KJC Korea
Journal Central

The purpose of this paper was to briefly provide an overview of the history of mental health, the current status of occupational therapy, and training curriculum of occupational therapists in Japan. With the marked change in the types of occupation, increasing urbanization, and rapid change in the socioeconomic structure resulting from industrialization, Korea is witnessing transformation in the family system in addition to significant increase in the number of individuals with mental illness. Such drastic change mandates a significant structural change in the mental health system in Korea. This period in Korea, where occupational therapists being only just recently allowed to participate and intervene in psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation treatment activities is reminiscent of the time in Japan when occupational therapists began to serve in the mental health field during a period when daily living therapy was being offered. It is our hope that the experiences that we underwent in Japan may be able to assist in the formation and development of psychiatric occupational therapy in Korea.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Developmental Profile-Ⅲ_(K-DPⅢ_), and to modify its items in accordance with Korean culture. Methods : Following a translation process by a professional translator, K-DP Ⅲ was administered to parents of 49 normal children (ranging from 3 to 5 years in age). The reliability was tested via internal consistency (N=49). Its concurrent validity was examined by administering K-DDSTⅡ and K-ABS. Results : The results showed high internal consistency (.86 to .90) and concurrent validity (.39 to .63). In most K-DPⅢ scales, the Pearson product moment correlation coefficients between scales ranged from .54 to .77 and showed significant correlation. Conclusion : This study suggested that K-DPⅢ is a reliable and valid test in evaluating the development of children.

This study aims to investigate the basis for an effective introduction of basic information on Home Rehabilitation Services (HRS) in the Long-term Care Insurance System. It attempts to ascertain the situations and problems of a Home Health Project in Korea through references, and to research an introduction of HRS through a review of the Long-term Care Insurance System for the Elderly. It also reviews the general issue of HRS in other countries and the associated-laws for a proper introduction of such services. As a result of a literature review, it was found that the necessity of HRS by experts is magnified in home health care services and the Long-term Care Insurance System at an interim evaluation. Various HRSs have been carried out under government-led programs in most major countries, whereas there has been a lack of participation of rehabilitation therapists in Korea due to the absence of a proper legal ground. This study implies that both patients suffering from chronic illness and elderly people need an HRS and have a strong intention to use such services. To provide various HRSs to meet patient needs, it is necessary to enact laws and systemic grounds for the introduction of an HRS in the Long-term Care Insurance System. To do this,we must develop various programs and pilot projects with health professionals involved in Community Health Services. Also, various studies are expected to investigate the demand for an HRS, and to spread public opinion regarding its introduction in Korea.

Objectives: This study was used to verify the Korean version of CAPE (the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment), and to identify the participation of children and young adults in terms of play and leisure. Methods: A total of 231 participants varying in age from 8 to 17 completed a CAPE report by themselves. The participation factors (diversity, intensity, with whom and where the participation occurs, and level of enjoyment), along with sex and age variables, were considered in the analysis. Results: The results demonstrated that participants took part in an average of 24.83 activities out of 55 available. In most activities, the boys showed higher intensity rates than the girls, and the younger participants showed greater intensity than the older ones. The girls’levels of enjoyment of recreation and social activities were higher than those of the boys, but the boys’levels of enjoyment of informal and physical activities were greater than those of the girls. Most participants partook in activities alone, followed by family, other relatives, friends, and others. The younger children showed the greatest levels of participation when they were with their families at home, while the older ones showed the greatest levels of participation while they were with their friends at school and outside their community. Conclusions: This paper showed that CAPE is a useful tool to measure the multiple dimensions of play and leisure participation in children, and is a good information provider for occupational therapists who intervene in such activities.

Objective : This purpose of this study was to survey on the status of supporting center for special education and school-based occupational therapy and to present a way to progress. Methods : Study data were provided by 50 therapy supporting service professionals who is working in school and supporting center for special education through mail, e-mail from January 4th to March 10th in 2010. Results : The most of service professional was working at supporting center for special education in Seoul and Gyeounggi; most frequently served elementary students with mental retardation; and delivered services most often in special class. Practitioners spent most of their work week providing direct services and most frequently participated in individualized education program meeting once a semester or not participated. Goals were targeted students' sensory or motor impairments. 96% of the respondents reported using a frame of reference; sensory integration theory were used most often; suited the population of children was reason for using frame of reference. Professional development activities and resource was reported by practitioners was journal/books, personal money and unpaid release time most frequently. Conclusion : Policy support and improvements are necessary for school-based occupational therapist to best practice. It is also need a regular education, seminar and school-based occupational therapy related study to consolidate school-based occupational therapist's role and professionalism.

Objective : This study aims to ascertain the sensory processing skills in children with developmental disabilities (DDs) for the creation of a sensory integration theory, and to provide the basic data for constructing an occupational therapy strategy. Methods : A Sensory Profile translated into Korean by Lim et al. (2007) was used to assess the sensory processing skills in children with DD. Caregivers for children with DD were asked to fill out a questionnaire, and the total data from 325 questionnaires were collected for the analysis. A frequency analysis was used for the general characteristics, along with 14 items in the sensory section and 9 sensory factors in terms of sensory processing skills. The sensory integration processing skills of the children were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe post-hoc test. Results : Sensory Processing related to section G (endurance/tone) was revealed to have a defined difference in four groups. A sensory factor comparison showed significant differences in factor 1 (sensory seeking) and factor 2 (emotional reaction) (p<.01). Conclusion : Sensory processing related to endurance/tone is associated with low endurance/tone and poor registration. This indicates higher thresholds in a subject’s sensory processing capacity. Further study is required to determine the cut-off point (sensory factor) for discerning the difference between non-disabled children and children with disabilities.

Objective : The present research set out to identify the current use of adaptive seating devices for children with cerebral palsy (CP), and the level of parental satisfaction considering the types of disability and use adaptability of their children. Methods : This investigation was distributed to parents of children with CP in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province from July 27th to October 9th, 2009. The questionnaire adapted the items of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0), which were redesigned for this research. Results : Based on the results, the most commonly used adaptive seating devices were wheelchairs, followed by position adjustable chairs, feeder seats, and prone stands. 75 percent of wheelchair-using children used an inner cushion to maintain their body position. In terms of satisfaction levels in adaptive seating devices based on the child’s type of cerebral palsy, there was a significant variation between durability and comfort (p<0.05). In terms of services, there was a significant variation between repair and service (p<0.05). In terms of the types of adaptive seating devices, except for durability, every category had significant variation (p<0.05). In terms of service satisfaction levels, except for a service delivery program, every category had significant variation. Concerning the comfort of the device in question, the outcomes varied both by disability type and adaptive seating device type. Conclusion : The present study not only suggested problems through research on the current use of adaptive seating devices, but also analyzed the differences in parental satisfaction based on the child’s type of CP disability and the adaptive seating device used. Therefore, this research is significant as the basic data for a service delivery system of adaptive seating devices, by which CP children may appropriately utilize such devices. In order to improve parental satisfaction regarding adaptive seating devices, further research is required to develop and apply Korean-style evaluative tools for measuring the suitability between adaptive seating devices, children with CP, and their environment.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of the Activity Card Sort(K-ACS) for the purpose of measuring changes in activity participation levels in elderly Koreans. Methods : Basic activities were collected by reviewing literatures and selected through first panel discussion. Selected activities were categorized based on degree of engagement of healthy adults 55 years and older after survey. Activities to compose the K-ACS were selected in a second panel discussion. In this pane discussion, the mean cut off score, averaged activity participation level, was decided to be 1.40. To categorize selected activities, second survey was performed and survey results was analyzed with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. In third panel discussion, some activities recategorized. Results : The total number of K-ACS's activities was 67 and categorized by three domains: instrumental activities, leisure activities, and social activities. The number of leisure activities were 33, leisure activities 18, and social activities 16. Conclusion : K-ACS was developed and the results of this study indicate clinical utility and value of this test in the evaluation of occupational performance.

Möbius syndrome is a rare congenital and non-progressive bilateral or unilateral facial nerve palsy and ocular muscle disorder that occurs in the transverse plane (abducens nerve palsy). It can also be associated with multiple cranial nerve disorders, cardiovascular malformations, intellectual disorders, musculoskeletal deformities, and peripheral neuropathy. In this case study, a 28-month old male child diagnosed with Möbius syndrome showing vomiting, a sucking disorder, small mandible, and dysphagia was referred to an occupational therapist for developmental evaluation and dysphagia assessment. The child demonstrated ptosis, had difficulty closing his mouth due to an elevated upper lip, and had abnormally low-positioned ears and an expressionless face. After the evaluation, it was determined that the child was developmentally delayed with low scores in mental development index and psychomotor development index based on the Bayley scales of infant development II. Additionally, a severe language development delay was indicated based on the sequence language scale for infants. Based on a video fluoroscopy dysphagia evaluation of the child, aspiration was observed in a thin liquid form, and a delayed swallowing reflex was also detected. Since Möbius syndrome has not yet been presented in the field of occupational therapy in Korea, the authors reviewed the literature and presented this case study in order to share their evaluation process and occupational therapy intervention method for children with this syndrome.