The One Health Framework is a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that recognises the interconnected nature of human health, animal health and environmental health. While previous topics explored microorganisms, disease transmission and zoonotic diseases, One Health provides the broader framework through which these concepts are understood and managed. Rather than viewing human, animal and environmental health as separate disciplines, One Health recognises that protecting one depends upon protecting all three.

For Occupational Therapists (OTs) working with assistance animals, the One Health Framework provides an evidence-based approach to infection prevention that extends beyond preventing illness in individual clients. It encourages practitioners to consider the health of the assistance animal, the safety of the environment, public health responsibilities, and collaboration with other professionals when making clinical decisions. This holistic perspective aligns closely with occupational therapy’s focus on the interaction between people, their occupations and the environments in which they live.

As emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and environmental degradation continue to influence global health, One Health has become increasingly important across healthcare, veterinary medicine and public health. Occupational Therapists have an important role to play in implementing One Health principles by promoting safe participation, protecting assistance animal welfare and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to reduce infection risks while supporting meaningful occupational engagement.

This topic explores the principles of the One Health Framework, interdisciplinary collaboration, surveillance and preparedness, and the role of Occupational Therapists in promoting the health and wellbeing of people, assistance animals and the environments they share.

What is the One Health Framework?

The One Health Framework is an internationally recognised approach that promotes collaboration between multiple professions to achieve optimal health outcomes for people, animals and the environment.

Rather than treating human, animal and environmental health as independent systems, One Health recognises that they are interconnected. Changes affecting one component often influence the others.

For example:

• disease outbreaks in wildlife may affect domestic animals and humans
• environmental contamination may expose both people and assistance animals to infectious agents
• human illnesses may be transmitted to assistance animals
• poor animal welfare may reduce an assistance animal’s ability to safely perform its role.

Understanding these interrelationships allows professionals to address health issues more effectively than would be possible through isolated approaches.

The Three Pillars of One Health

The One Health Framework is built upon three interconnected pillars.

Human Health

Human health encompasses physical, psychological and social wellbeing.

Occupational Therapists contribute through:

• rehabilitation
• health promotion
• disability support
• education
• environmental modification
• infection prevention
• participation-focused interventions.

Animal Health

Animal health includes physical health, behavioural wellbeing and welfare.

For assistance animals this involves:

• preventive veterinary healthcare
• vaccinations
• parasite prevention
• nutrition
• exercise
• behavioural welfare
• ethical training
• monitoring fitness to work.

Healthy assistance animals are essential partners in achieving positive occupational outcomes.

Environmental Health

Environmental health considers the physical, biological and social environments in which humans and animals interact.

This includes:

• sanitation
• water quality
• ventilation
• waste management
• environmental cleaning
• biodiversity
• climate
• infection prevention within built environments.

Healthy environments reduce opportunities for infectious disease transmission while supporting safe participation.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

One Health depends upon collaboration between many professions.

Occupational Therapists frequently work alongside:

• general practitioners
• nurses
• infection prevention practitioners
• veterinarians
• veterinary nurses
• assistance animal trainers
• animal behaviour consultants
• physiotherapists
• psychologists
• speech pathologists
• social workers
• public health practitioners
• environmental health officers.

Each profession contributes specialist knowledge while working towards shared goals that improve outcomes for both clients and assistance animals.

Surveillance and Emerging Infectious Diseases

Disease surveillance involves the ongoing collection, monitoring and interpretation of health information to identify emerging infectious diseases and public health threats.

Effective surveillance allows governments and healthcare organisations to:

• identify disease outbreaks early
• monitor disease trends
• detect antimicrobial resistance
• monitor emerging zoonotic diseases
• inform public health responses
• evaluate prevention programs.

Occupational Therapists contribute by recognising potential biological hazards, following public health advice, reporting concerns through appropriate organisational channels, and adapting practice in response to changing risks.

Climate Change and Emerging Health Challenges

Environmental change is influencing the distribution and frequency of many infectious diseases.

Examples include:

• expansion of mosquito-borne diseases
• altered wildlife migration
• increased vector populations
• changing parasite distribution
• extreme weather events
• environmental degradation.

Similarly, antimicrobial resistance has become a major global health challenge affecting both human and veterinary medicine.

Occupational Therapists should remain informed about emerging health issues and adapt infection prevention practices as evidence evolves.

The Occupational Therapist’s Role Within One Health

Occupational Therapists contribute to One Health by integrating human health, animal welfare and environmental considerations into everyday practice.

Responsibilities include:

• undertaking infection risk assessments
• promoting safe occupational participation
• educating clients regarding infection prevention
• supporting assistance animal welfare
• recognising situations requiring referral
• collaborating with veterinarians and medical practitioners
• advocating for evidence-based inclusion
• supporting healthy environments.

Importantly, Occupational Therapists should always practise within their professional scope while recognising when specialist expertise is required.

Applying One Health in Everyday Practice

One Health principles can be incorporated into routine occupational therapy practice through relatively simple actions.

Examples include:

• considering both human and animal health during assessments
• encouraging routine veterinary care
• promoting effective hand hygiene
• maintaining clean therapy environments
• considering environmental factors during intervention planning
• collaborating across disciplines
• referring concerns appropriately
• basing recommendations on scientific evidence rather than assumptions.

These practices promote safer, more sustainable assistance animal partnerships while supporting meaningful occupational participation.

The Future of One Health

The importance of One Health will continue to grow as healthcare systems respond to emerging infectious diseases, environmental change and increasing interaction between humans and animals.

Future priorities are likely to include:

• improved interdisciplinary collaboration
• enhanced disease surveillance
• stronger antimicrobial stewardship
• greater environmental sustainability
• improved animal welfare standards
• increased public education
• evidence-informed policy development.

Occupational Therapists working with assistance animals will continue to play an important role in promoting health across all three domains of One Health.

Key Practice Principle

The One Health Framework recognises that human health, animal health and environmental health are inseparable. Occupational Therapists working with assistance animals should adopt a collaborative, evidence-informed approach that integrates infection prevention, animal welfare and environmental stewardship into everyday practice. By working alongside clients, veterinarians, healthcare professionals and public health agencies, Occupational Therapists can protect the health of people and assistance animals while promoting safe, inclusive and sustainable occupational participation.