earticle

영어

Objective : The purpose of this study was to research the practical degree of use of assistive technology in order to provide occupational therapists conveying an assistive technology service and devices to persons with disabilities for their health and rehabilitation with actual and present conditions concerning assistive technology services, and to discover improvement methods toward the present application of assistive technology.
Methods : This study was conducted using 256 occupational therapists who have obtained their occupational therapist license in South Korea and have practiced in a clinical setting. The study period was from October 28, 2006 to November 4, 2006.
Results : Eighty-two (32.0%) of the occupational therapists had experience with assistive technology, and the subject group with physical disabilities was the largest portion. Moreover, 165 (64.4%) answered that the application of the therapeutic environment was low or very low. And 127 (49.6%) of the occupational therapists answered positively to the question of whether they are planning to use an assistive technology appended to the current method. The practical degree of use of assistive technology among occupational therapists was indicated as relatively low; averaging a score of only 1.70 out of 12. To improve the application, they answered in the following order: offering educational opportunity, providing financial support, improving cognition, and supplying professionally trained manpower/labor. Individuals with higher educational background had a higher percentage of using an assistive technology.
Conclusion : In conclusion, assistive technology has been widely acquired among occupational therapists. For the effectiveness of the application of assistive technology, there should be continuous support in terms of associative supplementary education, related workshops and seminars, and financial support.

한국어

목적 : 본 연구는 장애인의 재활을 위한 재활보조공학 서비스와 기구를 전달하는 전문 인력 중 작업치료사들의 재활보조공학에 대한 활용도를 조사하여 이용 실태와 현황을 알아봄으로써 작업치료 영역에서 재활보조공학을 활성화하기 위한 기초자료를 제시하기 위한 것이다.
연구방법 : 본 연구는 2006년 10월 28일부터 동년 11월 4일까지 작업치료사 256명을 대상으로 재활보조공학에 대한 활용수준과 임상 활용도에 대한 자기기입식 설문조사를 실시하였다.
결과 : 1. 재활보조공학에 대한 접근을 적용한 경험이 있는 경우가 82명(32.0%)이었으며, 적용대상자는 신체장애가 가장 많았고, 치료환경에서의 활용도는 ‘낮다’와 ‘매우 낮다’가 165명(64.4%)이었다. ‘향후 재활보조공학을 활용할 계획’은 127명(49.6%)이 긍정적으로 응답하였다.
2. 재활보조공학에 대한 작업치료사의 임상 활용도는 12점 만점에 평균 1.70점으로 낮았다.
3. 작업치료 영역에서 재활보조공학 활용도 향상을 위한 방안으로 교육기회 제공, 재정적 지원, 인식향상, 전문인력 보충의 순으로 응답하였다.
4. 작업치료사들의 재활보조공학에 대한 활용도는 학력에 따라 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<.01).
결론 : 재활보조공학은 작업치료 영역에서 광범위하게 적용되고 있다. 재활보조공학의 효과적인 활용을 위해서는 협회차원의 보수교육 및 워크샵과 같은 전문적인 교육 기회가 확대되고 재정적인 지원이 마련되어야 할 것이다.