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WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation is an interdisciplinary, international journal which publishes high quality peer-reviewed manuscripts covering the entire scope of the occupation of work. The journal's subtitle has been deliberately laid out: The first goal is the prevention of illness, injury, and disability. When this goal is not achievable, the attention focuses on assessment to design client-centered intervention, rehabilitation, treatment, or controls that use scientific evidence to support best practice.
WORK occasionally publishes thematic issues, but in general, issues cover a wide range of topics such as ergonomic considerations with children, youth and students, the challenges facing an aging workforce, workplace violence, injury management, performing artists, ergonomic product evaluations, and the awareness of the political, cultural, and environmental determinants of health related to work.
Dr. Karen Jacobs, the founding editor, and her editorial board especially encourage the publication of research studies, clinical practice, case study reports, as well as personal narratives and critical reflections of lived work experiences (autoethnographic/autobiographic scholarship),
Sounding Board commentaries and
Speaking of Research articles which provide the foundation for better understanding research to facilitate knowledge dissemination.
Narrative Reflections on Occupational Transitions, a new column, is for persons who have successfully transitioned into, between, or out of occupations to tell their stories in a narrative form. With an internationally renowned editorial board,
WORK maintains high standards in the evaluation and publication of manuscripts. All manuscripts are reviewed expeditiously and published in a timely manner.
WORK prides itself on being an author-friendly journal.
WORK celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015.
*WORK is affiliated with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)* *WORK is endorsed by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA)* *WORK gives out the yearly Cheryl Bennett Best Paper Award*
Abstract: Occupational therapy has a unique and valuable contribution to make to the transition of students with disabilities from school to productive adult life. This contribution includes utilization of an ecological approach that considers student performance of essential occupations in a range of natural environments including on-the-job. Legislative background, the specific role of occupational therapy on the transition team, and challenges related to implementation of effective transition services, are presented in this article.
Keywords: Transition, Community employment, Public school practice
Abstract: This article describes a vocational training program entitled, ‘Careers in Automation for Persons with Severe Physical Disabilities’, that was developed by the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Tufts University School of Medicine in collaboration with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. Its goal is to secure employment for individuals with severe physical impairments by using computers and technology as job related accommodations. Psychosocial, educational, and vocational profiles are presented for 24 clients over 4 years. Three case studies involving persons with traumatic, chronic and developmental disabilities illustrate the importance of matching technological accommodations with employer needs and personal preferences. Discussion…of employment outcomes illustrates that the effective use of computers and technology by persons with disabilities is best measured not by the degree of sophistication and engineering of systems and devices, but by employer and employee satisfaction with job performance and productivity.
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Abstract: Rehabilitation professionals are required in many work situations to lift considerable weight. Therapists move patients regularly which may cause a sort of cumulative trauma disorder. Realization of performance limitations due to pain, may cause emotional responses such as mood changes and loss of concentration as well as stimulating the adaptive process. This is a case study of a physical therapist's transition from a full case load of neuorlogical patients, parenting and homemaking, through considering available alternatives to career decision time.
Keywords: Transition, Cumulative trauma, Career change
Abstract: The Accreditation Council, a national accreditation organization since 1969, has developed a set of Outcome Based Performance Measures that can be used to assess the quality of services and supports for people with disabilities. The development of the Outcome Based Performance Measures signals a change in the definition of quality from compliance with organizational processes to responsiveness to the individual. Based on individual and focus group interviews with individuals with disabilities, the new measures of quality indicates the outcomes that people expect from services and supports. These generic outcomes apply to work and employment settings. The new approach to quality…assessment treats work and employment as methods or organizational processes which facilitate outcomes for people. Work and employment are important for the outcomes they facilitate.
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Abstract: With rising health care costs and a dynamic health care structure in the USA, many medical and rehabilitation professionals are seeking cost effective strategies to assist employers in preventing and managing musculoskeletal work injuries. An integrated approach based on the classic three component model of preventive medicine which includes primary, secondary and tertiary prevention is discussed. This approach includes ergonomics, medical injury treatment and rehabilitation services to provide a comprehensive occupational health program. The manner in which these services are packaged for purchase by industry is shifting from a fee-for-service system to a capitated program with the provider coordinating service…delivery at risk. The incentives for successful outcomes are tremendous. Challenges in carrying out this program are presented as well as discussion of approaches to overcome these barriers.
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Keywords: Ergonomics, Occupational health, Injury prevention, Musculoskeletal work injury, Return-to-work, Industrial rehabilitation, Model prevention program
Abstract: This study examined the cost and effectiveness of making ergonomic modifications for injured workers at the time of return to work. Factors which were considered to be indicative of effective modifications included whether the worker was still working at the job for which modifications had been made, the amount of time between modification and follow-up call and the employer's rating of the effectiveness of the modifications. Thirty-one subjects were all past clients at a midwestern rehabilitation facility. Average subject age was 40.9 years; and there were 14 males and 17 females. Information relative to the modifications was gathered from the…subjects' employers through the use of a telephone questionnaire. Results indicated an average cost per person of $251.71 and $61.69 for an average cost per modification, 35% were still working the same job with or without restrictions at an average follow-up time of 70.7 weeks. The employers' average ratings of the cost effectiveness and effectiveness in keeping the employee on the job were 4.3 and 3.8, respectively on a scale of 1–5 (5 being very effective). Results suggest that ergonomic modifications can be cost effective in keeping the worker on the job.
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Abstract: Cumulative trauma disorders are reaching epidemic proportions, affecting almost 19 million workers per year and costing industry nearly $100 billion annually (LaBar, 1991). Increased levels of productivity with fewer job tasks and lighter load concentrations on smaller aspects of the body are the primary contributing factors to the rise in cumulative trauma disorders (Herbert, 1986). Employers and consumers are feeling the significant effects, particularly financial, of cumulative trauma disorders and are looking for ways to decrease these disorders in the workplace. Ergonomics is a field that is focusing on decreasing work injuries and increasing work efficiency. The United States Occupational…Safety and Health Administration is in the process of developing proposed ergonomic guidelines. This paper describes the trends in industrial rehabilitation as they relate to cumulative trauma disorder, ergonomics and the components of an effective ergonomic program and injury prevention work environment.
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Keywords: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Americans with Disabilities Act, Repetitive motion injury, Workers compensation, Injury prevention
Abstract: ACTIDOS (ATD) is a program which takes an innovative approach to work hardening based on the needs of acutely back-injured workers. The success lies in the coordinated efforts of the interdisciplinary treatment team. ATD integrates the return to work process as an aspect of treatment and focuses on functional capacity rather than the elimination of pain. The program demonstrates encouraging outcome information: 85% of the workers in a specific group returned to work within the expected time.
Keywords: Back injury, Worker, Word hardening, Return to work, Team
