Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021
This study explored the usage of occupational therapy treatment with psychologically injured public safety personnel (PSP) from Ontario, Canada. We used a descriptive quantitative approach with summary data provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario documenting occupation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1377157/full |
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| author | Megan Edgelow Agnieszka Fecica |
| author_facet | Megan Edgelow Agnieszka Fecica |
| author_sort | Megan Edgelow |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explored the usage of occupational therapy treatment with psychologically injured public safety personnel (PSP) from Ontario, Canada. We used a descriptive quantitative approach with summary data provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario documenting occupation therapy (OT) treatment of psychologically injured PSP who had an approved WSIB Mental Stress Injury Program (MSIP) claim between 2017 and 2021. Variables examined included demographics, career type, injury type, and return to work (RTW) outcomes. Chi-square Tests of Independence were used to compare differences between PSP who received OT treatment and those who did not. Analysis revealed that in the total cohort of 6674 approved PSP MSIP claims, 15% (n = 991) of PSP received OT treatment. Communicators (21%) and correctional workers (17%) were most likely to receive OT treatment while paramedics (13%) were less likely. PSP claimants who received OT treatment were more likely to have a cumulative event injury (71%) compared to the rest of the cohort (55%) and were more likely to not have started a RTW process (62%) compared to the rest of the cohort (43%). PSP who received OT treatment had more days away from work on average than those who did not (913 days vs. 384 days). This data reveals that PSP with cumulative injuries and higher lengths of time away from work more frequently received OT treatment as part of their WSIB MSIP claim; it is possible that this higher degree of claim complexity influenced their RTW outcomes. Worker’s compensation organizations should consider their health care decision-making processes to foster prompt access to treatment and proactive RTW pathways. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-187fbd2f203e4845aa740b6926784348 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-187fbd2f203e4845aa740b69267843482025-01-06T06:59:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-01-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.13771571377157Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021Megan EdgelowAgnieszka FecicaThis study explored the usage of occupational therapy treatment with psychologically injured public safety personnel (PSP) from Ontario, Canada. We used a descriptive quantitative approach with summary data provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario documenting occupation therapy (OT) treatment of psychologically injured PSP who had an approved WSIB Mental Stress Injury Program (MSIP) claim between 2017 and 2021. Variables examined included demographics, career type, injury type, and return to work (RTW) outcomes. Chi-square Tests of Independence were used to compare differences between PSP who received OT treatment and those who did not. Analysis revealed that in the total cohort of 6674 approved PSP MSIP claims, 15% (n = 991) of PSP received OT treatment. Communicators (21%) and correctional workers (17%) were most likely to receive OT treatment while paramedics (13%) were less likely. PSP claimants who received OT treatment were more likely to have a cumulative event injury (71%) compared to the rest of the cohort (55%) and were more likely to not have started a RTW process (62%) compared to the rest of the cohort (43%). PSP who received OT treatment had more days away from work on average than those who did not (913 days vs. 384 days). This data reveals that PSP with cumulative injuries and higher lengths of time away from work more frequently received OT treatment as part of their WSIB MSIP claim; it is possible that this higher degree of claim complexity influenced their RTW outcomes. Worker’s compensation organizations should consider their health care decision-making processes to foster prompt access to treatment and proactive RTW pathways.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1377157/fullfirst respondersoccupational healthoccupational therapy (MeSH)posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)public safety personnelreturn to work (RTW) |
| spellingShingle | Megan Edgelow Agnieszka Fecica Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021 Frontiers in Psychiatry first responders occupational health occupational therapy (MeSH) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) public safety personnel return to work (RTW) |
| title | Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021 |
| title_full | Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021 |
| title_fullStr | Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021 |
| title_short | Occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work-related psychological injuries: analyzing Ontario worker’s compensation data from 2017–2021 |
| title_sort | occupational therapy treatment of public safety personnel with work related psychological injuries analyzing ontario worker s compensation data from 2017 2021 |
| topic | first responders occupational health occupational therapy (MeSH) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) public safety personnel return to work (RTW) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1377157/full |
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