TY - JOUR
T1 - Employers' concerns regarding research participation
AU - Johnson, Alicia M.
AU - Dale, Ann Marie
AU - Strickland, Jaime R.
AU - Venditti, Pat
AU - Evanoff, Bradley A.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Occupational health research depends on the cooperation and participation of employers. The authors describe employers' reasons for non-participation in a prospective study examining risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the usefulness of preplacement, post-offer nerve conduction screening. Companies were contacted to solicit participation. Non-participation explanations were reviewed. Of 73 eligible employers, 58 declined participation (participation rate: 20.5%). Reasons for non-participation included lack of interest (32.8%), liability concerns (awareness of CTS may increase workers' compensation claims) (22.4%), time constraints (19%), lack of direct benefit to the employer (8.6%), and company policy restraints (6.9%). Data from one employer were reviewed to determine whether workers' compensation claims for upper extremity disorders increased as a result of study participation. Claim rates showed no change in trend pre- and post-study inception. Expanding much-needed research to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses requires addressing employers' concerns and promoting research benefits.
AB - Occupational health research depends on the cooperation and participation of employers. The authors describe employers' reasons for non-participation in a prospective study examining risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the usefulness of preplacement, post-offer nerve conduction screening. Companies were contacted to solicit participation. Non-participation explanations were reviewed. Of 73 eligible employers, 58 declined participation (participation rate: 20.5%). Reasons for non-participation included lack of interest (32.8%), liability concerns (awareness of CTS may increase workers' compensation claims) (22.4%), time constraints (19%), lack of direct benefit to the employer (8.6%), and company policy restraints (6.9%). Data from one employer were reviewed to determine whether workers' compensation claims for upper extremity disorders increased as a result of study participation. Claim rates showed no change in trend pre- and post-study inception. Expanding much-needed research to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses requires addressing employers' concerns and promoting research benefits.
KW - Carpal tunnel syndrome
KW - Employees
KW - Occupational health
KW - Research
KW - Research subject recruitment
KW - Workers' compensation
KW - Workplace
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=39749159743&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1179/oeh.2008.14.1.11
DO - 10.1179/oeh.2008.14.1.11
M3 - Article
C2 - 18320727
AN - SCOPUS:39749159743
SN - 1077-3525
VL - 14
SP - 11
EP - 17
JO - International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
JF - International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
IS - 1
ER -