RESUMO
Evidence ofâ¯effectiveâ¯self-care strategies to support Home Care Aides' (HCAs) mental health is limited. This study compares the feasibility of implementing one of two non-clinical, evidence-based stress-reduction treatments: mindful awareness practices (MAPs) meditation versus Korean-style Tai Chi. Program effectiveness was assessedâ¯on a range of self-reported health and mental health quantitative outcomesâ¯at three time-points. Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in depression, insomnia, and negative affect duringâ¯the six weeks (all p. <0.05), but only the MAPs group demonstrated a sustained improvement in negativeâ¯affectâ¯at three-monthâ¯follow-up (p. <0.05).â¯At three-month follow-up, 55% of Tai Chi participants continued practicing learned techniques, compared to 75% of MAPs participants.â¯MAPsâ¯wereâ¯found to be more practical and amenable to integration in daily life compared to Tai Chi. Showing positive results on both feasibility and effectiveness assessment, MAPs were chosen over Tai Chi to be scaled as a benefit to HCAs.
Assuntos
Visitadores Domiciliares , Meditação , Atenção Plena , Tai Chi Chuan , Humanos , Tai Chi Chuan/psicologia , Estudos de Viabilidade , Atenção Plena/métodosRESUMO
Home Care Aides (HCAs) have nearly four times the rate of injury as the general U.S. work force. In 2015, the Service Employees International Union 775 Benefits Group conducted a health and safety survey with 672 HCAs in Washington State. The goal was to identify the risk factors for injury and to better assess injury rates through self-report. Quantitative analyses assessed injury prevalence and barriers in reporting injury. Overall, 13 percent responded that they had ever had an injury that required medical attention while working as an HCA. These rates are significantly higher for HCAs employed by home care agencies compared with HCAs who work independently. Over a third reported moderate to high levels of hesitancy in reporting an on-the-job injury; these rates were even higher for independent providers. Study findings suggest that HCAs are well informed about appropriate next steps following workplace injury, but strong barriers may prevent them from attempting the reporting process.