1HOPE Worldwide Japan, 2-16-, Sasazuka, Shibuyaku, Tokyo, 1510073, Japan
2Department of Occupational Therapy, Hanseo University, 46 Hanseo1-ro, Hami-Myun, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, 31962, Korea
3Department of Occupational Therapy, Dong-nam Health University, 50 Cheoncheon-ro 74-gil, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si-, Gyeonggi-do, 16328, Korea
4Department of Occupational Therapy, Yeoju Institute of Technology, 338 Sejong-ro, Gyeonggi-do, 12652, Korea
5Department of Occupational Therapy, Jungwon University, 85 Munmu-ro, Geosan-eup, Geosan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, 367700, Korea
*Corresponding Author: So-Yeon Park Department of Occupational Therapy, Hanseo University, 46 Hanseo1-ro, Hami-Myun, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, 31962, Korea Phone: +0-106-327-8845, E-mail: soyon@hanseo.ac.kr
Online published on 27 February, 2018.
This study provided an occupational activity program to the victims of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, who lived in temporary dwellings after losing their homes and livelihoods, and examined the effects of the program on their emotional healing and the restoration of their roles in the community.
The program began in March 2012 to help the victims who lived in the temporary dwellings in Watarijjo, Miyagi Prefecture. Given that most of the participants had been engaged in strawberry farming, the program was organized in accordance with seasonal characteristics, including valuable activities such as planting and growing flowers. The health-related quality of life in the subjects who participated in the program for at least six months was evaluated using the Short Form-8 (SF-8), and other changes were described through personal interviews. This study highlights the cases of A and B, who experienced positive changes.
The participants may have had their roles restored by their performing personally meaningful occupational activities and thereby improved their quality of life. A's total quality of life score improved from 338.07 points before participating to 415.15 points after, and A showed the largest changes in the sub-domains of general health and role limitations due to emotional problems. B's total quality of life score also improved, from 386.15 to 454.54 points. In fact, B showed improvement in every domain of the SF-8, but B's quality of life in the sub-domain of general health showed a particularly large improvement.
The development and spread of occupational activity programs that can help interactions based on restoring people's roles in their communities are essential to the recuperation of the victims of disasters. This program development requires active and professional preparation by occupational therapists who understand the lives and social roles of individuals and know the value of work.
Community, gardening, nature disaster, role, SF-8
