Abstract

Objective – The purpose of this paper is to describe the Spectrum of Prevention, a framework for
developing multifaceted approaches to injury prevention. The value of the tool is that it can help practitioners develop and structure comprehensive initiatives.

Methods – The Spectrum is comprised of six interrelated action levels:

(1) strengthening individual knowledge and skills,
(2) promoting community education,
(3) educating providers,
(4) fostering coalitions and networks,
(5) changing organizational practices, and
(6) influencing policy and legislation.

Activities at each of these levels have the potential to support each other and promote overall community health and safety.

Conclusions – The Spectrum of Prevention is a tool that can help practitioners and policy leaders move beyond a primarily educational approach to achieve broad community goals through injury prevention strategies that include policy development. This framework has been endorsed and applied in a variety of disciplines; however, it has not been formally evaluated, a process that could clarify the scope of its effectiveness.
The purpose of this paper is to describe the Spectrum of Prevention, a tool for developing a multifaceted approach to injury prevention, and to encourage practitioners to implement comprehensive initiatives. The tool is comprised of six levels of increasing scope (see Figure 1) beginning with a focus on the individual and family, on community norms, institutional practices, and finally laws. The Spectrum seeks to aid practitioners to reduce injuries and their severity by identifying the need for a systems approach and encouraging an overall strategy that can result in “a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.”
As Rivara and Mueller point out, “until recently there has been little interest in developing conceptual models for injury research. The lack of systematic approaches has resulted in little continuity between studies or in progress toward a better understanding of the ‘best’ solutions to the injury problem. The present haphazard approach must be replaced by more rational andscientific analysis.”1