育児中の作業療法士の生涯学習の実態と課題に関する調査

The situation of and problems in the lifelong study of occupational therapists' caring for children

要旨：育児中・非育児中および男女を4群に分けて比較することにより，育児中の作業療法士（以下，OT）の生涯学習の現状と課題を明らかにする目的で，高知県作業療法士会所属のOTを対象に，私生活や生涯学習についてアンケート調査を行った．結果，育児中の女性OTは他のOTと同程度に生涯学習への関心があるにもかかわらず，生涯学習の機会への参加と，それに対する満足度は有意に低い状況が明らかとなった．育児中のOTが生涯学習の機会への参加に必要な要素として，本人の意欲，家族の理解や協力，時間の工面など，自助努力に依存するものが挙げられた．自助努力だけでなく，育児中のOTを取り巻く環境的側面からの支援の必要性が示唆された．

　This study compared the situation of and issues involved in a continuing education of occupational therapists (OTs). Males and females were compared by examining the working conditions and lifestyles of both childrearing and non-childrearing OTs. Members of Kochi Association of Occupational Therapists (KAOT) participated in a survey about private life and continuing education. The findings demonstrate that female OTs who work while raising children do not have adequate opportunities to take part in continuing education, and the degree of satisfaction with continuing education in childrearing OTs was significantly lower than with OTs who are not raising children, even though they have substantial interest in participating in continuing education. The study implies that there are two aspects to securing more opportunities for childrearing OTs who want to engage in continuing education. Firstly, childrearing female OTs should maintain their self-motivation for continuing education and get support from their families. Secondly, a working environment which offers childcare and other forms of support systems should be created for OTs.