Exploring Possible Links Between Health and Injury Prevention in Newfoundland and Labrador

Exploring Possible Links Between Health and Injury Prevention in Newfoundland and Labrador

Jeff Rideout

Athabasca University

Abstract

The goal of this blog is to explain an understanding of a model of health. This blog’s purpose is to look at the link between health as described by the model of health and apply those learnings to how health will affect injury prevention. The focus is set towards how Newfoundland and Labrador’s society fits into a particular model of health. Those findings are applied to how this can affect injury prevention.

📷

(Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, n.d.)

This model of health from the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts is interesting when it is applied it to Newfoundland and Labrador. In Eastern Health, the main focus of the Workplace Health and Safety department is to look at as staying healthy and decreasing the risk of lost time injuries. There are a few barriers in the way when striving to keep people healthy and safe in Newfoundland and Labrador. First, looking at the first tier of health with individual factors age, gender and genetics, we have barriers to health. Newfoundland and Labrador has an aging population. This puts a strain on health care in multiple areas; for example we are seeing a large increase in the need of long term care beds. Our current system is not large enough to meet the demand. It is common for acute care facilities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to have patients that are waiting for a long-term care placement. This will often place our sites in over capacity, which is straining every department in the facility. This increase in workload and demand will increase the risk of employee injuries.

The second tier of health looks at individual behaviours. Newfoundland and Labrador ranks below average in obesity, smoking and heavy drinking (Canadian Institute for Health Information, n.d.). These unhealthy habits many people do not see as serious threats to their health and wellbeing. Traditionally, Newfoundlanders eat a lot of salt meat and fish to sustain the long winters when fresh produce was harder to acquire. Fatty foods such as fish and chips are staples in many people’s diet. The deep fried foods that the population enjoy are having a negative affect on the health of some of the provinces people. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are commonly abused substances throughout all legal age groups. These habits are leading people away from exercise and into more sedentary lifestyles. Many health care professionals are not exempt from these challenges, which is a factor in decreasing workplace injuries.

“Nutrition and exercise are therefore used as interventions to reverse these possible negative health effects. Recent data indicate that not only general health, but also brain functioning, is influenced through exercise and nutritional interventions” (Meeusen, 2014). It is very important that our province focuses on healthier behaviors not only for injury prevention but to live a long happy life.

The third tier of health focuses on public services and infrastructure. A positive factor in the health of Newfoundlanders and Labradorean’s is that we have access to health care even in our smallest communities. Newfoundland and Labrador currently has approximately 55 health care centers for a population of about 550,000 people. Newfoundland and Labrador currently has double the national average of registered nurses and nurse practitioners employed in the province (Canadian institute for health). Our province’s weather also has an affect on our health by the amount of sunlight we see. In St. John’s we see a lot of rain, drizzle and fog. This weather discourages outdoor activities of all kinds and people being active in general. Many Newfoundlanders live a sedentary lifestyle that has a negative affect on injury prevention. Newfoundlanders’ mental and physical health will be affected with a lack of physical activity and social engagement. Newfoundlanders look to parks and other green spaces for exercise as well as community centers. It is important that our centers offer affordable and accessible services to our population to increase physical activity and social engagement. Affordable physical and social events must be accessible in our communities to promote health and therefore result in a potential decrease in workplace injuries.

Living and working conditions is the fourth tier of health to look at. Newfoundlanders consider themselves lucky to live in a climate with no air quality issues that larger centers may face on a regular basis. Newfoundland and Labrador tends to see significant snowfall during the winter months. Snow and extreme weather causes issues with accessibility to healthcare as well as access to work and social networks. Slip and fall injuries in the workplace are often very high during the winter. Small rural communities throughout the province often have issues with access to fresh produce. Access can be more challenging in the winter months; however, residents never have to do without. Currently, Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy is struggling with the downturn in the fishery as well as the drop in the price of oil. The economy has an effect on most of the residents of the province. Unfortunately, a barrier to health is the lack of disposable income to focus on physical activity and healthy diet choices. The cost of food in Newfoundland can be much higher than other areas in Canada because of the inaccessibility of the island, particularly in the winter months. These barriers that the Newfoundland and Labrador population face on a daily basis are all variables in keeping our professionals safe from injury risks.

The fifth and final tier of health to focus on is social, economical and political factors. Newfoundland and Labrador share similar issues with regards to racism and poverty as most provinces do. Our indigenous population currently struggle with access to healthcare and resources and a number of the population live rurally and not close to major centers where services are available.

“States with more injury prevention policies in place have lower rates of death from injury, particularly when evaluated at the county level” (Kaufman, E 2015). It is important that we look at global policies that effect our entire population as they will have a greater impact on our mission of health and injury prevention. Workplace NL currently has a Prime program implemented to ensure healthcare providers are taking necessary steps in maintaining a safe environment for employees.

In Newfoundland and Labrador Workplace NL has a PRIME program. Workplace NL describes the program as (n.d.)

The Prevention and Return-to-Work Insurance Management for Employers/Employees (PRIME) Program, through financial incentives or charges, recognizes employers’ claim costs as well as their compliance with certain health and safety and return to work practices defined by Workplace NL.” (Workplace NL, n.d.).

Maintaining our health is an important variable when preventing injuries. Mental and physical aspects of health are key contributors in preventing workplace injuries. We must continue to improve on areas of weakness as well as continue with the success we have in other areas to maintain a healthy and productive population.

References:

Kaufman, E., & Weibe, D. (2016). State injury prevention policies and variation in death from injury. Injury Prevention 22, 99-104.

Meeusen, R. (2014) Exercise, Nutrition and the Brain. Sports Medicine. 44, 47-56.

Canadian Institute for Health Information (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.cihi.ca/en/an-in-depth-look-at-the-newfoundland-and-labrador-health-care-system

Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.publichealthwm.org/what-health-equity/what-influences-health

Workplace NL (n.d.) Retrieved from https://workplacenl.ca/site/uploads/2019/06/pr-01-prime-overview.pdf