# Health protection and promotion of sign language interpreters through implementation of Total Worker Health?

> **NIH ALLCDC K01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2024 · $107,931

## Abstract

Proposal Summary/Abstract
Communication access for deaf communities promotes equity and inclusion, thus there is heightened concern
regarding the many variables that impact the physical and mental health of sign language interpreters. The
Model of Interpreter Injury introduced sign production and style, the interpreting situation, and the interpreter’s
individual characteristics as factors associated with injury development. Trademarked by the National Institute
of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 2011, Total Worker Health (TWH®) combines health protection
with health promotion to prevent worker injury and advance well-being, making it a promising holistic approach
to address the multivariate factors of interpreter injury. Using mixed-methods and a clinical efficacy trial design,
the overall objective of this study will employ implementation strategies to adapt and evaluate a previous
integrated TWH® program and pilot test its efficacy on interpreter well-being.
 My central hypothesis is that interpreters in the health and well-being curriculum (intervention) will
demonstrate significantly improved well-being compared to those in a general health program (control). The
goal of Aim 1 is to adapt and tailor a previous integrated TWH® program into a health and well-being
curriculum for interpreters. Group model building will be used for curriculum development during virtual
listening sessions with interpreters and the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded
will guide documentation of the process for adapting to the context of interpreting. The goal of Aim 2 is to
evaluate implementation outcomes of the curriculum via a collective post-intervention satisfaction survey.
Finally, the goal of Aim 3 is to determine the efficacy of the health and well-being curriculum via the NIOSH
Worker Well-being Questionnaire (WellBQ) collected pre- and immediately post-intervention, as well as, at 6-
and 12-month timepoints in a parallel group randomized control trial. The contribution of the proposed research
will effectively implement a health and well-being curriculum to protect and promote the occupational health of
interpreters. This project is innovative because it will implement the integrated TWH® program to the
contextual needs of interpreters and bring experts in the interpreting field together for the first time to deliver a
combined interventional approach. This work relates to the NIOSH priority goal seven for extramural
research (promote safe and healthy work design and well-being), along with goals four (reduce occupational
musculoskeletal disorders) and six (improve workplace safety to reduce traumatic injuries).
 Evidence from this Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) will establish me as an
independent occupational safety and health researcher, contribute to the body of work dedicated to TWH®,
and further inform WellBQ development. I have assembled an outstanding advisory team that will provide me
with...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10931961
- **Project number:** 5K01OH012441-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Gretchen Roman
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $107,931
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10931961

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10931961, Health protection and promotion of sign language interpreters through implementation of Total Worker Health? (5K01OH012441-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10931961. Licensed CC0.

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