Technical Assistance in Fields of Mental Health and Social Services: Prefectural Public Health Centers Assisting Local Municipalities

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22148
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0108:Sociology and related fields
• Research Institution: Fukui Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Okada Takashi 福井県立大学, 看護福祉学部, 准教授 (40874326)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 精神保健福祉 / 技術支援 / 保健所 / 都道府県

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Prefectures are expected to support municipalities in their efforts to establish comprehensive community care systems that also address mental disorders. The purpose of this study was to clarify the structure of awareness of technical support by prefectural health centers in assisting municipalities. The survey method was a mailed questionnaire survey of professionals at prefectural health centers.
The results of the analysis of 475 (44.4%) responses indicated that (1) health center professionals were proactive in providing technical assistance to local municipalities. (2) Five factors consisting of 28 items were extracted in the structure of attitudes toward technical assistance. (3) Difficulties in providing technical assistance were classified into five categories. (4) Awareness of technical assistance tended to be higher among those with more years of experience and have received on-the-job training.

Free Research Field

社会福祉学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

社会福祉領域において、専門職あるいは専門機関が他の専門職・機関の実践を援助する、いわゆる間接的な援助技法における研究は乏しい。本研究はその間接的援助技法が活用されている、都道府県型保健所の専門職が市町村に行う技術支援に焦点化している。本研究成果の学術的な意義は、専門職の実践経験を詳細に分析し、その具体的技法を体系的に示すことができたことである。
技術支援はこれまでに手法を明示したガイドライン等が作成されたことがないため、都道府県型保健所の専門職は手探りななかで実践してきていた。本研究の社会的意義は、成果として提示した技術支援に関する指標等が実践者の苦悩を解消するための手立てになることである。