The purpose of this study was to develop the Japanese version of the Grade-4/5 Motor Activity Log (MAL) and evaluate its reliability and validity in stroke patients with hemiparesis. The translation was a product of forward translation, back translation, and expert review. Reliability and validity were tested with 53 hemiparetic stroke patients. The inter-rater reliability, intra-rater reliability, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency were high. Criterion-related validity was supported by a significant correlation between the Grade-4/5 MAL and the MAL-14. Construct-related validity was supported by significant correlations with the FMA (subscale scores and total score), ARAT (subscale scores and total score), and FIM (motor items). The Japanese version of the Grade-4/5 MAL is expected to be a valuable assessment tool for evaluating and promoting the use of the paretic upper-extremity function in ADL.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the perceptions of domestic roles among community-dwelling elderly. Semi-structured interviews regarding perceptions of domestic roles were conducted with five community-dwelling elderly who were not certified as requiring long-term care and were independent in their activities of daily living. Qualitative data analyses was performed, and the following final codes were extracted: [Awareness of contribution in family relationships], [Continuity and habitual nature of roles in daily life], [Individual values and changes regarding roles], and [Ambivalence of emotions associated with role performance]. Considering these four perspectives, it is essential to understand domestic roles and explore specific strategies to sustain them.

The objective of this study was to identify the difficulties that occupational therapists (OTs) in convalescent rehabilitation wards encounter during interview assessments for collaborative goal setting. Thirteen OTs participated in focus group discussions (FGDs), and the qualitative data were analyzed using Steps for Coding and Theorization (SCAT). The analysis yielded several key findings. First, OTs encounter challenges in determining the optimal timing for interview assessments. Second, OTs face difficulties in acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills related to interview techniques. Third, OTs experience challenges in flexibly utilizing interview methods and tools for patients with diverse conditions. These findings offer significant insights that could inform the redesign of training and educational programs aimed at enhancing the quality of interview assessments in occupational therapy.

The purpose of this study was to identify the difficulty working in the Physical Disability and Geriatric fields experienced by early career occupational therapists during initial interview assessments. Interviews were conducted with 12 early career OTs and the data were analyzed using a case-code matrix. The analysis resulted in 30 codes and four categories. The most frequently observed categories were ‘OT skills,’ ‘psychological factors' and ‘environmental factors.’ Differences in category prevalence were observed between the acute and recovery phases, and between OTs with different levels of experience, particularly between those in their early stages and those with more experience. Although these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the qualitative nature of the study, they have the potential to contribute to the improvement of methods for self-directed professional development and the establishment of more structured organizational education systems.

This study aimed to explore the process and underlying framework of occupation-focused goal setting by occupational therapists (OTs) working for children with profound mental and physical impairments. In-depth interviews were conducted with five OTs, and data were analyzed using Steps for Coding and Theorization (SCAT). The results indicated that OTs emphasized stepwise consensus-building through dialogue with families and observation of clients' occupational performance in the goal-setting process. Additionally, theoretical frameworks such as the Model of Human Occupation and Occupational Science, along with training in assessments such as the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, influenced their approach. This study clarifies the foundation of occupation-focused goal setting and provides insights that contribute to improving clinical practice and education in occupational therapy.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between depressive tendencies and participation in activities among elderly people living in the community. Ultimately, the aim was to contribute to the development of programs for the prevention and improvement of geriatric depression. A survey was conducted with 212 participants (28 with depressive tendencies, 184 without). Logistic regression analysis revealed that SOPI was significantly associated with depressive tendencies (odds ratio: 0.92, p<0.05). The results suggest that insufficient participation in activities may promote depression in older adults. Occupational therapists are expected to reduce depression in community-dwelling older adults by implementing approaches to improve occupational participation.

This study aimed to clarify differences in daily activities and their perception among family caregivers based on their care burden and life satisfaction. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 82 older family caregivers providing care for community-dwelling older adults requiring support. Participants were categorized into four groups according to their care burden and life satisfaction, and their daily activities and self-perceptions were compared. The results revealed that a notable number of participants belonged to the “low burden/low satisfaction group,” indicating that some caregivers experienced low care burden yet reported low life satisfaction. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between care burden, life satisfaction, and the presence of meaningful activities related to values and interests. These findings suggest that in supporting family caregivers, it is essential to recognize that even those with low care burden may experience challenges in their daily activities. Emphasis should be placed on understanding caregivers' self-perceptions of their activities, particularly in terms of value and interest.

[Purpose] To confirm the physicality, emotionality, and intentionality aspects required for co-occupation in home-visit occupational therapy. [Method] Occupational therapists engaged in home-visit occupational therapy and with experience supporting family caregivers answered questions about the necessity of physicality, emotionality, and intentionality aspects for supporting co-occupation focusing on care recipients and family caregivers, as well as the necessity of these items in home-visit occupational therapy. [Results] We identified 12 physical, 15 emotional, and 28 intentional items as necessary for care recipients, and 7 physical, 14 emotional, and 32 intentional items as necessary for family caregivers in home-visit occupational therapy focused on co-occupation. [Conclusion] Based on the elements of co-occupation that have been identified, it is necessary to provide lifestyle support that includes family caregivers.

This study presents a case report in which the Control Preference Scale (CPS) was used to evaluate and adaptively address a patient's decision-making preferences in occupational therapy. The application of CPS allowed for the quantitative and clear assessment of patient preferences, facilitating effective sharing among healthcare professionals. This approach enabled the development of goals that fully respected the patient's wishes and allowed for flexible responses by the team. Additionally, the implementation of Interprofessional Shared Decision Making (IP-SDM) promoted client-centered occupational therapy through multidisciplinary collaboration. This case suggests that preference-based decision-making support can be effective in enhancing client-centered occupational therapy practice and multidisciplinary collaboration. Future research should validate the utility of CPS-supported interventions and explore their applicability across various healthcare contexts.

We had the opportunity to work with a patient who was depressed due to the loss of her family and anxiety about her life. She was unable to engage in help-seeking behavior, which led to a suicide attempt. Metacognitive Training for Depression (D-MCT) and psychiatric occupational therapy (OT) were implemented to help the patient become aware of distortions in her thinking which are typical of depressed patients. The training also served to encourage help-seeking behavior when the distortions persisted. The results of the 9-week intervention showed that the patient became aware of distortions in her thinking through D-MCT, and stabilized her mood through OT, both of which improved her self-esteem. In particular, awareness of distortions in thinking and improvements in self-esteem had a synergistic effect, and changes in behaviors such as seeking help were observed.

Healthcare professionals involved in driving eligibility assessments for individuals with brain injuries both facilitate and regulate driving resumption. In this case, outpatient occupational therapy determined that the individual was ineligible to resume driving but offered transitional support for alternative transportation, enabling independent outings. However, occupational dysfunction due to driving-related deprivation was observed. This findings underscore the necessity of integrating occupational dysfunction interventions into driving eligibility assessments to ensure comprehensive rehabilitation.

A practical protocol designed to facilitate decision-making and collaboration in therapeutic activities was developed for elderly patients with dementia who had difficulty making decisions. This protocol was based on the Decision-Making Support Guidelines in Daily Life and Social Life of People with Dementia (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan 2018). We examined the effects of this intervention by allowing a patient to proactively select therapeutic activities and assess her performance with the occupational therapist in this single-case experimental design study. The results demonstrated that subjective performance and satisfaction with therapeutic activities improved, and there was an increase in spontaneous speech and communication with others in the ward. This protocol was effective in maximizing the decision-making abilities of elderly patients with dementia and improving their subjective experiences through proactive engagement and success in therapeutic activities.

This case study investigated smiling and social interaction skills using an index ABAB design during the Irokaruta Qualia Game (Irokaruta) in an elderly person with dementia. The Irokaruta Qualia Game functioned as a communication tool to elicit no smile (A period) or a smile (B period). Smiling significantly increased in the 1B period compared to the 1A period, but a meaningful increase in smiling was not recognized in the 2B period. On the other hand, the social interaction skills significantly increased for both the 1B and 2B periods compared to the 1A and 2A periods. The results suggest that emotional sympathy and cognitive sympathy increased the smiles of the client, and playing Irokaruta encouraged smiling, a positive attitude, and social interaction.