Integrative prevention and coordinated action toward primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in workplaces: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: Integrated approaches are valued in several occupational health strategic programmatic orientations. A better understanding of the use of integrative prevention in coordinating measures is needed to develop its use in workplaces. OBJECTIVE: Identify workplace integrative prevention approaches and definitions of prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary) in the literature. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley (2005). The literature search was carried out in three databases without date restrictions. In order to be retained, the articles needed to address at least two levels of prevention using an integrative approach in a workplace setting. A qualitative analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The review yielded 16 published articles between 1995 and 2017. The articles addressed mental health, musculoskeletal disorder prevention and comprehensive approaches. Integrative prevention approaches are diverse and are not always named as such. Prevention definitions are not homogenous. CONCLUSIONS: This review identified some of the integrative prevention characteristics aimed at coordinated action for prevention in the workplace and to clarify measures taken at different levels of prevention. Further studies are needed to elaborate on the implementation of integrative prevention in the workplace

The long-term impact of an eating disorder prevention program for elite athletes: a follow-up study

Elite athletes involved in weight-based sports are at increased risk of developing eating disorders (EDs). While the utility of ED prevention programs has been assessed up to three years post-intervention, it is unclear whether participation in such interventions promotes any resilience against EDs in the long-term. To address this, the current study assessed self-reported disordered eating and body dissatisfaction in ballet dancers 15 or more years after participating in a reportedly successful ED prevention program at a professional ballet school. Graduates of the school before, during, and after the intervention were surveyed, and scores were compared across groups. Results revealed dancers who participated in the intervention and those who attended post-intervention endorsed fewer thoughts and behaviours associated with bulimia, had lower lifetime prevalence of laxative use, and showed a trend toward lower lifetime rates of vomiting to control weight than those who attended the ballet school prior to the intervention.