ABSTRACT

Objective : This research attempted to prove the effectiveness of applying group activity programs for patients with brain injuries. We compared and analyzed the influence on the upper limbs, cognitive and perception functions, and activities of daily living of patients who received only the occupational therapy and patients who receivedboth occupational therapy and group activity programs. Methods : We tracked 70 brain-injured patients who received only individual occupational therapy, which is a traditional 60-minute therapy that is applied 5 times a week during an 8-week period, and 30 brain-injured patients who agreed to participate in group occupational therapy programs including therapeutic activity programs. We gave this group individual occupational therapy 4 times a week for an 8-week period, along with a 60-minute group occupational therapy session once a week from May to October of 2008. Results : Comparing the patients who receivedthe individual occupational therapy with the patients who received both the individual occupational therapy and group activity programs, there were some significant differences statistically in their upper limbs, cognition and perception, and ADL. Conclusion : These results show that patients who receive both occupational therapy and group occupational therapy programs benefit more than patients who receive only traditional individual occupational therapy. We wish to developother group occupational therapy programs and intend to conduct many researches to prove their effectiveness in the future.