• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.63-75
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the roles and practices of occupational therapists in public health centers based on their working experience of occupational therapists who are working in these facilities. Methods : We used Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological research method. Six occupational therapists were interviewed, and their recorded data were analyzed using Claizzi's thematic analysis. Results : As a result, 4 categories, 16 themes, and 24 elements were elicited. The major roles of occupational therapists in public health centers were the evaluation of clients, home-visit occupational therapy, management of dementia programs and community connection projects. Interventions that are needed to create a healthy community include case and program management, compensatory approaches, and healthy lifestyle interventions. The difficulties experienced by occupational therapists include their limited number job insecurity, performance-oriented administrative policy, and the lack of communication among professionals. Occupational therapists require education in health management and practice in public health centers to build their capacities. Conclusion : The results of this study could be used for guidelines for occupational therapists who work in community healthcare centers, as well as basic training for competent occupational therapists in the community.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of home-based cognitive physico-occupational therapy(HBCPOT) on cognitive function, depression, and quality of life in dementia patients, using a cognitive impairment model. Methods: The data was analysed for Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean version (MMSE-KC) for assessing cognitive function, Quality of life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in 31 dementia patients who received home-based cognitive physico-occupational therapy for one hour once a week for 12 weeks by a trained occupational therapist at the Dementia Prevention and Management Center of Y-city during 20111-2013. Results: Among these 31 patients, 18(58.1%) were female, and 25(80.6%) had Alzheimer's Disease. After HBCPOT, the mean scores of MMSE-KC and QOL-AD were significantly improved, but GDS score was not significantly decreased. Conclusions: It was suggested that HBCPOT was effective in improving cognitive function and quality of life.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.37-52
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• 2020

Objective : This study was conducted to identify occupational therapists working in public health centers, the characteristics and actual conditions of occupational therapists in the community, and use them as basic data on occupational therapists in the community as of 2020. Methods : 77 questionnaires were replied by e-mail from OTs work at nationwide health public centers. Job characteristics and status were analysed by descriptive statistics and check correlation between job satisfaction and other factors. Results : Most survey respondents were female(77.9%) and 20-30(96.1%).. Some occupational therapists worked for dementia related team(72.7%) and others worked for like visiting care, health care, and rehabilitation center etc. Rate of experiences of public health center was 1-2 years(67.5%), the most common type of contract was flexible part-time worker(61%) and work intensity(94.8%) and satisfaction of work was very high(85.7%). The highest difficulty of their job was budget administrative work(26.7%) and of non-work difficulty was inequality under contracts(27.2%). They usually participated at dementia shelter, visiting OT, group OT. Difficulty of their job was high in budget administration, dementia shelters, and visiting work treatments. Goals of treatment were high in improvement of cognitive ability and, family support. Frequency of treatment was high in improvement of cognitive therapy, family support, and evaluation. Occupational therapy targets for health centers were dementia, the general elderly, and adult brain lesions, including those for ordinary people, psychiatric disorders and children. It was found that the primary occupations for evaluation were nurses (35.7%) and occupational therapists (33.7%), and that MMSE-DS, SGDS, and SMCQ were used a lot. Conclusion : This study could identify the job characteristics and status of community OTs. We hope that this result could be basic data for building expertise and role for community OTs in changing situations like community cares.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-26
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• 2005

The most of patients and protectors point that the Home Visting Physical Therapy is necessary and compulsive. A Public Health Center and a Welfare Center have to help a home visiter for treatment cure to ask for professional medical services in general hospital. On getting a name lists of patients a treatment of doctors, they must remark the conditions of the patients to keep the mutual relation general hospital. A home visiting physical therapists in the welfare center and public health center need to discuss a main doctors in a same center for revaluation of patients. The system in a general hospital consists of the medical department and the administration with the doctor of hospital as the central figure. A department of home visiting physical therapy has a physical therapy team closely connected with various medical office in hospital. The system in a public health center is composed of the health executive office, health direction medicine office, and the community health office. Department of home visiting physical therapy belongs to community health office. Home visiting physical therapy in a welfare center belongs to home visiting service office. The qualifications of a physical therapist is intended for people who have received clinic experience of three years and regular education. The theory (352 hours) and practice (248 hours) total to 600 hours. They can develop professional skills through these education courses. The frequency of home visiting is proper third a week after talking with a medical attendant about the state of patient. The care time is proper from 30 to 60 minutes.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.39-51
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• 2022

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the awareness and experience of community-based dysphagia therapy and related education in community-dwelling older adults. Methods : A total of 89 older adults were recruited from a public health center in Gyeonggi-do. Awareness, experience, and related education regarding community-based dysphagia therapy were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results : We analyzed 89 questionnaires. Awareness, treatment experience, and education regarding dysphagia were low; however, the importance and intention to participate were high. Respondents wanted education about proper chewing and safe swallowing, oral health, oral motor exercise, and participation in community-based dysphagia programs in public health centers. The reason for the lack of experience in dysphagia education and therapy is insufficient information and opportunities. The respondents had a good understanding of dysphagia symptoms. Conclusion : Dysphagia therapy maintains swallowing and eating functions as a life-long Activity of Daily Living, and is a very important area in community rehabilitation. Based on the results of this survey, the necessity and importance of community-based dysphagia were identified. It is time to provide correct information and develop a systematic education program for community-based dysphagia therapy. Occupational therapists need to play an active role in improving quality of life by early detection and providing proper intervention.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.139-158
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• 2003

This study evaluated the community-based rehabilitation services provided by the Wonju Public Health Center from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002. Ninety-four persons with disabilities dwelling in the community participated and the surveys were completed in an interview during home visits. The respondents' demographic, socio-economic, and medical characteristics, rehabilitation service received, willingness to receive home-visit rehabilitation services, and satisfaction with the rehabilitation services were analyzed by frequency and percentage. A Likert scoring system consisting of five agreement-disagreement categories was applied to each item, consisting of Very Satisfied, Satisfied, So-So, Poorly Satisfied, and Very Poorly Satisfied. The major findings were as follows: 1) The rehabilitation services used included medical rehabilitation (26.9%), followed by social assistance (23.5%), diagnosis by a physician at home (17.3%), medical examination (12.3%), housekeeping services (6.2%), and vocational and educational rehabilitation (3.5%). 2) Of the medical services, the respondents desired physical therapy at home and free rental of rehabilitation equipment, such as wheelchairs, canes, walkers, the most, followed by home visit occupational therapy, nursing services, and oriental medicine service in descending order. 3) Some of the respondents expressed so-so satisfaction (50.0%) or dissatisfaction (16.9%) with the rehabilitation services provided by the Wonju Public Health Center. These findings should prove useful when planning or extending community-based rehabilitation programs for the homebound disabled in the community.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in occupational balance and quality of life caused by COVID-19 in occupational therapy students. Methods : From May 27 to June 26, 2020, questionnaires were distributed to a total of 35 universities among 62 occupational therapy departments nationwide. General characteristics, COVID-19 related characteristics, OBQ and WHOQOL-BREF were used to evaluate and analyze occupational balance and quality of life. The SPSS/PC 24.0 program was used to analyze frequency analysis, crossover analysis, chi-square test, independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis. Results : There were significant differences in school system(years), class, life pattern, quality of life, personal and public schedule depending on whether they are interested in occupational balance. There were significant differences in occupational balance(OBQ) and quality of life(WHOQOL-BREF), 'Hobby', 'new hobbies after COVID-19', 'life patterns', 'use of public transportation', 'maintenance of occupational balance', and 'quality of life'. There was a significant positive correlation occupational balance and quality of life. Conclusion : This study showed that the more people who have changed their lives due to COVID-19 are interested in work balance, and the better they maintain their work balance and emotional well-being, the higher the work balance and quality of life, and the positive correlation between work balance and quality of life was confirmed. This will be the basis for studies related to intervention strategies that can improve occupational balance and quality of life in a time when social isolation is easy due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.314-318
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• 2018

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the health industry are quite common, however, there have only been a few studies regarding physiotherapists, while in Greece, there is an apparent lack of research and data. The aim of this study is to investigate MSDs experienced by physiotherapists in Greece, their causes and specific measures, and good practices followed. Additional emerging risk factors will be examined. Methods: A questionnaire of MSDs followed by individual and workplace characteristics was completed by 252 physiotherapists. It covered the major workplace categories such as public hospitals, private rehabilitation centers, and private practices. Results: Analysis indicated that 89% of the respondents had experienced a work-related MSD; 32.2% of those injuries occurred within the first 5 years of working. The most lumbered physiotherapists were those working as private practitioners and almost half of the injured respondents chose to work while injured. The most common measure taken to tackle work related MSDs was found to be physical therapy sessions. Job satisfaction and psychosocial issues were also identified as side-effects of the economic slowdown. Conclusion: Physiotherapists in Greece were found to suffer from MSDs; workplace musculoskeletal injuries were quite common but under-reported. The body parts most affected were the lower back, the upper back, the shoulders, and the neck. There was a strong correlation between the workplace setting and the number of MSDs. A well-defined occupational safety and health management system and strict administration steering were found to reduce MSDs. The economic slowdown experienced in Greece during the execution of this study placed additional pressure on physiotherapists.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate recognition and activation plan of community-based rehabilitation(CBR) by occupational therapists(OTs) in community rehabilitation center(CRC) and hospitals/clinics(HC) in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam province. Method : Frequency analysis, independent t-test and chi-squared test were performed with the SPSS 12.0 statistics package program. Result : CRC-OTs and HC-OTs were not significantly different in recognition was not significantly different in both groups. The need for involvement of OTs in CBR was very high in both groups. The suggested field for OTs in CBR were counseling for rehabilitation & information-providing, home-visiting rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, assistive device rental, education for disability prevention. It is required to establish CBR networking consisting of educational institutions for rehabilitation experts, local rehabilitation hospitals and clinics, and local government agencies as well as CRC and public health centers. Conclusion : CBR is recognized well by OTs in both CRC and HC and the involvement of OTs in CBR is highly needed by them. Activation plan for occupational therapy in CBR requires systemic and legal improvements.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2007

This study was designed to examine, applying Rasch analysis based on item response theory, the questionnaires of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale for the elderly. The subjects were 99 institutional older adults and clients of social welfare facilities. The subjects (17 men, 72 women) ranged in age from 65 to 94 years (mean age 76.5 yrs). The Winsteps software was used to assess whether the ABC scale fits the Rasch model, to estimate the score and to refine the rating scale. The results are as follows. Twenty-two subjects were excluded as misfit persons. Four items were found to be misfits and the order of difficulty of the remaining 12 items was rearranged. Their balance confidence is indicated by -.64~1.12 logit, and the transformation formula is score=[(logit score+2.76)/(2.76+3.48)]${\times}$100. The most difficult item was "Walk outside in icy sidewalks" and the easiest item was "Walk around house." In conclusion, the ABC scale for the elderly has been proven reliable and valid. Therefore, it is expected to be used as an effective examination tool for treatment planning and screening for older adults.