Use of Intervention Mapping for Occupational Risk Prevention and Health Promotion: A Systematic Review of Literature

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety and Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Intervention Design

Background:

• Intervention mapping (IM) is a systematic method for intervention design, widely used in public health.
• Its application and effectiveness in occupational safety and health (OSH) require further investigation.
• This study examines IM fidelity, implementation, and effectiveness in OSH interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the fidelity of intervention mapping protocol use in OSH intervention development.
• To explore the relationship between IM fidelity, implementation processes, and intervention effectiveness.
• To identify factors influencing the successful implementation of OSH interventions developed using IM.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of interventions developed using the IM protocol was conducted.
• Articles were screened for development, implementation, and effects of OSH interventions.
• Two authors used a checklist to rate fidelity to the IM protocol, implementation, and intervention effects.

Main Results:

• Twelve OSH interventions from 38 articles were analyzed.
• Fidelity to the IM protocol was low regarding participation in development and implementation planning.
• No direct relationship was found between IM fidelity and intervention effectiveness, but theory-based approaches correlated with successful implementation.

Conclusions:

• Implementing participative approaches and detailed planning in IM for OSH interventions is practically challenging.
• Developing matrices of change objectives, though demanding, can lead to tailored and effective interventions.
• Further research into optimizing IM application in OSH settings is warranted.