The purpose of this study is to map existing knowledge on the effectiveness of Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) for children and caregivers through a scoping review and to report preliminary evidence regarding the intervention's effectiveness. A literature search across six online databases identified 12 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that OPC has been applied to both tele-occupational therapy and interprofessional collaborations in kindergartens and schools, showing improvements in both children's and caregivers' occupational performance as well as in parenting and education-related outcomes. OPC may be a promising approach for occupational therapists to reach out to the community.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of muscle activity in the work process of snow removal using a snow pusher, which is burdensome. Snow pushing involves five steps: shoving, pushing down, pulling out, transporting, and lifting. Despite being a common task, there is little research on the ergonomics of snow removal using a pusher. This study evaluated muscle activity and joint angle changes in the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae muscles involved in each step of snow removal using a pusher in healthy adult men. Throughout the process, the electromyographic activity of each muscle fluctuated around 30%, which is within the desirable load for improving muscle endurance. Further evaluation using Welch's analysis of variance showed that shoving, pushing down, pulling out, and lifting involved significantly higher muscle activity than the other work processes. Because snow removal using a pusher requires different movement patterns and muscle activity for each step, necessary measures must be introduced to reduce the physical burden involved in each task.

This study aimed to clarify the decision making of parents of children with borderline intellectual functioning regarding elementary school enrollment. Using a trajectory equifinality approach, the experiences of four parents were analyzed. Early in their children's development, parents began to worry about their children's futures. Despite these concerns, they navigated the decision-making process based on their individual beliefs. Moreover, the study identified a pathway to consensus through discussions between the parents and the Department of Education. Factors that influenced parental decision-making at each stage of the process were also identified. Occupational therapists could assist in clarifying parental values through establishing trust with parents early in their child's development.

[Objectives] The purpose of this study was to clarify the occurrence of dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the process leading to the implementation or limitation of activities. [Methods] Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and analyzed using a Grounded Theory Approach. [Results] Dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease occurred in a variety of situations, including exertion and activities involving complex thinking. Nine categories were generated in the coping process, with “activity attempts and coping” as the central category, and four process patterns were extracted. [Conclusion] In supporting the implementation and continuation of activities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is important to be aware of each patient's coping process and the conditions that lead to the implementation and continuation of activities.

University students, as a group, may have experienced occupational injustice due to restrictions on meaningful occupation imposed by measures such as the state of emergency declarations for COVID-19. However, the relationship between such behavioral restrictions and occupational justice within this group remains unclear. To elucidate this relationship, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey of medical university students. This survey examined occupational justice using the Occupational Justice Questionnaire (OJQ) and life satisfaction like selfcare, leisure, study, and mental health status using General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) during the third declaration of the state of emergency and six months befo re and after the nonemer gency period. The study was car ried out 1 w eek from November 4, 2020 and 1 week from November 5, 2021 during the non-emergency period, and 1 week from April 28, 2021 during the third declaration of the state of emergency in Japan. By comparing the survey periods, we analyzed the impact of behavioral restrictions on these aspects. The results indicate that leisure satisfaction was low during the state of emergency, and that du ring the e arly stages of the p andemic, people's mental he alth deteriorated and may have fallen into a state of occupational marginalization.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to map the employment support practices of occupational therapists (OTs) for individuals with brain injuries in Japan and to gain insights into employment support practices and research. [Methods] A scoping review was conducted using inclusion and exclusion criteria, utilizing sources such as Igaku Chuo Zasshi. [Results] A total of 30 articles were included as target literature. The scope of support extended across diverse fields, including medical institutions and long-term care insurance services. However, insufficient collaboration with other professions and organizations, as well as inadequate support for job retention, was identified. OT assessments and programs were not only focused on cognitive and physical functions but also included workplace environment adjustments and compensatory strategies. [Conclusion] OTs should implement assessments and programs for employment considering the intentions and environment of the workplace, and it is important to verify their effectiveness.

In the fitting of myoelectric prostheses for children with unilateral forearm deficiency, a decorative prosthetic hand is recommended at the infant stage. The aim is to become familiar with prothetics and to encourage body diagramming with a prosthetic hand. We fabricated a developmentally appropriate decorative prosthetic hand for a four-month-old child with a left forearm defect. Thereafter, the child was encouraged to use the prosthetic hand according to his development until 14 months of age, when he began to walk. The use of the prosthetic hand at home was confirmed by interviewing the mother, checking her video recordings and using telerehabilitation. As a result, we confirmed his voluntary use of the prosthetic hand at home. Bimanual movements utilizing the prosthetic hand facilitated the child's cognitive and motor development. Considering the fitting of myoelectric prosthetic hands, it is necessary to work on basic physical and cognitive functions. Therefore, fitting a prosthetic hand according to the developmental stage from infancy is effective.

The purpose of this case report was to report the effectiveness of a balloon exercise program using sensory integrative therapy theory for a patient with severe dementia to restore initiative to her occupations and will to live. The patient had decreased initiative in her occupations, such as calligraphy and painting, and had lost her motivation to live. We attempted to guide this patient using an occupational therapy step-by-step balloon exercise program. As a result, she eventually resumed calligraphy and painting on her own initiative, and her motivation to live was also restored. This case study discusses some reasons for the results. Moreover, we describe what factors in particular were effective in the balloon exercise program based on the principles of sensory integration therapy.

This report describes the treatment process for an adult with autistic spectrum disorder, comorbid depression, and anxiety. The client received 34 sessions that included psychoeducation, behavioral activation, and behavioral experiment. A psychiatric daycare service was used at the end of the treatment. In the early stages of treatment, the therapist set long-term and abstract treatment goals, resulting in insufficient behavioral change. Given this result, the therapist conducted case formulation again and reset short-term and concrete tasks related to the client's interests. This treatment effort was accompanied by modified behavior and reduced anxiety in the client. As the client's level of independence in daily life increased and improvements in family relationships and interpersonal behavior were observed, daycare was also used. Finally, the client was employed in social services. These results suggest that it is important to set short-term, specific tasks based on the client's interests when dealing with a case with autism and comorbid depression and anxiety.

The main function of the human hand is to grasp and manipulate objects, with opposing movements of the fingers playing a particularly important role. In recent years, the effectiveness of integrated volitional control electrical stimulator(IVES) devices has been reported as a treatment method for stroke-induced upper limb paralysis. However, most of the reports used IVES on the extensor motion of the hand, with no reports using IVES on the opposing muscles of the hand. The present study combined IVES with task-oriented training for a subacute stroke patient with mild proximal upper limb paralysis who was able to flex and extend his fingers, but had difficulty with opposing hand movements. As a result, improvement in upper limb function was observed, and the patient was able to use a knife. The treatment method using IVES and task-oriented training for the opposing motion of the hand may be a means of improving upper limb function.

The authors, working at a psychiatric day hospital, collaborated with a support worker at an employment transition service through a case study. During the course of the intervention, sharing the assessment process facilitated collaboration and had a positive impact on the subjective and work-related outcomes of the case. In particular, sharing the assessment process was considered one of the most effective ways for occupational therapists to collaborate with support workers, who are non-professionals.

We examined whether home-visit rehabilitation, in which the goal of “Living like that person” was set using Management tool for daily life performance (MTDLP), had an effect on the physical and mental functions, life functions, and quality of life of community-dwelling older adults certified as long-term care residents. The results of the 6-month intervention showed significant improvements in physical function, life function, and quality of life at 3 and 6 months after the start of the intervention. The results of propensity score matching between the MTDLP group and the control group using historical data showed that the MTDLP group exhibited significant improvement in instrumental activities of daily living at both 3 and 6 months after the start of the intervention. The results indicate that home-visit rehabilitation using MTDLP could promote “activity” and “participation” of older adults in need of long-term care who live in the community.

Occupational therapists (OTR) are often exposed to individuals with suicidal ideation and self-injury in their clinical practice. However, OTR have few opportunities to learn systematically about suicide and self-injury. In this study, a training course on suicide and self-injury was conducted as an intervention for 30 OTR. They were measured on their knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy before and after the intervention. There were significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. The effect sizes were medium to large which suggest that the combination of lectures and exercises on suicide prevention was effective and improved not only knowledge but also attitudes and self-efficacy.