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

Abstract

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.