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ISSN 1051-9815 (P)
ISSN 1875-9270 (E)
Impact Factor 2024: 1.7
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: In recent years, occupational therapists have become increasingly involved in the design and implementation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) prevention programs. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of an occupational therapists' designed and implemented CTS educational program targeted to address risk behaviors in the dental hygiene profession. A total of 79 practicing dental hygienists completed a pre, post, and 2-week follow-up questionnaire to measure the extent of change in knowledge of CTS symptoms, “at risk behaviors”, and prevention strategies before and after CTS education. The findings of this study suggest that the CTS educational program, presented…by an occupational therapist and a registered dental hygienist, significantly impacted dental hygienist's CTS knowledge and lead to positive changes in their “at risk behaviors” and use of prevention strategies.
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Abstract: People with disabilities who are able to be employed have historically had to struggle with a number of barriers related to workplace activities. In recent years, more data has become available regarding employment in general and for people with disabilities in particular. As major stakeholder groups (people with disabilities, service provider agencies, funders and employers) move to a more integrated and equitable approach, it is essential that data related to employment for people with disabilities not be esoteric but utilitarian. This article will review a Canadian regional study that is being used to help shape vocational services for people with…disabilities and will compare the findings to the Canadian national scene.
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Keywords: Employment barriers, People with disabilities, Vocational rehabilitation
Abstract: We had the nurses who were victims of actual assaults (n=29) use the ‘blame’ scales we have used in our last two written vignette studies to assign blame for their assault, and then we had three judges use the same scales to assign blame for the assault based on a written description of the assault by the victim. No significant difference in mean blame levels were found between victims and the average ratings for the three judges, or between victims, judges and the response levels obtained in our prior two studies. The mean ‘blame’ scores observed in written assault vignettes,…therefore, are relatively and approximately the same as those that are, or will be observed in actual assaults.
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Abstract: Numerous skills and abilities are necessary in the operation of an automobile. Many of these skills and abilities deteriorate with age. These deteriorations, coupled with the increased incidence of motor vehicle crashes in terms of number of miles driven for older drivers, makes it imperative to explore the relationship between these factors. A review of the literature was utilized to present the performance components of older drivers that may contribute to motor vehicle crashes. Vision and attention appear to play a major role, particularly in the types of accidents that occur most frequently to this population – intersection accidents. This…article consolidates the existing literature from several disciplines. This is especially needed for occupational therapy practitioners, with their growing involvement in the assessment and rehabilitation of driving skills.
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Keywords: Automobile driving, Useful field of view, Attention
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to determine what variables have been found to predict successful outcome for patients who have undergone carpal tunnel release surgery. In this case, ‘successful’ is defined as long-term relief of symptoms, pain free functional performance, or return to work. The variables have been divided into three major groups. The first group is the variables that relate to the individual. The second group is those variables that relate to the person's employment. The last group of variables to be discussed are those that relate to society. From this literature review, it appears that there are…a significant number of variables that are ‘relevant’ to the recovery from carpal tunnel release surgery. However, the research conducted thus far has produced few results that identify any consistently reliable ‘predictors’ of surgical outcome. Future studies will require that a greater degree of reliability and validity be established for these variables. In addition, a clear and consistent definition of success with specific criteria for recovery will be necessary.
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Abstract: Persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are frequent users of healthcare services, and their care presents a critical challenge to the healthcare profession. With an estimated one million persons in the United States believed to be infected, occupational therapy practitioners will see increasing numbers of referrals to provide services to persons with AIDS. Like other healthcare professionals, occupational therapy practitioners have expressed inaccurate knowledge about AIDS and negative attitudes towards persons with AIDS, both affecting the therapeutic relationship, and possibly leading to suboptimal clinical care. This paper summarizes research that measures healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes about AIDS. It also…explores the effectiveness of educational programs aimed at increasing knowledge about AIDS and modifying attitudes towards persons with AIDS. Further research is proposed in the occupational therapy field to assist in the development of educational programs addressing these important AIDS issues.
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Keywords: Education, Ethics, Healthcare, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Abstract: An increase of cumulative trauma disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome has been seen in the last 10 years. Common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include high-risk occupations, pregnancy, diabetes, and trauma. Measures used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome are physical examinations, electromyography, computerized tomography, and vibrometers. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated through conservative methods, such as splinting and steroid injection, or through surgical procedures. Ergonomic principles can also help to minimize exacerbation of symptoms and possibly prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. A case report is used to describe the long-term effects of trauma-induced carpal tunnel syndrome and to present various…therapeutic interventions, including ergonomics, which may be useful in returning clients to work.
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Abstract: Older workers that sustain an injury effecting their work performances are increasingly being treated by rehabilitation professionals. Often, these persons are tested with popular standardized assessment tools that have obtained their normative data on young or middle-aged subjects. This article examines the normative data relating to some of these assessment tools and the potential injustice imposed upon older workers when they are compared to these standards.
Keywords: Older worker, Evaluation tools, Normative data
