Affiliations: Department of Rehabilitation Science, Kobe University
Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hyogo, Japan | Inuo Hospital, Saga, Japan
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Kazuya Sakai, OTR, Department of
Occupational Therapy, Health Science University, 7187 Kodachi,
Fuji-kawaguchiko-cho, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0380, Japan. Tel.: +81 555
83 5200; Fax: +81 555 83 5279; E-mails: otrun18@ybb.ne.jp; ot18@kenkoudai.ac.jp
Abstract: As the mental health care system in Japan is putting an increased
emphasis on community rehabilitation, an effective working-support program is
needed for patients with schizophrenia. In order to examine personal factors
associated with competitive employment, a retrospective, cross-sectional study
was conducted with patients involved in an integrated program that provides
both psychiatric care and a working-support service for patients with
schizophrenia. Thirty six schizophrenic outpatients who were employed in the
working support program participated. Patients were divided into a working
group and a non-working group, depending on whether they worked more or less
than 20 hours a week. The working group significantly differed from the
non-working group in that they were more likely to have completed high school
(p < 0.05, Fisher's exact probability test), disclosed their
disability to their employers (p < 0.05, Fisher's exact
probability test) and worked less than 20 hours in their initial employment
(p < 0.001, Fisher's exact probability test). Logistic
regression analysis revealed that the disclosure of disabilities (odds ratio
= 6.00, p = 0.02), shorter initial
working-time (odds ratio = 27.6, p <
0.001), or higher educational level (odds ratio = 6.42,
p = 0.02) increased the probability of success of competitive
employment. For the other outcomes (severity of psychotic symptoms, disability
of daily life or subjective QOL), there was no difference between the two
groups (p > 0.05, respectively, Mann-Whitney's U-test). In
this program, participation in competitive employment may not be associated
with the severity of psychotic symptoms, disability of daily life or subjective
QOL but may be promoted by the disclosure of disabilities, shorter initial
working-time and higher education.
