がん生存者に対する協業的作業療法の有用性

Usefulness of collaborative occupational therapy for cancer survivors

要旨：がんの検査や治療技術の進歩によって，がん生存者の数は増え，心理—社会的な適応や生活の質などがん生存者が抱える特有の苦難に関心が集まっているが，その援助方法は十分に確立していない．今回，がん治療後も再発や転移の不安を抱えていたある一人の若年の女性患者が，協業的作業療法を通じて再び有意義な生活を開始できた．本論では，女性患者と作業療法士の協業の経過に焦点をあてながら，がん生存者にとって意味のある作業に就くのを支援する過程を報告し，協業に基づく作業療法の有用性を考察した．

　Advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer have led to an increasing number of cancer survivors. Along with this increase in the number of survivors, research related to special issuesfor cancer survivors, such as psychosocial adaptation and quality of life (QOL), has also received increased attention. However, a concrete method to support cancer survivors has not yet been established. The present paper focuses on a young woman who, after struggling with the fear of recurrence and metastasis after treatment, was able to reclaim a sense of meaning in her life through collaborative occupational therapy. Starting with this case, the present paper reports on the process of providing support to cancer survivors by promoting meaningful activities and the usefulness of occupational therapy based on collaboration.