Occupational Therapy in the Promotion of Health and Well-Being

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on occupational therapy’s role in health promotion and well-being.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

A health profession that uses engagement in meaningful occupations to promote, facilitate, support, and maintain health, well-being, and participation for individuals, groups, and populations.

Occupation (OT definition)

Personalized everyday activities people do individually, with families, or in communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life.

Well-Being

The presence of positive emotions, life satisfaction, fulfillment, positive functioning, and satisfaction with occupational participation.

Health Promotion

The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health.

Health

A resource for everyday life encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.

Healthy Life

Use of capacities and adaptations across the lifespan to build satisfying relationships, work, and play in one’s community.

Healthy People 2030

U.S. DHHS initiative with goals to attain thriving lives, eliminate health disparities, create supportive environments, promote healthy behaviors across life stages, and engage multisector leadership.

Primary Prevention

Education or health promotion efforts that prevent the onset and reduce the incidence of unhealthy conditions, diseases, or injuries.

Secondary Prevention

Screening, early detection, and early intervention designed to limit the development of secondary conditions after disease onset or injury.

Tertiary Prevention

Services and policies aimed at preventing progression of an existing condition and promoting full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

Triple Aim

Framework to improve the individual health-care experience, improve population health, and reduce per-capita cost of care.

Population Health

An approach that focuses on aggregates of people and multiple health determinants to enhance overall health and reduce disparities.

Occupational Imbalance

A lack of balance or disproportion of occupations resulting in decreased well-being.

Occupational Deprivation

Loss of occupational choice and diversity due to circumstances beyond an individual’s or community’s control.

Occupational Alienation

Feelings of isolation, powerlessness, and estrangement arising from engagement in occupations that do not satisfy inner needs.

Occupational Justice

Promotion of equitable opportunities and resources so people can engage in diverse occupations that meet their potential and support well-being.

Health Literacy

The capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

Social Determinants of Health

Economic stability, education, social and community context, health care access, and neighborhood environments that influence health outcomes.

Ecology of Human Performance (EHP)

OT model emphasizing the interaction among person, task, and context to understand and enhance occupational performance.

Person–Environment–Occupational Performance (PEOP) Model

Framework highlighting the dynamic relationship among person factors, environmental factors, and occupations that shape performance.

Model of Human Occupation (MOHO)

Theoretical model describing how volition, habituation, performance capacity, and environment interact to shape occupational behavior.

Lifestyle Redesign®

Occupation-based intervention program that helps individuals redesign daily habits and routines to improve health and well-being.

Well Elderly Study

Landmark randomized controlled trial showing occupation-based health promotion improves physical health, mental health, and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

U.S. law that prohibits discrimination and mandates accessibility and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

Inclusion (OT context)

Acceptance and support of diversity where unique beliefs, values, and attributes are welcomed, valued, and leveraged for maximum engagement.

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework

Official AOTA document that outlines OT’s domain and process and supports involvement in population-based health promotion.

Occupational Therapy Practitioner

An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant responsible for delivering OT services; OTAs work under OT supervision.

Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics

AOTA document that guides safe, competent, and ethical OT practice, including fidelity, beneficence, and respect for others’ roles.

Activity Analysis

Process of breaking down an occupation to understand required skills, patterns, contexts, and potential adaptations for safe, effective performance.

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

1986 WHO document defining health promotion and viewing health as a resource for everyday life.

Eight Dimensions of Well-Being (SAMHSA)

Emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual components contributing to overall wellness.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Well-Being Definition

Concept includes positive emotions, absence of negative emotions, life satisfaction, fulfillment, and positive functioning.

Occupational Science

Interdisciplinary academic discipline dedicated to the study of the form, function, and meaning of human occupation.

Health Disparities

Population-specific differences in disease incidence, health outcomes, or health-care access among racial, ethnic, disability, or other groups.

Three Critical OT Roles in Health Promotion

1) Promote healthy occupations for all; 2) Integrate occupation into health promotion strategies; 3) Provide occupation-based interventions to individuals, families, communities, and populations.