Pia Markkanen

Expertise

Research Interests

Education

• Sc.D.: Work Environment, (2004), University of Massachusetts Lowell - Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
  Dissertation/Thesis Title:Shoes, Glues, and Families: Working Conditions in Informal Sector Footwear Manufacturing
• MS: Chemical Engineering, (1992), Lappeenranta University of Technology - Lappeenranta, Finland
  Dissertation/Thesis Title:Methane Activation Reactor

Biosketch

Pia Markkanen, Sc.D., has been a teaching faculty in the Department of Public Health since January 2024. She teaches public health courses related to environmental health, occupational safety and health, social determinants of health, health promotion, and program implementation and evaluation.

During 2006-2023, Markkanen was a research faculty at UMass Lowell. Her research work consisted of investigating hazardous exposures - with a special emphasis on home care workers’ working conditions. She led qualitative and mixed-methods research activities on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - funded Safe Home Care Project during 2004-2023.

Markkanen's professional career includes international OSH experience at the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) where she managed and implemented programs in collaboration with various governments, employers' organizations, workers' organizations, and non-government organizations. Countries where she worked comprise Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Switzerland, Thailand, and Viet Nam. During 1993-1995, she worked in the ILO’s OSH Department, in Geneva, Switzerland. During 1995-2000, she was based in a Finland funded/ILO-implemented technical cooperation project (ASIAOSH), in Bangkok, Thailand. During 2000-2004, she carried out several international work assignments (e.g. in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Switzerland) - these included consultancies to the ILO’s International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO-IPEC) in the areas of shoemaking, deep-sea fishing, and agriculture.

Selected Publications

• Markkanen, P., Gore R, Sama S, Lindberg J, Galligan C, Quinn M. (2024). Coaching Home Care Clients to Prepare Their Homes for Safe Care Visits: A Mixed-Methods Study to Evaluate a Nurse-Led Educational Intervention Process. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 360. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21030360
• Brouillette N, Markkanen, P., Quinn M, Galligan C, Sama S, Lindberg J, Karlsson N. (2023). Aide and Client Safety "Should Go Hand-In-Hand": Qualitative Findings From Home Care Aides, Clients, and Agency Leaders. J Appl Gerontol. Apr;42(4):571-580. DOI: 10.1177/07334648221146769. Available open access.
• Markkanen, P., Brouillette N, Quinn M, Galligan C, Sama S, Lindberg J, Karlsson N. (2021). “It changed everything”: The Safe Home Care qualitative study of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on home care aides, clients, and managers. BMC Health Services Research. Vol 21(1): 1055. DOI:10.1186/s12913-021-07076-x. Available open access.
• Quinn M, Markkanen, P., Galligan C, Sama S, Lindberg J, Edwards M. (2021). Healthy aging requires a health home care workforce: the occupational safety and health of home care aides. Current Environmental Health Reports. Published online May 12, 2021. DOI: 10.1007/s40572-021-00315-7. Available open access.
• Markkanen, P., Peters S, Grant M, Dennerlein J, Wagner G, Burke L, Wallace L, Sorensen G. (2021). Development and application of an innovative instrument to assess work environment factors for injury prevention in the food service industry. Work. Vol 68(3): 641-651. DOI:10.3233/WOR-203399.
• Karlsson, N.D., Markkanen, P., Kriebel, D., Galligan, C.J., Quinn, M.M. (2019). "That's not my job": A mixed methods study of challenging client behaviors, boundaries, and home care aide occupational safety and health. American journal of industrial medicine.
• Karlsson, N.D., Markkanen, P., Kriebel, D., Gore, R.J., Galligan, C.J., Sama, S., Quinn, M.M. (2019). Home care aides' experiences of verbal abuse: a survey of characteristics and risk factors. Occupational and environmental medicine,76(7) 448-454.
• Goodyear, N., Markkanen, P., Beato-Melendez, C., Mohamed, H., Gore, R., Galligan, C., Sama, S., Quinn, M.M., (2017). Cleaning and disinfection in home care: A comparison of two commercial products with potentially different consequences for respiratory health (ePub ahead of print). American Journal of Infection Control.
• Markkanen, P., Galligan, C., Quinn, M.M. (2017). Safety Risks Among Home Infusion Nurses and Other Home Health Care Providers (40:4 pp. 215-223). Journal of Infusion Nursing
• Markkanen, P., Quinn, M.M., Galligan, C., Sama, S., Gore, R., Sun, C., Okyere, D., Brouillette, N. (2016). P6-3 Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods to assess occupational exposures and interventions among homecare aides. Occupational and Environmental Medicine,73(Suppl 1) A94–A94.
• Markkanen, P., Slatin, C. (2016). We Have to Be Willing to Say the World Has Changed and Now We Have to Figure Out How to Deal With That. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental & Occupational Health Policy,26(1) 119 - 133.
• Quinn, M.M., Markkanen, P., Galligan, C.J., Sama, S., Kriebel, D., Gore, R.J., Brouillette, N.M., Okyere, D., Sun, C., Punnett, L., others, . (2016). Occupational health of home care aides: results of the safe home care survey. Occupational and environmental medicine,73(4) 237 - 245.
• Markkanen, P., Quinn, M.M., Sama, S. (2015). When the Home is a Workplace: Promoting Safety and Health for a Vulnerable Workforce (pp. 94-103). Rutgers University Press
• Nankongnab, N., Silpasuwan, P., Markkanen, P., Kongtip, P., Woskie, S. (2015). Occupational Safety, Health, and Well-being Among Home-based Workers in the Informal Economy of Thailand. NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy,25(2) 212–231.
• Markkanen, P., Galligan, C., Laramie, A., Fisher, J., Sama, S., Quinn, M.M. (2015). Understanding sharps injuries in home healthcare: The Safe Home Care qualitative methods study to identify pathways for injury prevention. BMC public health,15(1) 359.
• Galligan, C.J., Markkanen, P., Fantasia, L.M., Gore, R.J., Sama, S., Quinn, M.M. (2015). A growing fire hazard concern in communities: home oxygen therapy and continued smoking habits. NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy,24(4) 535–554.
• Quinn, M.M., Markkanen, P., Galligan, C., Sama, S., Kriebel, D., Gore, R., Punnett, L., Davis, L., Laramie, A., Brouillette, N., others, . (2014). Quantifying Hazardous Occupational Exposures and Injuries in Home Care: Results from the Safe Home Care Survey. Occupational and environmental medicine,71(Suppl 1) A39–A39.
• Kriebel, D., Brouillette, N., Markkanen, P., Galligan, C., Sama, S., Gore, R., Laramie, A., Okyere, D., Sun, C., Davis, L., Quinn, M. (2014). 0289 Preventing needlesticks and other sharps injuries to home care aides: results of a survey to identify hazards during home visits. Occupational and Environmental Medicine,71(Suppl 1) A36–A37.
• Markkanen, P., Quinn, M.M., Galligan, C., Sama, S., Brouillette, N., Okyere, D. (2014). Characterizing the nature of home care work and occupational hazards: a developmental intervention study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine,57(4) 445-57.
• Markkanen, P., Abdallah, L.M., Lee, A.J., Gautam, R. (2012). Long-term care in the United States and Finland: policy lessons to be learned. Journal of Gerontological Nursing,38(12) 16-21.
• McLellan, D. (The Harvard School of Public Health Center for Work, Health and Well-being), Harden, E. (The Harvard School of Public Health Center for Work, Health and Well-being), Markkanen, P., Sorensen, G. (The Harvard School of Public Health Center for Work, Health and Well-being) (2012). SafeWell Practice Guidelines: An Integrated Approach to Worker Health.
• Markkanen, P. (2009). Shoes, Glues, and Homework: Dangerous Work in the Global Footwear Industry. Baywood Publishing
• Quinn, M.M., Markkanen, P., Galligan, C.J., Kriebel, D., Chalupka, S.M., Kim, H., Gore, R.J., Sama, S., Laramie, A.K., Davis, L. (2009). Sharps injuries and other blood and body fluid exposures among home health care nurses and aides. American Journal of Public Health,99 Suppl 3 S710-7.
• Markkanen, P., Quinn, M.M., Galligan, C. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Bello, A. (University of Massachusetts Lowell) (2009). Cleaning in healthcare facilities: Reducing human health effects and environmental impacts.
• Markkanen, P., Chalupka, S., Galligan, C., Sama, S., Gore, R., Kim, H., Bello, A., Kriebel, D., Quinn, M.M. (2008). Studying home health care nurses and aides: research design and challenges. Journal of Research in Nursing,13 480-495.
• Chalupka, S.M., Markkanen, P., Galligan, C., Quinn, M.M. (2008). Sharps injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposures in home health care. AAOHN journal : official journal of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses,56(1) 15-29; quiz 31-2.
• Markkanen, P., Quinn, M.M., Galligan, C., Chalupka, S., Davis, L., Laramie, A. (2007). There's no place like home: a qualitative study of the working conditions of home health care providers. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine,49(3) 327-37.
• Barbeau, E.M., Li , Y., Calderon, P., Hartman, C., Quinn, M.M., Markkanen, P., Roelofs, C., Frazier, L., Levenstein, C. (2006). Results of a union-based smoking cessation intervention for apprentice iron workers (United States). Cancer causes & control : CCC,17(1) 53-61.
• Lahiri, S., Markkanen, P., Levenstein, C. (2005). The cost effectiveness of occupational health interventions: preventing occupational back pain. American journal of Industrial Medicine,48(6) 515-529.
• Markkanen, P. (2005). Dangers, delights, and destiny on the sea: fishers along the East coast of North Sumatra, Indonesia. New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS,15(2) 113-33.
• Markkanen, P. (2005). The stranded standard: what happened to the proposed ILO Convention on work in the fishing sector? New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS,15(4) 309-14.
• Markkanen, P., Levenstein, C. (2004). New points of production: homework and shoemaking in Asia. New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS,14(4) 301-18.
• Markkanen, P. (2004). Shoes, glues, and families: Working conditions in informal sector footwear manufacturing. University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Markkanen, P. (2004). Working Paper on Occupational Safety and Health in Indonesia. International Labour Organization (ILO), Manila Subregional Office
• ILO-IPEC Bandung Footwear Team, ., Markkanen, P. (2002). Improving Safety, Health and the Working Environment in the Informal Footwear Sector. International Labour Organizaiton, Jakarta Area Office
• Stellman, J., Osinsky, D., Markkanen, P. (1998). Chapter 104: Guide to Chemicals (4 pp. 104.1-104.416). International Labour Organization

Selected Presentations

• Eastern Sociological Society (ESS) Annual Meeting. The Work of Care: Challenges and Inequalities – EES Carework Mini-conference. Markkanen P (presenter), Karlsson ND, Kriebel D, Galligan C, Quinn MM. Home care aides’ job experiences of verbally abusive client behaviors. Feb 28 – Mar 1, 2020. Philadelphia.
• The 2nd Global Carework Summit. Markkanen P (presenter), Quinn M, Goodyear N, Galligan C, Sama S, Karlsson N, Sheikh N. Cleaning and Disinfection in Home Care: A Qualitative Study to Characterize Aides’ Cleaning Work and Assess Safety and Health. June 9-11, 2019. Toronto, Canada.
• Age-Friendly University: Qualitative Analysis Findings from 5th Annual Healthy Aging - Living Well Forum - Leadership in Aging Conference, National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence, November 2019 - Austin, TX
• Cleaning and Disinfection in Home Healthcare: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Assess Caregivers’ Exposure to Cleaning and Disinfection Products. - ICOH 2018 Conference, April 2018 - Dublin, Ireland
• Respiratory irritant exposures during cleaning and disinfecting in home care: preliminary results from the Safe Home Care Study - 26th International Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) Conference, August 2017 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• Homecare Work: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods to Assess Musculoskeletal Strain among Aides - The First Global Carework Summit, June 2017 - Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
• An integrated approach to infection and respiratory illness prevention in home healthcare: preliminary results of the safe home care cleaning and disinfecting study - 25th International Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) Conference, September 2016 - Barcelona, Spain
• Evaluating the connection between healthcare worker and patient safety using the care bond framework - 25th International Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) Conference, September 2016 - Barcelona, Spain
• Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods to Assess Occupational Exposures and Interventions among Homecare Aides - 8th International Conference on the Science of Exposure Assessment in Epidemiology and Practice, September 2016 - Barcelona, Spain
• Safe cleaning and disinfecting for home care aide and client health - American Public Health Association (APHA) 143rd Annual Meeting, November 2015 - Chicago (IL), USA
• Safety in Home Care - One-Day Program at the National Academy of Infusion Therapy, November 2015 - Dallas, TX, USA
• Hazardous Occupational Exposures and Injuries in Home Care: Results from the Safe Home Care Survey - 10th International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) Scientific Conference, April 2015 - London, UK
• Occupational Safety and Health Situation among Migrant Workers in the Americas - 20th World Congress of Safety and Health at Work, August 2014 - Frankfurt, Germany
• Quantifying hazardous occupational exposures and injuries in home care: Results from the Safe Home Care survey - 24th International Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) Conference, June 2014 - Chicago (IL), USA
• Effects of Extending Labor Protections for Home Care Workers Mini-conference: The Invisible Work of Care - Eastern Sociological Society (ESS) Annual Meeting. Effects of Extending Labor Protections for Home Care Workers. Mini-conference: The Invisible Work of Care , February 2014 - Baltimore (MD, USA
• Why are needlesticks and other sharps injuries occurring in home healthcare? - American Public Health Association (APHA) 141st Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 2013 - Boston (MA), USA
• Risks of occupational safety and health hazards among home care aides - American Association of Public Health (APHA) 141st Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 2013 - Boston (MA), USA
• Occupational safety and health hazards among home care aides - American Public Health Association (APHA) 140th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 2012 - San Francisco (CA), USA
• Elimination of Mercury (Hg) in the Health Sector: the Case of a Hospital in the City of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico - 3rd Conference on International Advances in Cleaner Production, May 2011 - Sao Paolo, Brazil
• Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Measures in Occupational Health - A Case Study on Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures in Home Healthcare - Education and Research Center (ERC) & Work Health and Well-being Seminar Series at Harvard School of Public Health, September 2010 - Boston (MA), USA
• Methods for qualitative measures informing quantitative measures in occupational health - a case study - 6th International Occupational and Environmental Exposure Assessment Conference, August 2009 - Boston (MA), USA
• Assessment of blood exposures among home healthcare workers: linking qualitative and quantitative methods for more precise exposure estimation - 6th International Occupational and Environmental Exposure Assessment Conference, August 2009 - Boston (MA), USA
• Improving safety for nurses in home care - Massachusetts Nurses Association Conference: Workplace Hazards to Nurses & Other Healthcare Workers. Beyond the Salary: Safety at Work, June 2009 - Shrewsbury (MA), USA
• Risk of sharps injuries and blood exposures among home health care workers - American Public Health Association (APHA) 136th Annual Meeting and Exposition. , October 2008 - San Diego (CA), USA
• Project SHARRP: Survey methods and recruitment of a population of home healthcare providers - American Public Health Association (APHA) 135th Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 2007 - Washington DC, USA
• Sharps Injuries & Blood Exposures Among Home Health Care Workers - 19th International Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) Conference, October 2007 - Banff (Alberta), Canada
• Preventing Injuries to Nurses in Home Care Settings - Massachusetts Nurses Association and the University of Massachusetts Conference: Workplace Hazards to Nurses and Other Healthcare Workers, June 2007 - Marlborough (MA), USA
• Assessing occupational health hazards of home healthcare workers: Comparison of qualitative research methods - American Public Health Association (APHA) 134th Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 2006 - Boston (MA), USA
• Home healthcare nursing: Risk factors for blood exposures and sharps injuries - American Public Health Association (APHA) 134th Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 2006 - Boston (MA), USA
• Home Healthcare: safety and health in the work-home environment - 28th International Congress on Occupational Health , June 2006 - Milan, Italy
• Home as Work Environment for Healthcare Practitioners - 4th International Congress on Women, Work and Health, November 2005 - New Delhi, India
• Working Conditions and the Gendered Division of Labour in Informal Sector Shoemaking - 4th International Congress on Women, Work and Health, November 2005 - New Delhi, India

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

• Homecare work in social assistance and healthcare: safe cleaning and disinfection (2014), Grant -
  Goodyear, N., Quinn, M.M., Kriebel, D., Markkanen, P., Sama, S.