Perspectives of Multidisciplinary Professional Teams during Assessment Processes for ATD Selection in the Japanese Public Provision System

Jun Suzurikawa, Yuki Sawada, Miwa Sakiyama, Motoi Suwa, Takenobu Inoue and Tomoko Kondo
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Jun Suzurikawa: Department of Assistive Technology, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama 359-8555, Japan
Yuki Sawada: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Teikyo University of Science, 2525 Yatsusawa, Uenohara-shi, Yananashi 409-0193, Japan
Miwa Sakiyama: Department of Assistive Technology, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama 359-8555, Japan
Motoi Suwa: Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama 359-8555, Japan
Takenobu Inoue: Department of Assistive Technology, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama 359-8555, Japan
Tomoko Kondo: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, 5-4-1 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-8612, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Selection of assistive technology devices (ATDs), which are imperative for persons with disabilities to improve their quality of life, requires collaboration of users and multidisciplinary professionals. However, it is still unknown how to design and implement an adequate collaborative work flow and a professional team. Under Japanese governmental ATD provision system, based on the application by clients, ATDs are mainly selected through collaborative processes with the clients and health professionals in public organizations, rehabilitation counseling centers (RCCs). By employing qualitative study methods in this study, we investigated the ATD selection process in which health professionals in RCCs collaboratively assess clients with physical disabilities so as to support them in selecting the adequate ATDs. To identify the perspectives required for ATD selection completely, the assessment processes were recorded and analyzed with a pseudo setting in two RCCs. Content analysis of the conversations between the client and professionals revealed the characteristics of the information exchanged in the assessment processes. A total of 760 assessment items were identified, thus indicating a broad array of interest. Despite the richness of information collected for the assessment, half of the assessment items did not have corresponding items in the documents that were employed during the prescription process. Thematic analysis of the interviews that followed revealed the common values and collaborative processes in ATD selection, which were shared and elaborated among the staff in daily social interactions. To facilitate implementation of ATD provision in various areas with few resources, it may be effective to convert this tacit-to-tacit knowledge sharing into a more explicit sharing by promoting analyses of good practices.

Keywords: assistive technology; rehabilitation services; social services; multidisciplinary collaboration; tacit knowledge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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