Research findings by Fugen Oto, at our Graduate School (supervised by Professor Hiromi Fujii, PhD, OTR), have been published in the international peer-reviewed medical journal, Cureus.

The paper is titled, "Home-Based Occupational Therapy for Students with Emotion-Related School Attendance Challenges."
This case study focuses on two junior high school students experiencing school attendance challenges due to emotional factors, such as autistic traits and anxiety. The paper reports on the intervention process and positive outcomes of home-based occupational therapy provided to these students.
Emotion-related School Attendance Challenges (ER-SAC) are often observed in students who face difficulties in daily life and interpersonal relationships. Because these challenges are deeply rooted in emotional distress, standard school-based support often fails to reach them. In this study, occupational therapists established a foundation of trust before implementing interventions such as promoting emotional expression, restructuring daily routines, and setting interests-based goals. The primary objective was to facilitate social engagement and participation in daily life.
Following these interventions, both cases demonstrated significant improvements in interpersonal relationships, leisure activities, and coping skills. Notably, the students developed a positive outlook for their future and began participating actively in school club activities. This research provides practical insights for the fields of education and welfare, offering an individualized and flexible support model for students facing complex emotional challenges.

Publication Details
•    Title: Home-Based Occupational Therapy for Emotion-Related School Attendance Challenges: Two Case Studies
•    Journal: Cureus, Vol. 17, Issue 12, e99782, 2025
•    Authors: Fuken Odo, Hiromi Fujii, et al.
•    URL: https://www.cureus.com/articles/408025
•    DOI: 10.7759/cureus.99782