Research findings by Saeko Takenaka, a PhD student 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, "Challenges in Child Development Support and After-School Day Services Using Occupational Therapy: An Exploratory Analysis in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan."

This study analyzed the support records of 222 users of child development support and after-school day services within Yamagata Prefecture. The research aimed to identify specific challenges faced by children, as well as the characteristics and difficulties experienced by their parents or guardians.
The findings revealed that "interpersonal difficulties" were highly prevalent among the children, while a "lack of knowledge" regarding developmental support was a common challenge among parents. Furthermore, the study examined effective support strategies tailored to parental characteristics, demonstrating the significant effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions conducted in close collaboration with families.
This research highlights the critical importance of providing support that considers not only the child’s individual traits but also their family environment. It provides valuable insights for establishing a comprehensive regional developmental support system in the future.

Publication Details
•    Title: Challenges in Child Development Support and After-School Day Services Using Occupational Therapy: An Exploratory Analysis in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
•    Journal: Cureus
•    DOI: 10.7759/cureus.94103
•    URL: https://www.cureus.com/articles/403285