2022 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 157-164
Objective: In Japan, the introduction of a project aimed at providing support for individuals with higher brain dysfunction has resulted in a substantial increase in their employment rate. While this shows positive effects, many such individuals still have difficulty finding employment and may face various difficulties in cases where employment is secured. This study aimed to clarify the factors that affect the performance of employment support for people with higher brain dysfunction, with a focus on the conditions at medical institutions and employment support organizations in Japan.
Methodology: This study measures scores on the competency scale (WSC-HB) required for employment support for people with higher brain dysfunction. An anonymous self-administered paper-based questionnaire was circulated among a total of 1,384 occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, and employment support workers. Factors affecting job performance were processed by hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
Results: The factors of “transdisciplinary learning (ΔR2 = 0.105, F(311) = 7.699, p < 0.01)” and “amount of knowledge (ΔR2 = 0.056, F(305) = 6.854, p < 0.01)” about employment support influenced the performance of employment support for people with higher brain dysfunction.
Conclusions: There are few opportunities to acquire knowledge about employment support for people with higher brain dysfunction. Going forward, systematic professional training should, therefore, be implemented to cover issues such as welfare, employment, and the medical features of higher brain dysfunction. This will help establish a system for providing quality employment support.
