児童思春期精神科医療における作業療法士の役割とは—フォーカス・グループ・インタビューによる質的研究

The role of occupational therapists in child and adolescent psychiatric care: A qualitative study based on focus group interviews

要旨：本研究では児童思春期精神科医療に従事する作業療法士にフォーカス・グループ・インタビューを行い，テーマ分析によって児童思春期精神科医療における作業療法士の役割を明らかにした．本研究の結果，子どもとの関わりに作業（遊び）を活かすことは作業療法士の専門性であり，子どもの自己肯定感と自己効力感を向上させ，生きる力を育むことが作業療法士の役割と考えられた．一方，現行の診療報酬に作業療法士が明記されておらず収益に繋がらないことなどが課題として挙げられた．こうした現状を打開するべく，作業療法士同士のネットワークを構築して研鑽を図ることや児童思春期精神科作業療法の効果研究などを積み重ねていく必要がある．

　In this study, we conducted focus group interviews with occupational therapists engaged in child and adolescent psychiatric care and clarified the role of occupational therapists in child and adolescent psychiatric care through theme analysis. Results indicate that an occupational therapist's specialty is making use of occupation (play) in their relationship with children, considering their role in improving children's self-affirmation and self-efficacy, and cultivating children's zest for living. On the other hand, the fee structure for this type of therapy has not been specified which leads to a lack of revenue. In order to remedy this situation, it is necessary to build a network of occupational therapists to improve their skills and accumulate research on the effects of child and adolescent psychiatric occupational therapy.