Publications by authors named "Dean M Hashimoto"
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a daily attestation system used by employees of a multi-institutional academic medical center, which comprised of symptom-screening, self-referrals to the Occupational Health Services team, and/or a severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test.
Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all employee attestations and SARS-CoV-2 tests performed between March and June 2020.
Setting: A large multi-institutional academic medical center, including both inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Objective: To describe the incidence of systemic overlap and typical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms in healthcare personnel (HCP) following COVID-19 vaccination and association of reported symptoms with diagnosis of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the context of public health recommendations regarding work exclusion.
Design: This prospective cohort study was conducted between December 16, 2020, and March 14, 2021, with HCP who had received at least 1 dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Setting: Large healthcare system in New England.
Importance: Allergic history in individuals with confirmed anaphylaxis to a messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine is common. However, the risk factors for allergy symptoms after receiving the vaccine are unknown.
Objective: To assess the association between self-reported history of high-risk allergy and self-reported allergic reactions after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination of health care employees.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate how discrimination affects sleep duration among nurses and patient care associates and whether a supportive work culture could lessen this effect.
- Using data from a health study of hospital workers and interviews with nurse directors, the researchers gathered both quantitative and qualitative insights.
- The findings suggest that while a people-oriented culture can decrease the likelihood of short sleep, it does not fully mitigate the impact of discrimination, highlighting the need for targeted programs to address workplace discrimination in healthcare.*
Article Synopsis
- Burnout is a significant issue for healthcare workers, particularly among nurses and Patient Care Associates (PCA), driven by both job and family demands.
- A study using data from the Boston Hospital Health Workers Study found that high job strain and low workplace flexibility are linked to increased burnout rates among healthcare employees.
- The research highlights that improving workplace flexibility can help reduce burnout, emphasizing its importance for worker well-being and patient care, particularly in light of pandemic-related stressors.
Article Synopsis
- - The study explored how various organizational policies and practices (OPPs) related to safety, ergonomics, and culture impact work limitations among hospital workers in Boston.
- - Researchers surveyed 1,277 workers using the Work Limitations Questionnaire and found that better ergonomic practices and a positive culture significantly reduced reported work limitations by 39% and 38% respectively.
- - The findings suggest that enhancing workplace policies that focus on support and ergonomics can help decrease work limitations, although the link between safety practices and work limitations was not statistically significant.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how workplace policies and practices (OPPs) affect employees' use of preventive medical care, which can ultimately lower healthcare costs and disease burden.
- - Utilizing survey data from 838 hospital workers in Boston, the research shows that individual perceptions of workplace flexibility and group perceptions of a supportive culture influence preventive care usage.
- - Overall, fostering a work environment that emphasizes flexibility, ergonomics, and a people-oriented culture can enhance employees' health and reduce employers' healthcare costs.
Aims: To test the associations of safety practices as reported by nurses and their respective unit supervisors with job satisfaction.
Background: Psychosocial workplace factors are associated with job satisfaction; however, it is unknown whether nurses and supervisors accounts of safety practices are differentially linked to this outcome.
Methods: Cross-sectional study design including nurses (n = 1052) nested in 94 units in two hospitals in Boston (MA, USA).
Background: The workplace is an important domain for adults, and many effective interventions targeting physical activity and weight reduction have been implemented in the workplace. However, the U.S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To examine association between perceived inadequate staffing and musculoskeletal pain and to evaluate the role of work-related psychosocial and physical work factors in the association among hospital patient care workers.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,572 patient care workers in two academic hospitals. Perceived inadequate staffing was measured using the "staffing adequacy subscale" of Nursing Work Index, which is a continuous scale that averages estimates of staffing adequacy by workers in the same units.
Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that work-family conflict is an important risk factor for workers' health and well-being. The goal of this study is to examine association between work-family conflict and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers.
Methods: We analyzed a cross-sectional survey of 1,119 hospital patient care workers in 105 units in two urban, academic hospitals.
Background: With the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) for patient care unit workers, prevention efforts through ergonomic practices within units may be related to symptoms associated with typical work-related MSDs.
Methods: We completed a cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (n = 1,572) in two large academic hospitals in order to evaluate relationships between self-reported musculoskeletal pain, work interference due to this pain, and limitations during activities of daily living (functional limitations) and with ergonomic practices and other organizational policy and practices metrics within the unit. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses tested the significance of these associations.
Context: In their first year of postgraduate training, interns commonly work shifts that are longer than 24 hours. Extended-duration work shifts are associated with increased risks of automobile crash, particularly during a commute from work. Interns may be at risk for other occupation-related injuries.
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