Robyn Gershon
Robyn Gershon
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Clinical Professor of Epidemiology
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Professional overview
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Dr. Gershon is an interdisciplinary occupational and environmental health and safety researcher with extensive experience in the areas of disaster preparedness, healthcare safety, and risk assessment and management in high-risk work occupations. She earned her doctorate in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, where she was on faculty for several years.
Subsequently, Dr. Gershon was a Professor at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, with a joint appointment in the School of Nursing.
At the Mailman School, she also served as the Associate Dean for Research and was the Director of the Mentoring Program. Her most recent faculty appointment prior to joining NYU GPH was Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She was also an Adjunct Professor in the UCSF School of Nursing, as well as at UC Berkeley where she taught public health disaster courses.
Dr. Gershon and her team conducted numerous ground breaking studies to develop and test new metrics of preparedness. Importantly, Dr. Gershon’s work has influenced the adoption of safe work practices and regulatory control measures, such as national needlestick prevention guidelines and high-rise building fire safety laws. Her numerous research studies encompass a wide range of topics, including, (to name a few): bloodborne pathogen exposure; hospital safety climate; psychosocial work stress in law enforcement; “ability and willingness” of essential workforce employees to report to duty during natural and man-made disasters; preparedness of responders for terrorist incidents; emergency high–rise building evacuation- (including the World Trade Center Evacuation Study); emergency preparedness of the elderly and disabled; mass fatality management infrastructure in the US; adherence to emergency public health measures among the general public; hearing loss risk in subway ridership; and noise exposure in urban populations.
Dr. Gershon recently completed a four-year, longitudinal intervention NIH-funded study on motivation and persistence in pursuing STEM research careers among underrepresented doctoral students. (the BRIDGE Project).
As a committed advocate for junior faculty and graduate students, Dr. Gershon will play an active role in research mentorship and advisement.
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Education
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BS, Medical Technology, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CTMHS, Medical Microbiology, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CTDrPH, Environmental and Occupational Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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Honors and awards
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Recipient, American Society of Safety Engineers, Membership Award, Oakland, CA (2016)Recipient, John L. Ziegler Capstone Mentor Award, Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco (2015)Recipient, City of New York Fire Commissioner's Special Commendation Certificate of Appreciation (2006)Recipient, Survivors' Salute, World Trade Center Survivors' Network (2006)Recipient, Annual International Sharps Injury Prevention Award (2005)Delta Omega (Public Health) Honorary Society (1997)Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (Microbiology) (1976)Lambda Tau Mu Honor Society (Laboratory Science) (1976)
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Areas of research and study
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Disaster HealthDisaster Impact and RecoveryDisaster PreparednessEnvironmental Public Health ServicesEpidemiologyHealthcare SafetyOccupational HealthRisk Assessment and Management
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Publications
Publications
Risk of tuberculosis in correctional healthcare workers
AbstractMitchell, C. S., Gershon, R. R., Lears, M. K., Vlahov, D., Felknor, S., Lubelczyk, R. A., Sherman, M. F., & Comstock, G. W. (n.d.).Publication year
2005Journal title
Journal of Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
47Issue
6Page(s)
580-586AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for occupational infection with tuberculosis among healthcare workers employed in correctional facilities. Methods: The authors conducted a self-administered survey, clinical interview, and tuberculin skin testing. Results: The overall tuberculin skin test point prevalence rate was 17.7%, the reactivity rate was 2.2%, and the annual incidence was 1.3%. At the multivariate level, after controlling for bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination, only origin of birth remained significantly associated with prevalence of tuberculosis infection. Conclusions: Although the prevalence of tuberculin reactivity was high in this population, the risk factors were predominantly demographic rather than occupational. Nevertheless, continued vigilance to control occupational exposure to this and other respiratory pathogens is warranted, given the potential for future outbreaks of tuberculosis, as well as other known and emerging airborne pathogens.Clinicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Concerns Regarding Bioterrorism after a Brief Educational Program
AbstractGershon, R. R., Qureshi, K. A., Sepkowitz, K. A., Gurtman, A. C., Galea, S., & Sherman, M. F. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Journal of Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
46Issue
1Page(s)
77-83AbstractWe conducted this study to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and intended behaviors of New York City clinicians regarding bioterrorism-related diseases after a brief educational program. Data on clinicians' knowledge and attitudes toward bioterrorism and related diseases were collected using a self-administered questionnaire following a 3.5-hour educational program. Participants (n = 310, 82% response rate) reported increased confidence in recognizing symptoms of bioterrorism-related diseases (89%), in addressing patients' bioterrorism concerns (83%), and ability to treat bioterrorism victims (75%). Despite a high level of confidence in the efficacy of infection control precautions, participants' knowledge scores regarding safe work practices suggest that additional education is warranted. Educational programs are useful in enhancing the public health response to bioterrorism and its consequences.Effectiveness of an emergency preparedness training program for public health nurses in New York City
AbstractQureshi, K. A., Gershon, R. R., Merrill, J. A., Calero-Breckheimer, A., Murrman, M., Gebbie, K. M., Moskin, L. C., May, L., Morse, S. S., & Sherman, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Family and Community HealthVolume
27Issue
3Page(s)
242-249AbstractA public health workforce that is competent to respond to emergencies is extremely important. We report on the impact of a training program designed to prepare public health nurses to respond appropriately to emergencies. The program focused on the basic public health emergency preparedness competencies and the emergency response role of public health workers employed by the New York City School Department of Health and Mental Hygiene School Health Program. The evaluation methods included pre/post-testing followed by a repeat post-test one month after the program. The program resulted in positive shirts in both knowledge and emergency response attitudes.Job loss, unemployment, work stress, job satisfaction, and the persistence of posttraumatic stress disorder one year after the september 11 attacks
AbstractNandi, A., Galea, S., Tracy, M., Ahern, J., Resnick, H., Gershon, R., & Vlahov, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Journal of Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
46Issue
10Page(s)
1057-1064AbstractThe influence of unemployment and adverse work conditions on the course of psychopathology after a mass disaster is unclear. We recruited a representative sample of adults living in the New York City metropolitan area six months after the September 11 attacks and completed follow-up interviews on 71% of the baseline sample six months later (N = 1939). At follow-up, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) persisted in 42.7% of the 149 cases with PTSD at baseline. In multivariable models, unemployment at any time since baseline predicted PTSD persistence in the entire cohort (P = 0.02) and among persons employed at follow-up (P = 0.02). High levels of perceived work stress predicted PTSD persistence among persons employed at follow-up (P = 0.02). Persons unemployed in the aftermath of a disaster may be at risk for poor mental health in the long-term.Measurement of Organizational Culture and Climate in Healthcare
Gershon, R. R., Stone, P. W., Bakken, S., & Larson, E. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Journal of Nursing AdministrationVolume
34Issue
1Page(s)
33-40Preliminary results from the World Trade Center evacuation study-New York City
Gershon, R., Hogan, E., Qureshi, K. A., & Doll, L. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly ReportSafety climate: assessing management and organizational influences on safety
DeJoy, D. M., Gershon, R., & Schaffer, B. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Professional safetyTerrorism preparedness training for occupational health professionals
AbstractGershon, R. R., Gemson, D. H., Qureshi, K., & McCollum, M. G. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Journal of Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
46Issue
12Page(s)
1204-1209AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to assess occupational health professionals' terrorism preparedness and perceptions of worksite readiness. Methods: Questionnaire data were collected at the conclusion of an educational workshop on disaster response. Results: Participants reported increased confidence in clinical skills and the ability to avoid exposure while providing care to victims of terrorist attacks as a result of the workshop. Fewer than one third (32%) of participants reported that their employer was prepared for a bioterrorism attack, and a large percentage (75%) reported feeling unprepared to provide mental health counseling after a terrorist attack. Conclusions: Relatively brief training in terrorism preparedness can increase the confidence of occupational health professionals in their ability to respond to terrorism. Adequate preparedness for the broad range of potential terrorist events may require much more intensive training than is currently being provided to occupational health professionals.Bloodborne pathogen exposure risk for non-hospital based healthcare workers
Gershon, R. R., Qureshi, K. A., Gurney, C. A., Rosen, J. D., & Hogan, E. K. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
Clinics in Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
2Issue
3Page(s)
497-518Emergency preparedness training for public health nurses: A pilot study
AbstractQureshi, K. A., Merrill, J. A., Gershon, R. R., & Calero-Breckheimer, A. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
Journal of Urban HealthVolume
79Issue
3Page(s)
413-416AbstractThe Columbia Center for Public Health Preparedness, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health, recently developed an emergency preparedness training program for public health workers. A pilot training program was conducted for a group of school health nurses and evaluated using a pre/posttest design. A surprising finding was that 90% of the nurses reported at least one barrier to their ability to report to duty in the event of a public health emergency. The most frequently cited barriers included child/elder care responsibilities, lack of transportation, and personal health issues. These findings suggest that it may be prudent to identify and address potential barriers to public health workforce responsiveness to ensure the availability of the workforce during emergencies.Infectious disease risk in correctional facility-based healthcare workers
AbstractGershon, R. R., Green-McKenzie, J., & Swetz, A. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
Clinics in Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
2Issue
3Page(s)
519-536AbstractThe prison healthcare setting is a unique healthcare environment. Prison healthcare, although similar in many ways to the acute care setting, has many important and potentially risky differences. Efforts to reduce risk have been intensified; the National Commission of Correctional Healthcare has taken an important leadership role in developing and promoting safe work practices for CHCWs [72, 73]. Many opportunities for improvements exist, and the challenge will be to further reduce risk through the development and implementation of effective risk-control strategies that are tailored to this special healthcare setting.Prevalence of safer needle devices and factors associated with their adoption: Results of a National Hospital Survey
AbstractSinclair, R. C., Maxfield, A., Marks, E. L., Thompson, D. R., & Gershon, R. R. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
Public Health ReportsVolume
117Issue
4Page(s)
340-349AbstractObjectives. In this study, we collected and analyzed the first data available on the extent of the adoption of safer needle devices (engineered sharps injury protections [ESIPs]) by U.S. hospitals and on the degree to which selected factors influence the use of this technology. Methods. We gathered data via a telephone survey of a random sample of 494 U.S. hospitals from November 1999 through February 2000. Results. Although 83% of the sample reported some ESIP adoption, adoption was inconsistent across types of devices. All of the appropriate units in 52% of the facilities had adopted needleless intravenous delivery systems, but the hospitals used other types of ESIPs less often. A respondent's perception that the cost of ESIPs would not be a problem for the hospital was the best predictor of adoption of ESIPs in the facility, explaining 8% of the variance. Other predictors of adoption included the size of the hospital and the presence or absence of state legislative activity on the needlestick issue. Conclusions. Smaller hospitals may require special encouragement and assistance from outside sources to adopt expensive risk-reduction innovations such as ESIPs. Although use of ESIPs is the mandated and preferred way to protect workers from needlesticks, complete adoption of this technology will depend on the support of the social systems in which it is used and the people who use it.Work stress in aging police officers
AbstractGershon, R. R., Lin, S., & Li, X. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
Journal of Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
44Issue
2Page(s)
160-167AbstractData are sparse regarding the impact of psychosocial work stress on the health and well-being of aging workers, even for employees working in high-stress occupations, such as law enforcement. To improve our understanding of this issue in older workers, we assessed and characterized work stress, coping strategies, and stress-related health outcomes in a sample of police officers aged 50 years and older (n = 105). The most important risk factors associated with officers' perceived work stress were maladaptive coping behaviors (eg, excessive drinking or problem gambling) (odds ratio [OR], 4.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.11 to 11.6) and exposure to critical incidents (eg, shootings) (OR, 3.84; 95 % CI, 1.71 to 8.65). In turn, perceived work stress was significantly associated with anxiety (OR, 6.84; 95% CI, 2.81 to 16.65), depression (OR, 9.27; 95% CI, 3.81 to 22.54), somatization (OR, 5.74; 95% CI, 2. 4 7 to 13.33), posttraumatic stress symptoms (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.29 to 6.47), symptoms of "burnout" (OR, 5.93; 95% CI, 2.54 to 13.86), chronic back pain (OR, = 3.55; 95% CI, 1.57 to 8.06), alcohol abuse (OR, 3. 24; 95% CI, 1.45 to 7.22), and inappropriately aggressive behavior (OR, 4.00; 95% CI, 1.34 to 11.88). These data suggest that older workers in high-stress jobs may be at increased risk for work stress-related health problems, especially if they rely on risky health behaviors to cope with stress. Given the size of the rapidly aging US workforce and the likelihood that many are employed in high-stress jobs, interventions are urgently needed to address this emerging public health issue.Infection control practices among correctional healthcare workers: Effect of management attitudes and availability of protective equipment and engineering controls
AbstractGreen-McKenzie, J., Gershon, R. R., & Karkashian, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
Infection Control and Hospital EpidemiologyVolume
22Issue
9Page(s)
555-559AbstractOBJECTIVES: To determine the relation of the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls to infection control (IC) practices in a prison health care setting, and to explore the effect on IC practices of a perceived organizational commitment to safety. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: The study population was drawn from the 28 regional Correctional Health Care Workers Facilities in Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: All full-time Maryland correctional health care workers (HCWs) were surveyed, and 225 (64%) of the 350 responded. METHOD: A confidential, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all correctional HCWs employed in the 28 Maryland Correctional Health Care Facilities. The questionnaire was analyzed psychometrically and validated through extensive pilot testing. It included items on three major constructs: IC practices, safety climate (defined as the perception of organizational commitment to safety), and availability of IC equipment and supplies. RESULTS: A strong correlation was found between the availability of PPE and IC practices. Similarly, a strong correlation was found between IC practices and the presence of engineering controls. In addition, an equally strong association was seen between the adoption of IC practices and employee perception of management commitment to safety. Those employees who perceived a high level of management support for safety were more than twice as likely to adhere to recommended IC practices. IC practices were significantly more likely to be followed if PPE was always readily available. Similarly, IC practices were more likely to be followed if engineering controls were provided. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that ready availability of PPE and the presence of engineering controls are crucial to help ensure their use in this high-risk environment. This is especially important because correctional HCWs are potentially at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B and C viruses. Commitment to safety was found to be highly associated with the adoption of safe work practices. There is an inherent conflict of "custody versus care" in this setting; hence, it is especially important that we understand and appreciate the relation between safety climate and IC practices. Interventions designed to improve safety climate, as well as availability of necessary IC supplies and equipment, will most likely prove effective in improving employee compliance with IC practices in this health care setting.Psychosocial work stress in female funeral service parctitioners
Goldenhar, L. M., Gershon, R., Mueller, C., Karkashian, C., & Swanson, N. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
Equal Opportunities InternationalPage(s)
17-38The risk of acquiring hepatitis B or C among public safety workers. A systematic review
AbstractRischitelli, G., Harris, J., McCauley, L., Gershon, R., & Guidotti, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
20Issue
4Page(s)
299-306AbstractContext: Determination of the occupational risk of hepatitis B and C to public safety workers is important in identifying prevention opportunities and has significant legal and policy implications. Objectives: Characterize the risk of occupationally acquired infection: (1) risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, (2) seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C in the source population, and (3) risk of infection after exposure. Data Sources: Electronic search of MEDLINE (1991-1999), HealthStar (1982-1999), and CINAHL (1975-1999) supplemented by selected reference citations and correspondence with authors of relevant articles. Study Selection: Peer-reviewed journal articles (N=702) that addressed the transmission of hepatitis B and C in law enforcement, correctional, fire, emergency medical services, and healthcare personnel were identified. One hundred five (15.0%) articles were selected for full-text retrieval; 72 (68.6%) were selected for inclusion. Data Abstraction: Articles selected for inclusion were abstracted by two reviewers and checked by a third reviewer, using a standard reporting form. Data Synthesis: Evidence tables were constructed, using the standardized abstracts. The tables were designed to summarize data for the key elements of the risk analysis. Conclusions: Data suggest that emergency medical service (EMS) providers are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis B, but data have failed to show an increased prevalence of hepatitis C. EMS providers have exposure risks similar to those of hospital-based healthcare workers. Other public safety workers appear to have lower rates of exposure. Urban areas have much higher prevalence of disease, and public safety workers in those areas are likely to experience a higher incidence of exposure events.Behavioral-diagnostic analysis of compliance with universal precautions among nurses.
AbstractDeJoy, D. M., Searcy, C. A., Murphy, L. R., & Gershon, R. R. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
Journal of occupational health psychologyVolume
5Issue
1Page(s)
127-141AbstractThis study used the PRECEDE model (L.W. Green, M.W. Kreuter, S.G. Deeds, & K.B. Partridge, 1980) to examine individual, job-task, and environmental-organizational factors related to compliance with universal precautions (UP) among nurses. Structural equation modeling showed that the hypothesized model did a better job predicting general compliance (R2 = .41) than compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE; R2 = .18). All 3 categories of diagnostic factors (predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing) influenced general compliance, but predisposing factors were relatively unimportant for compliance with PPE. With a set of nested models, the greatest improvement in model fit occurred when the indirect effects of reinforcing factors were added. A positive safety climate may increase the likelihood that the work environment will contain features that enable workers to comply with safe work practices.Factors affecting universal precautions compliance
AbstractMcGovern, P. M., Vesley, D., Kochevar, L., Gershon, R. R., Rhame, F. S., & Anderson, E. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
Journal of Business and PsychologyVolume
15Issue
1Page(s)
149-161AbstractThis study characterizes levels of self-reported compliance with Universal Precautions (UP) among health care workers (HCWs) at risk of bloodborne exposure. A convenience survey was conducted of 1135 health care workers, expected to be at high risk for transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Using a cross-sectional design and a theoretical model by Gershon et al. (1995) data were analyzed with logistic regression. Factors associated with at least one of the two measures of HCW compliance with UP included longer tenure in one's job, increased knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, a conservative attitude toward risky behaviors, a perception of a strong organizational safety climate, and having had some training in the use of personal protective equipment. Knowledge of factors associated with compliance helps to explain why health care workers sometimes exhibit poor compliance despite the real occupational hazard posed by exposure to bloodborne pathogens.Health care workers' experience with postexposure management of bloodborne pathogen exposures: A pilot study
AbstractGershon, R. R., Flanagan, P. A., Karkashian, C., Grimes, M., Wilburn, S., Frerotte, J., Guidera, J., & Pugliese, G. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
American Journal of Infection ControlVolume
28Issue
6Page(s)
421-428AbstractPurpose: This descriptive study of health care workers enrolled in a postexposure bloodborne pathogen management program had 3 goals: (1) to characterize their exposure incidents, (2) to assess health care workers' experience with the program, and (3) to identify strategies to improve the management of exposure incidents. Methods: A confidential, self-administered, 5-page survey was mailed to 150 hospital employees who were recently evaluated in the employee health clinic for a blood/body fluid exposure. Results: Sixty-five usable surveys were returned to the study office, representing a 43% response rate. Although the majority of the employees enrolled in the postexposure management program were generally satisfied with the overall quality of care they received, many respondents perceived a lack of social support during the lengthy follow-up period. Long-term distress related to the exposure was not uncommon. The respondents' suggestions for improvement focused on the need for department managers to become more personally involved when their staff members have an exposure incident. Conclusion: These qualitative data suggest that additional studies are needed to assess both the short-term and long-term impact of exposure incidents on the health and well being of affected health care workers. In addition, because of a paucity of information in this area, studies are needed to assess both the effectiveness of the United States Public Health Service recommendations for postexposure management and the degree to which they have been implemented by health care facilities.Hospital safety climate and its relationship with safe work practices and workplace exposure incidents
AbstractGershon, R. R., Karkashian, C. D., Grosch, J. W., Murphy, L. R., Escamilla-Cejudo, A., Flanagan, P. A., Bernacki, E., Kasting, C., & Martin, L. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
American Journal of Infection ControlVolume
28Issue
3Page(s)
211-221AbstractBackground: In the industrial setting, employee perceptions regarding their organization's commitment to safety (ie, safety climate) have been shown to be important correlates to both the adoption and maintenance of safe work practices and to workplace injury rates. However, safety climate measures specific to the hospital setting have rarely been evaluated. This study was designed to develop a short and effective tool to measure hospital safety climate with respect to institutional commitment to bloodborne pathogen risk management programs and to assess the relationship between hospital safety climate and (1) employee compliance with safe work practices and (2) incidents of workplace exposure to blood and other body fluids. Methods.' A questionnaire, which included 46 safety climate items, was developed and tested on a sample of 789 hospital-based health care workers at risk for bloodborne pathogen exposure incidents. Results: A 20-item hospital safety climate scale that measures hospitals' commitment to bloodborne pathogen risk management programs was extracted through factor analysis from the 46 safety climate items. This new hospital safety climate scale subfactored into 6 different organizational dimensions: (1) senior management support for safety programs, (2) absence of workplace barriers to safe work practices, (3) cleanliness and orderliness of the work site, (4) minimal conflict and good communication among staff members, (5) frequent safety- related feedback/training by supervisors, and (6) availability of personal protective equipment and engineering controls. Of these, senior management support for safety programs, absence of workplace barriers to safe work practices, and cleanliness/orderliness of the work site were significantly related to compliance (P < .05). In addition, both senior management support for safety programs and frequent safety-related feedback/training were significantly related to workplace exposure incidents (P < .05). Thus the most significant finding in terms of enhancing compliance and reducing exposure incidents was the importance of the perception that senior management was supportive of the bloodborne pathogen safety program. Conclusions: Hospital safety climate with regards to bloodborne pathogens can be measured by using a short, 20-question scale that measures 6 separate dimensions. Whereas all 6 dimensions are essential elements of overall safety climate, 3 dimensions are significantly correlated with compliance, and 1 dimension (senior management support) is especially significant with regard to both compliance and exposure incidents. This short safety climate scale can be a useful tool for evaluating hospital employees' perceptions regarding their organization's bloodborne pathogens management program. In addition, because this scale measures specific dimensions of the safety climate, it can be used to target problem areas and guide the development of intervention strategies to reduce occupational exposure incidents to blood and other body fluids.Testing the reliability and validity of a measure of safety climate.
AbstractAnderson, E., McGovern, P. M., Kochevar, L., Vesley, D., & Gershon, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
Journal for healthcare quality : official publication of the National Association for Healthcare QualityVolume
22Issue
2Page(s)
19-24AbstractThe lack of compliance with universal precautions (UP) is well documented across a wide variety of healthcare professions and has been reported both before and after the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Gershon, Karkashian, and Felknor (1994) found that several factors correlated significantly with healthcare workers' lack of compliance with UP, including a measure of organizational safety climate (e.g., the employees' perception of their organizational culture and practices regarding safety). We conducted a secondary analysis using data from a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 1,746 healthcare workers at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens to assess the validity and reliability of Gershon's measure of safety climate. Findings revealed no relationship between safety climate and employees' gender, age, education, tenure in position, profession, hours worked per day, perceived risk, attitude toward risk, and training. An association was demonstrated between safety climate and (1) healthcare worker compliance with UP and (2) the availability of personal protective equipment, providing support for the construct validity of this measure of safety climate. These findings could be used by occupational health professionals to assess employees' perceptions of the safety culture and practices in the workplace and to guide the institution's risk management efforts in association with U.P.Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a cadaver to an embalmer
Sterling, T. R., Pope, D. S., Bishai, W. R., Harrington, S., Gershon, R. R., & Chaisson, R. E. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
342Issue
4Page(s)
246-248Catastrophe model for the exposure to blood-borne pathogens and other accidents in health care settings
AbstractGuastello, S. J., Gershon, R. R., & Murphy, L. R. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Journal title
Accident Analysis and PreventionVolume
31Issue
6Page(s)
739-749AbstractCatastrophe models, which describe and predict discontinuous changes in system state variables, were used to model the exposure to blood and bodily fluids and more conventional occupational accidents among 1708 health care workers. Workers at three hospitals completed a survey measuring HIV-relevant exposures (needlesticks, cuts, splashes, contact with open wounds), the accident rate for broadly-defined injuries, and several occupationally relevant themes: safety climate, shift work, depression symptoms, work pace, verbal abuse, and professional group membership. A cusp (cubic polynomial) model predicting HIV-relevant exposures specifically was more accurate (R2=0.56) than a comparable linear model containing the same variables (R2=0.07). Some of the foregoing variables predisposed workers to greater differences in HIV-relevant and general accident exposures: shiftwork, climate, depressive symptoms, and work pace. Other variables governed how close an individual was to a critical threshold where a harmful incident would take place: verbal abuse, professional group membership. Similarly, a cusp model for accident incidents predicted from HIV-relevant exposures and occupational variables was also more accurate (R2=0.75) than comparison models. Two variables predisposed the worker to a greater accident risk: depression symptoms and shift work. Four other variables predisposed the worker to lesser accident risk: job satisfaction, safety climate, environmental stressors, and work pace. Compliance with the universal precautions and HIV-related training were not relevant to either of the models.Compliance with universal precautions in correctional health care facilities
AbstractGershon, R. R., Karkashian, C. D., Vlahov, D., Kummer, L., Kasting, C., Green-McKenzie, J., Escamilla-Cejudo, J. A., Kendig, N., Swetz, A., & Martin, L. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Journal title
Journal of Occupational and Environmental MedicineVolume
41Issue
3Page(s)
181-189AbstractThere were three main objectives of this cross-sectional study of Maryland State correctional health care workers. The first was to evaluate compliance with work practices designed to minimize exposure to blood and body fluids; the second, to identify correlates of compliance with universal precautions (UPs); and the third was to determine the relationship, if any, between compliance and exposures. Of 216 responding health care workers, 34% reported overall compliance across all 15 items on a compliance scale. Rates for specific items were particularly low for use of certain types of personal protective equipment, such as protective eyewear (53.5%), face mask (47.2%) and protective clothing (33.9%). Compliance rates were highest for glove use (93.2%) waste disposal (89.8%), and sharps disposal (80.8%). Compliance rates were generally not associated with demographic factors, except for age; younger workers were more likely to be compliant with safe work practices than were older workers (P < 0.05). Compliance was positively associated with several work-related variables, including perceived safety climate (ie, management's commitment to infection control and the overall safety program) and job satisfaction, and was found to be inversely associated with security- related work constraints, job/task factors, adverse working conditions, workplace discrimination, and perceived work stress. Bloodborne exposures were not uncommon; 13.8% of all respondents had at least one bloodborne exposure within the previous 6 months, and compliance was inversely related to blood and body fluid exposures. This study identified several potentially modifiable correlates of compliance, including factors unique to the correctional setting. Infection-control interventional strategies specifically tailored to these health care workers may therefore be most effective in reducing the risk of bloodborne exposures.Safety climate dimensions associated with occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens in nurses
Grosch, J. W., Gershon, R. R., Murphy, L. R., & DeJoy, D. M. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Journal title
American Journal of Industrial MedicineVolume
36Page(s)
122-124