年人ADL受损率较高,个体社会经济因素、躯体健康、抑郁状况、医疗保险是影响ADL功能的重要因素。应采取措施,尽量缩小不同保险制度之间保障水平差异,保障与提高国民健康水平和生活质量。     

Australian occupational therapy practice in acute care settings

Anational sample of occupational therapists was surveyed to explore the nature of Australian occupational therapy practice in acute care settings. Self-care was the major client need that therapists reported they addressed, with an initial interview being the most common assessment procedure. Client education was the most frequently used intervention. The most important skills therapists reported for effective practice in acute care were time management, quick clinical reasoning and lateral thinking. Important workplace characteristics included a cooperative healthcare team and early referral. Therapists reported that their most important resources were supportive senior therapists and a well-resourced equipment pool. Three attitudinal factors emerged. Therapists in interdisciplinary teams and those with more experience had more positive attitudes. Younger therapists experienced more concern about not being able to do more for their patients. Results suggest a need for graduates to be better prepared in some skill areas and to have more realistic expectations of practice in this area. Department managers need to ensure younger therapists receive adequate support from senior therapists. Further research is needed to determine how best to provide this support and to further examine the influence of the education experience on practice expectations.     

Perception and management of risk in Internet-based peer-to-peer milk-sharing

The perception and management of the risks of peer-to-peer milk sharing was explored via a written questionnaire administered to 97 peer milk donors and 41 peer milk recipients who were recruited via Facebook. All recipients’ respondents were aware that there were risks associated with using peer-shared milk and took action to mitigate these risks; however, their knowledge and risk mitigation was incomplete. Recipient respondents were well informed as to the risks involved in artificial feeding and this contributed to their decision to prefer peer-shared milk. Many donor respondents did not follow guidelines for safe milk expression. Many respondents had not discussed milk sharing with a health provider. It is recommended that health providers be proactive in providing education to minimise the risks of peer-to-peer milk sharing. This is the first study to examine the views and practices of Internet-facilitated peer-to-peer milk sharing and provides insight that may improve the safety of the practice.     

The Occupation-Based Intervention of Bathing: Cases in Home Health Care

Abstract

Although bathing skills can be an indicator of long term placement, documentation of occupational therapists doing bathing as an occupation-based intervention is limited. Five clients were referred to a hospital-based home health agency with various diagnoses and at different levels of functioning. Each client was assessed at admission and discharge using the Outcomes and Assessment Information Set and the occupational therapists used the Activities of daily living (ADL) of bathing as the intervention based on client centered expressed needs. Findings reveal a statistically significant change in individuals pre- and post-assessment of bathing (Z?=?–2.032, p?=?.042) supporting occupation-based interventions, specifically bathing, should be further researched as a means of significantly improving the functional status of clients.     

Working Conditions Influencing Professionalization of Occupational and Physical Therapists—Part 1: A Quantitative Perspective

The aim of this study was to survey the perception occupational and physical therapists had of their working conditions in the context of ongoing professionalization. Seven hundred Swedish occupational and physical therapists, equally represented and surveyed nationwide, met the criteria established for inclusion in the study. The findings revealed that most of the therapists experienced a strong feeling of job satisfaction and professional self-concept and that physical therapists are a significant step ahead of occupational therapists in their answers. A final multiple regression equation was completed on the working conditions variables, theoretically connected with professionalization. The findings showed that most of them turned out to be significant predictors of overall job satisfaction. Surprisingly, only half of the therapists experienced a reasonable possibility of developing and learning new things at work, and a minority admitted autonomy concerning identification of the patients' treatment needs. A tentative conclusion is that most of the therapists are extenders of functions performed by the physician. They neither seem to have a fair chance, nor do they seem to care to take on full responsibility for their professional development and field of competence, and to make their expert knowledge explicit. This might constitute an important barrier to full professional status.