[Competencies expected of labor and social security attorneys in harmonizing work with diseases treatment].

OBJECTIVES: Labor and social security attorneys (LSSAs) are involved in various positions in harmonizing work with disease treatment; however, their qualification requirements do not include knowledge about the same. Expectations of their involvement in harmonizing work with disease treatment are insufficient. This study aimed to identify the competencies expected of the labor and social security LSSAs in harmonizing work with disease treatment. METHODS: In step 1, semi-structured interviews were conducted with LSSAs in this field. In step 2, a draft competency list was created based on the interview results. In step 3, the Delphi method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among LSSAs who had over 10 consultation cases on harmonizing work with disease treatment, and they were asked about the level of importance (how important they thought it was to promote harmonizing work with disease treatment) and level of achievement (how much they had achieved). We also asked them about the competencies they considered necessary and added them as additional items in the draft. In step 4, the results of the previous step were presented to the participants who had given valid answers in step 3, and they were asked whether they would adopt the items as competencies. Items with an agreement rate of 80% or higher were considered competency items. Additionally, we asked them about the level of importance and level of achievement of the additional items created in step 3. RESULTS: In step 1, 24 LSSAs participated, and in step 2, a draft competency list of six major items, 18 medium items, and 71 minor items was created. In step 3, 49 LSSAs participated and 41 cooperated (response rate: 83.6%). Five items were selected for the draft competency list to be newly added. In step 4, 30 LSSAs cooperated (response rate: 73.1%). None of the items had an agreement rate of less than 80%, and over 40% of the items had an agreement rate of 100%. As a result, six major items, 18 medium items, and 76 minor items were selected for the competency list. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the competencies expected of labor and social security LSSAs in harmonizing work with disease treatment. The results of this study can be used as a reference for developing a systematic training curriculum for LSSAs in this field in the future.

[Development of a Tool for Training and Evaluation of the Competencies in Occupational Mental Health Necessary for Labor and Social Security Attorneys].

Labor and Social Security Attorneys (LSSAs) advise their clients about occupational mental health, but the competencies necessary in this field are not clear to them. We standardized the necessary competencies as a counseling guide for LSSAs, and we also designed a related discussion training program. These competencies were summarized in a brainstorming session at a research conference comprised of physicians, an occupational health nurse, LSSAs, an instructional design expert, and a management consultant, and then a training program (lasting 9 hours 30 minutes) was developed. Nineteen trainees who were introduced by members of the research conference collectively completed a seven-question written test, both before and after the training, in order to assess its effectiveness. Sixteen trainees who completed the training were surveyed, with a recovery rate of 100%. The necessary competencies that they identified were: information about circular notices from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare; behavior such as the gathering of information; and dealing with the reinstatement of employees. The scores were subjected to the Wilcoxon signed-rank test in order to evaluate the training, and the answers from the pre-training were compared with those from the post-training. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was seen for each question. These results show the effectiveness of the developed training program for the learning of the competencies necessary for LSSAs.