ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the cardiovascular disease (CVD) status of nursing assistants (NAs) working in long-term care. BACKGROUND: Most research with NAs focus on work-related outcomes despite NAs' potentially high risk for CVD. METHODS: Baseline data from a pilot physical activity (PA) and diet focused health promotion study were used to describe NAs CVD risk. Objective (blood pressure, lipid panel, PA levels, body mass index) and subjective (depressive symptoms) data from 39 NAs were used to provide a CVD assessment. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (76.3%) participants had at least three CVD risk factors. Specifically, 18% of participants were hypertensive, 89% of participants were overweight/obese, 90% of participants had hyperlipidemia and 97% of participants did not meet PA guidelines. CONCLUSION: The data suggest NAs working in long-term care have multiple CVD risk factors. Future research should consider PA and diet focused worksite health promotion (WHP) interventions to decrease their CVD risks.
Subject(s)
Black or African American/statistics & numerical data , Cardiovascular Diseases/ethnology , Hyperlipidemias/ethnology , Hypertension/ethnology , Minority Groups , Nursing Assistants/statistics & numerical data , Overweight/ethnology , Adult , Diet/ethnology , Female , Health Promotion , Health Status , Hispanic or Latino/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Long-Term Care , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Risk Factors , WorkplaceABSTRACT
Research shows licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants (NAs) have high rates of obesity and hypertension, potentially from limited engagement in physical activity (PA). Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to describe the self-reported exercise engagement, of licensed nurses (i.e., registered and licensed practical nurses) and NAs. We performed a secondary data analysis of two studies that used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System - PA questionnaire to assess PA levels. The sample consisted of 31 NAs and 40 licensed nurses. Our findings show 50 (56.9%) NAs and licensed nurses report they engage in enough exercise to meet national guidelines. Our sample reported engaging in more exercise than the general population. We suspect measurement biases as over half of our sample reported engaging in at least 300 min of exercise each week. The potential over-reporting could be due to the perception of their work since they do not have sedentary jobs.
Subject(s)
Exercise , Guidelines as Topic , Nursing Assistants , Nursing Staff , Adult , Humans , Middle Aged , United StatesABSTRACT
Despite nursing assistants' high risk for cardiovascular disease, few studies have aimed to reduce their cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this article is to explore factors that facilitated and hindered nursing assistants' participation in a pilot physical-activity- and diet-focused worksite health promotion program that aimed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Three focus groups were conducted with 12 (67%) participants of the program. Four themes emerged: motivation to participate in a worksite health promotion program, program participation facilitators, barriers to program participation, and suggestions for future programs. This data can aid future program development.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Health Promotion , Nursing Assistants/psychology , Occupational Health , Adult , Focus Groups , Health Promotion/methods , Humans , Pilot Projects , Qualitative Research , WorkplaceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of the Worksite Heart Health Improvement Project (WHHIP). METHODS: The WHHIP was a quasi-experimental, 6-month pilot performed in two long-term care facilities. Thirty-nine minority female nursing assistants participated in this study. The 3-month WHHIP intervention focused on reducing cardiovascular disease risk by increasing physical activity and reducing the amount of salt and fat consumed. The intervention included three components: environmental and policy assessment; education; and ongoing motivation. The control site received education only. Measures were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months and included work ability, job stress, and job satisfaction. RESULTS: Generalized estimating equations showed that the treatment group demonstrated significant improvements in work ability (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: There was preliminary evidence that the WHHIP improved work ability, and future research should assess the impact of improved work ability on patients.
Subject(s)
Health Education , Health Promotion , Job Satisfaction , Occupational Health , Stress, Psychological/prevention & control , Work Capacity Evaluation , Adult , Dietary Fats , Female , Health Impact Assessment , Humans , Long-Term Care , Middle Aged , Motor Activity , Nursing , Pilot Projects , Program Evaluation , Sodium Chloride, Dietary , Statistics, Nonparametric , WorkplaceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Test the feasibility and efficacy of the Worksite Heart Health Improvement Project (WHHIP). DESIGN: The WHHIP was a quasi-experimental 6-month pilot performed in 2 long-term care facilities. SAMPLE: Thirty-nine female minority nursing assistants participated in this study with a mean age of 42.39 (SD = 12.79) years. MEASUREMENTS: Measures were collected at baseline, 3, and 6 months and included blood pressure, lipid panel, body mass index, physical activity levels, diet behaviors, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy outcomes. INTERVENTION: The 3-month WHHIP intervention included 3 components: environmental and policy assessment; education; and on-going motivation. The control site received education only. RESULTS: Subject participation averaged 47% and 58% in exercise and diet related activities, respectively. Generalized estimating equations showed the treatment group showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms (p = .012), systolic blood pressure (p = .028), total cholesterol (p = .002) and triglycerides (p = .011) over time. The treatment group also showed trends for improvement in diet behaviors (p = .069) and diastolic blood pressure (p = .073). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided feasibility evidence for the WHHIP and preliminary evidence that the WHHIP can improve heart healthy behaviors and subsequent outcomes among nursing assistants in long-term care settings.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Health Behavior , Health Promotion , Nursing Assistants , Adult , Black or African American , Blood Pressure , Depression , Diet , Education , Feasibility Studies , Female , Hispanic or Latino , Humans , Lipids/blood , Long-Term Care , Middle Aged , Motivation , Pilot Projects , Self Efficacy , WorkplaceABSTRACT
Job satisfaction among nursing assistants (NAs) is associated with NA retention, resident satisfaction, and residents' quality of care. The purpose of this study was to provide psychometric support for a measure of job satisfaction, the Job Attitude Scale (JAS), used with NAs that work in long-term care facilities. We performed a secondary data analysis and used traditional test theory and Rasch analysis to assess the reliability and validity of the JAS. The sample consisted of 508 NAs from 12 nursing homes and 96 NAs from 4 assisted living communities. We found evidence of reliability, validity, and generalizability when the measure was used in both settings and evidence that the JAS has the ability to assess variability in job satisfaction.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Job Satisfaction , Nursing Assistants/psychology , Humans , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Chronic disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Risk factors and work conditions can be addressed through health promotion aimed at improving individual health behaviors; health protection, including occupational safety and health interventions; and efforts to support the work-family interface. Responding to the need to address chronic disease at worksites, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened a workshop to identify research priorities to advance knowledge and implementation of effective strategies to reduce chronic disease risk. Workshop participants outlined a conceptual framework and corresponding research agenda to address chronic disease prevention by integrating health promotion and health protection in the workplace.
Subject(s)
Chronic Disease/prevention & control , Health Behavior , Health Promotion , Workplace , Adult , Community-Institutional Relations , Health Planning Guidelines , Humans , Interdisciplinary Communication , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Risk Factors , United StatesABSTRACT
PROBLEM: Federal policy recommends environmental strategies as part of a comprehensive workplace violence program in healthcare and social services. The purpose of this project was to contribute specific, evidence-based guidance to the healthcare and social services employer communities regarding the use of environmental design to prevent violence. METHOD: A retrospective record review was conducted of environmental evaluations that were performed by an architect in two Participatory Action Research (PAR) projects for workplace violence prevention in 2000 and, in the second project in 2005. Ten facility environmental evaluation reports along with staff focus group reports from these facilities were analyzed to categorize environmental risk factors for Type II workplace violence. RESULTS: Findings were grouped according to their impact on access control, the ability to observe patients (natural surveillance), patient and worker safety (territoriality), and activity support. DISCUSSION: The environmental assessment findings reveal design and security issues that, if corrected, would improve safety and security of staff, patients, and visitors and reduce fear and unpredictability. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Healthcare and social assistance employers can improve the effectiveness of violence prevention efforts by including an environmental assessment with complementary hazard controls.
