The Pizzi Health and Wellness Assessment is applicable for adults ages 18 and older. It is the first valid and reliable occupation-focused and client-centered assessment tool directly linking occupational participation to health.. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it elicits the health and well-being perceptions of clients related to current occupational status, thus including clients immediately in the therapy process. It is essential that there is collaboration between client and therapist to identify areas of health that have potential to improve quality of life (QOL) and well-being.. The PHWA focuses on six different areas of health and the client and practitioner problem-solve management of occupational issues directly or indirectly impacting one’s occupational participation. The PHWA is not focused on disability but instead emphasizes the client’s perceived abilities and current levels of well-being and health related to performance and participation of daily occupations. It can be administered to all people.

It also focuses on client readiness for health behavior change, where the client rates their commitment to health behavior change. This makes the assessment much more client-centered. Practitioners work from a systems perspective, acknowledging that one area of health impacts another. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate one’s mental and emotional health from both a wellness-prevention perspective as well as one’s current mental and emotional health, especially as mental health impacts all other areas of health. Evaluation of client-readiness for behavior or cognitive change is directly related to mental health. Mental health and one’s current level of wellness and quality of life is rarely evaluated, especially by those working in physical disabilities, or, in the case of pediatrics, the child and their family, and should be, in order to determine if interventions will be effective and implemented by clients, especially in the area of commitment to behavior change.

The PHWA also helps practitioners develop client goals immediately based on the results of the PHWA. This assists practitioners in creating client-based goals so that intervention can begin immediately in areas in which the client wishes to work, thereby increasing motivation towards health, wellbeing and improving quality of life.

Please download the PHWA Interpretation Guide and 2020 PHWA with operational definitions for more information.