title: Work demands and health consequences of organizational and technological measures introduced to enhance the quality of home care services--A subgroup analysis.
abstract: This study of home care workers in a Norwegian municipality aimed to examine the effect of two measures involving organizational (job checklists) and technological (personal digital assistants) job aids on perceived work demands and musculoskeletal health. Questionnaire data was collected in 2009 (n = 138, response rate 76.2%) and 2011 (n = 80, response rate 54%). Forty-six home care workers responded at both waves. Respondents were assigned into 'high', 'moderate' and 'low' strain groups based on their responses to open and closed survey questions regarding impact of the two measures. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc t-tests and regression analyses investigated group differences and examined development in variables. Perceived work demands and health effects over the two-year study period were unchanged overall, yet significant differences between subgroups were highlighted. Work demands and shoulder-neck pain remained high for high-strain workers, but were reduced for low and moderate strain workers. Management should be aware of diversity in worker responses to rationalizations and give priority to supplementary, targeted measures to counteract adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Alfred Getz veg 3, SB1, 12.etg, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: Gunn.Robstad.Andersen@iot.ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Gunn Robstad
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Alfred Getz veg 3, SB1, 12.etg, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: Synne.Bendal@iot.ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Synne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bendal
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Alfred Getz veg 3, SB1, 12.etg, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: Rolf.Westgaard@iot.ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Rolf H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Westgaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D057189:Checklist; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009664:Norway; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Musculoskeletal health; Rationalization; Work environment