Affiliations: [a] Département de réadaptation, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
| [b] Département d’ergothérapie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
| [c]
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Quebec, Canada
| [d] Laboratoire de recherche en ergologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Alexandra Lecours, Département de réadaptation, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050, avenue de la médecine, Université Laval, Québec (Québec), G1V 0A6, Canada. Tel.: +1 418 656 2131 7422; E-mail: Alexandra.Lecours@fmed.ulaval.ca.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Integrating more prevention interventions into different workplace settings as a component of the role of occupational therapists has a significant relevance recognized by the occupational therapy professional community. Even if some studies suggested that occupational therapists already provide prevention interventions, and that other studies showed the efficacy of such interventions, the literature does not offer a comprehensive understanding of the specific practice of occupational therapists engaging in prevention in workplace settings. OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study was to describe the practice of occupational therapists toward the development of preventive behaviour at work among their clients. METHOD:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 occupational therapists. Phenomenological analysis was used to examine the content of the interviews. RESULTS:Results suggest that occupational therapists form representations of preventive behavior that are consistent with theory, but those are limited and do not take into account the complexity of the concept. Results of the interviews found eight different interventions provided by occupational therapists toward the development of their clients’ preventive behavior at work. CONCLUSION:Occupational therapists recognize their role in supporting their clients’ development of preventive behavior at work. However, they appear to lack a conceptual understanding and resources to help them in their practice toward prevention.
Keywords: Occupational health and safety, preventive behavior, safety behavior, occupational therapy
