CE Article: Secondary Prevention Related to Work: The Role of Occupational Therapy
Carrie Scheel, EdD, OTR and Christine Herziger, MBA, PT
Earn .1 AOTA CEU (1 NBCOT PDU/1 contact hour)
ABSTRACT
Occupational therapy plays a key role in workplace injury prevention programs. This article discusses three types of work injury prevention—primary, secondary, and tertiary—with a focus on occupational therapy’s role in secondary prevention. Research supports a biopsychosocial model for injury prevention that uses a client-centered, occupation-based approach to screening and interventions for the injured worker (Noonan & Wagner, 2010). The secondary prevention process includes a nonmedical referral, screening, frame-of-reference identification, and intervention. Since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defined categories of secondary prevention in 2001, our experience with numerous companies shows that the intervention employers prefer is first aid (OSHA, 2001). Many benefits may be found in implementing a preventative program for both injured workers and their employers (Ramos, 2006; Sullivan et al., 2005). These benefits can be financial, social, and psychological, and can apply to all involved parties. This article, which includes a case example, discusses the importance of occupational therapy in the emerging market of secondary prevention for work-related injuries.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this article, you should be able to:
- Define and differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary care in the field of work practice.
- Identify the theoretical background of secondary prevention.
- Describe and apply components of secondary prevention.
- Identify the benefits of secondary prevention.
Learning Level: Entry
Target audience: Occupational Therapists
Content: Category 1: Domain of Occupational Therapy, Areas of Occupation; Category 2: Occupational Therapy Process, Intervention.
Reference Information:
Scheel, C. & Herziger, C. (2011). Secondary Prevention Related to Work: The Role of Occupational Therapy. OT Practice, 16(04), CE-1–CE-8.
You will receive an e-mail confirmation within 2 business days granting you online access to the exam. If you prefer, you may submit your completed Registration and Answer Card exam by mail to AOTA Products, P.O. Box 347036, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-4036. Expedited ordering is available by calling 877-404-AOTA. A $15 processing fee will be charged.
For information on exam, retake exam, certificate and return policy, please see our "Customer Serivce" page.