Date of Award

1-1-2001

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Master of Health Science

Faculty

Faculty of Communications, Health and Science

First Supervisor

Dr Janis Mussett

Second Supervisor

Dr Margie Kolbie-Mims

Abstract

This study set out to determine the reasons for underreporting of occupational injuries and exposures in the American health care environment. A cross sectional survey was used to report the responses and opinions of nurses who failed to report all occupational injuries and exposures, and the type of injuries that are least likely to be reported. The participants were a random sample of Registered Nurses employed in a California Health Care Center, who responded to a simple self-reporting questionnaire. The study revealed that the majority of occupational injuries, accidents and exposures by this group in the previous twelve month period had gone unreported. Ineffective education, unfamiliarity with methods of reporting and poor staffing ratios were factors that led to poor compliance of reporting. Other factors such as length of service and experience did not influence reporting habits. The originality of this research was that the questionnaire looked at the compliance of health and safe practices with consideration of the personal beliefs and attitudes that nurses hold in the workplace. Its significance is that it identified and documented appropriate strategies for employers to use to rectify the problem of reporting occupational injuries and accidents as well as described and analyzed the current systems in place.

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