Professional voices on risk and accidents in home care – a Swedish survey study
Journal article, 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out what knowledge and experience of occupational therapists, personal assistants and public health nurses/nurses in Sweden can contribute concerning the vulnerability of residents to injury in different residential care-settings. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on an online survey. A total of 832 individuals responded to the survey. The data were analyzed from a mixed-method approach, using descriptive statistics, correlations and textual-analysis. Findings: More than one in four representatives of these professions had witnessed accidents. The results show that bedrooms and bathrooms are the rooms in which accidents are most likely to occur in homes. Research limitations/implications: One limitation of the study is that the impact of educational initiatives on the different professions was not investigated, so it is not possible to ascertain what effect this may have had on risk identification and accident prevention measures in residential care-settings. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior study of these issues has been conducted. This study is deemed to have significant social benefit because of the steadily increasing need for care in residential settings. No other study has addressed the importance of the physical environment in this context. Collaborations involving researchers from various disciplines, professional organizations and public and private sector employers involved in personal assistance have contributed specific knowledge.

personal assistants

risks

injuries

home care

home healthcare

occupational therapists

nurses

residential care-settings

Author

Jörgen Lundälv

University of Gothenburg

Inga Malmqvist

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Design

Charlotta Thodelius

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Design

Facilities

0263-2772 (ISSN)

Vol. 38 3-4 218-234

ArcSafe

Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (2013-4176), 2014-05-01 -- 2018-12-31.

Subject Categories

Architectural Engineering

Business Administration

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Roots

Basic sciences

DOI

10.1108/F-03-2019-0030

More information

Latest update

7/21/2021