ABSTRACT

Objective : This study was conducted as a policy task on the distribution of occupational therapy in community health centers.Method : A questionnaire was sent to 242 community health centers nationwide and (a total of) 135 questionnaires was returned between November 15, 2002 to December 20, 2002. We used frequency analysis and cross analysis for the questionnaires, generated by SPSS for Windows 10.0 version. a statistic analysis program.Results : 1) They do not promote rehabilitation programs for the disabled person significantly in community health centers. 2) Little has been carried out for occupational therapy in the com-munity health centers. The absence of occupational therapist attributes to the lack of knowledge on occupational therapy by outpatients, the lower demand, the lack of budget for hiring occupa-tional therapist, and the lack of understanding on the role of occupational therapist. It also shows that the occupational therapy is currently performed comprehensively by other department. 3) The need for occupational therapists in the community health center was more than one person.Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that appropriate occupational therapy program in the community health center includes the occupational therapy for the disabled person living at home, the occupational therapy for the disabled person in the rehabilitation program in the community health center, and the education on occupational therapy for the disabled person and their families.