Abstract
The purpose of this study was to illustrate the reality and problems of occupational therapy in critical care centers in Japan. Questionnaires were submitted to 260 hospitals with critical care centers where occupational therapists worked. Ninety hospitals (34.6%) responded. Occupational therapy at critical care centers was conducted at 78 (86.7%) hospitals. However, the nature of the intervention was different in each hospital. In non-intervention hospitals, human factors were barriers. Recognition of the necessity of occupational therapy in critical care centers and intensive care unit areas was also high with the intervention and non- intervention hospitals. Future challenges include building an occupational therapy intervention system in the critical care centers, enhancing the education system of critical care medical knowledge and acknowledging the usefulness of occupational therapy in critical care centers.
