身体障害者の作業遂行過程における介助犬の役割と課題

Usefulness and issues related to service dogs for the point of the occupational performance process

要旨：介助犬と生活している身体障害者4名の，作業遂行における介助犬との関わりを，COPM，AMPS，その他の面接と行動観察により検討した．その結果，身体障害者の意志，つまり「個人的原因帰属」「価値」「興味」観に介助犬が深く関わり，犬との生活習慣や，犬の主人としての役割が確立していた．精神的知的機能は高い傾向にあり，環境も介助犬がいることにより制限を補っていた．身体障害者による行動障害を克服するために介助犬を有効利用するには，作業遂行過程において，身体障害者と介助犬とのこうした関係確立は必要条件と考えられ，作業療法介入の可能性が示唆された．

　To examine the conditions necessary to become a recipient of a service dog, the author interviewed four physically disabled persons who have already been living with such dogs. Their conditions were measured by COPM and AMPS.

　The recipients were deeply committed to the dogs, not only due to personal causations, values and interests but also from the standpoint of formation of habits and internalized roles.

　Their emotional and intellectual functions compensate for their physical handicaps.

　Although living with a dog has environmental limitations, being with the dog gives the recipient more than enough pressure reducing advantages to make up for the limitations.

　Recommendations for future research were provided to build good relationships of the kind between physically disabled persons and their dogs through occupational therapy.