An Inter-disciplinary approach to persons with aphasia

2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 13672467
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 基礎・地域看護学
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University of Health Sciences
• Principal Investigator: OKABE Toshiko Tokyo Metropolitan University of Health Sciences, Health Sciences, Professor, 保健科学部, 教授 (60112554)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): GOTO Shiho Tokyo Metropolitan University of Health Sciences, Health Sciences, assistant, 保健科学部, 助手 (50336533) ; ISHIKAWA Fumiyo Tokyo Metropolitan University of Health Sciences, Health Sciences, lecturer, 保健科学部, 講師 (20190621) ; SHMODAIRA Yuiko Tokyo Metropolitan University of Health Sciences, Health Sciences, lecturer, 保健科学部, 講師 (70259141)
• Project Period (FY): 2001 – 2003
• Keywords: aphasic person / inter-disciplinary approach / team approach / trans-disciplinary approach / collaboration

Research Abstract

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze factors affecting the QOL of the aphasics, to investigate the team approach presently made in rehabilitation settings, and to develop an interdisciplinary educational program for the aphasics.
Method : Analyses based on observation and interview.
Results The attitudes of health professional toward the aphasics were very important. Health professional's positive and understanding attitudes toward the aphasics affected patient' QOL. Prior contacts, frequency of contact, and kind of occupation were significantly related to such attitudes.
The team approach presently made involved the following : 1.Uniformity of patient's data among team members and introduction of electron clinical records 2.Through team meetings they shared the patient' goal and developed uniform treatment plan. 3.Team members shared a staff station and a staff room. 4.Physical and occupational therapists took part in patient care (care of ADL) in the evenings and mornings. 5.Patient's services and responsibilities were shared, normal boundaries of the health professionals blurred, and their identity conflicts arose. 5.Speech therapists could provide to other members appropriate methods based on patient's daily activities on the floor.
Conclusions : Problems facing persons with aphasia are so complex that no single discipline can possibly respond to them effectively. In the rehabilitation settings an atypical strategy called trans-disciplinary approach has been developed, whereby the central focus is to improve patient care in which responsibilities are shared and normal boundaries of the various health professionals are blurred. These finding suggest that in nursing education inter/trans-^disciplinary health education will be new demands for the very future