当事者グループに対する保健師の関わりの実情

Current Involvement of Public Health Nurses in Patient Support Groups

要旨

　当事者グループに対する関心が高まっているが, わが国における当事者グループの実情や専門職との関わりはあまり明らかになっていない. そこで本研究では保健師の当事者グループとの関わり状況を明らかにし, 当事者グループにおける保健師の適切な役割を検討するための基礎資料とすることを目的とした. 保健師348名を対象に無記名の自己記入式質問紙調査を実施し, 有効回答数は149 (42.8％) であった. 対象の約6割が当事者グループとの関わり経験をもち, 関わりの内容はグループ運営に関する相談助言や場所の提供, 事務作業の補助など多岐にわたっていたが, グループの立ち上げが最も多かった. 保健師は当事者の主体的な活動 (自主グループ) を目指して関わっていたが, 支援の過程や方法など詳細についてはわからなかった. 今後はこれらの実践を整理するとともに自主グループの位置づけについても明確にしていく必要があると考える．

Abstract

　The level of interest shown in patient support groups, both self-help and professionally-run, is increasing in Japan. However, the current state of these groups and the involvement of heath-care professionals in them remain largely unknown. In an attempt to gather basic data for identifying the appropriate role of public health nurses in such groups, the present study seeks to clarify the nature of the involvement of public health nurses in support groups. An anonymous questionnaire survey was administered to 348 public health nurses, and a valid response was obtained from 149 nurses (42.8%). Sixty-percent of the subjects had some experience with a support group. The nature of their involvement varied widely-from managing a group to consulting, from sponsoring a meeting site to helping out with record-keeping. However, the greatest involvement was by far in initiating and setting up the group. These health care professionals started the groups with the goal of them eventually becoming autonomous; however, they lacked an understanding of how and to what extent to support the group. This study concludes that an ongoing evaluation of “autonomous groups” is necessary while at the same time providing some organization to their implementation.