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Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Occupational Therapy Curriculum: Implications For Students And Faculty, Ashley Fosness

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction: The field of occupational therapy lacks diversity which furthers the importance for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and cultural humility learning outcomes for faculty and students.

Aims: This capstone project aims to improve DEI concepts and cultural humility within the St. Catherine University occupational therapy curriculum by educating occupational therapy faculty and students in the Human Occupation course.

Approach: This capstone project is completed with St. Catherine University’s entry-level occupational therapy program to meet the university’s strategic plan and AOTA’s Vision 2025. The participants of this capstone project included first year students taking the Human Occupation …

Effectiveness Of Team Member Education On Fall Prevention Techniques, Management Of Dementia-Related Behaviors, And Safe Transfer Completion, Maureen C. Doran

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction: There is a significant need to address fall prevention in memory care/assisted living homes due to the high prevalence of falls that occur in these settings. Managing dementia-related behaviors and completing safe transfers support fall prevention in dementia populations. Fall prevention was expressed as a major need by BeeHive Homes of Mount Horeb, a memory care specific assisted living home that served as the community partner for this quality improvement project.

Purpose: The quality improvement project provided education and training to team members working at BeeHive Homes of Mount Horeb on safe transfer completion, management of dementia-related behaviors, and …

Adapted Motivational Interviewing Model For Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming, Jordan Mills

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Not available.

Inclusive Education Within The Haitian Educational System, Ella Johnson

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Research has indicated that Haiti is troubled with low resources, extreme poverty, malnourishment, violence, and a poor health and educational system. People with disabilities face overwhelming stigma and discrimination, resulting in limited resources and services available. Haitian teachers do not have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide appropriate identification and intervention methods within the classroom setting. The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Project was to provide an educational training program to teachers in Haiti with the intended outcome of improving their ability to identify and provide care for children with disabilities and trauma. The approach was through the collaboration …

Accessible Outdoors: Preparing Volunteers And Staff To Work With Diverse Populations, Ellen Hiestand

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Despite recent advances in outdoor recreation accessibility, many people still face barriers to spending time in nature. This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with outdoors equity organization Wilderness Inquiry to address outdoor accessibility through an occupational therapy lens. This project aimed to enhance knowledge and confidence of Wilderness Inquiry staff and volunteers on topics related to working with individuals with physical or neurodivergent abilities during Wilderness Inquiry activities. Needs for training topics were ascertained through survey, interview, and observation of organizational activities. The quality improvement project included the development, dissemination, and evaluation of educational modules on the topics …

Communicating The Need For Continued Funding To Non-Profit Stakeholders: The Impact Of Education On School-Aged Girls In Senegal, Allison Roehl

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Where would you be without an education? A safe place to call home? Or rather, where do you want your education to take you? These questions were asked to female students in Tambacounda, Senegal upon receiving funding for a newly built hostel wall and classroom resources. This portfolio describes the development of a Senegal program presentation that reflects the impact that Sisters Rising Worldwide (SRW) funding has on vulnerable communities and further the need for continued funding from donors to support these programs. This also includes the creation of student and Sister surveys as well as a SRW donor survey. …

Increasing Accessibility To Autism Assistance Dogs: An Educational Module On Family Based Training Programs, Hailey Valencour

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction: In the United States, one out of every 36 children will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by age eight (CDC, 2020). For parents with a child with ASD, their child’s safety and wellbeing can be a daily concern. An autism assistance dog (AAD), like those trained by Can Do Canines, can greatly improve the quality of life of the entire family. However, this type of assistance dog is limited due to many factors, leading Can Do Canines, and many other assistance dog training organizations, to have substantial waitlists for families wishing to receive an AAD.

Purpose: The …

Disability Accessibility And Inclusion Training For Adults Of Minnesota 4-H, Alexis Walsh

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Minnesota 4-H is an out of school program that promotes development of leadership skills and active civil participation of youth of all ages through its various programming options. Despite the involvement of thousands of youth participants and adult volunteers in 4-H programs across Minnesota, currently a gap in disability accessibility and inclusion resources for volunteers exists. This quality improvement project aimed to bridge this gap by developing three pre-recorded training modules designed for Minnesota 4-H staff, volunteers, and youth leaders about accessibility and inclusion best practices. Results of a pilot group and accessibility metrics indicated that the developed materials were …

Increasing Access To Outdoor Play For Families Of Children With Disabilities, Tina Dalki

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Background. There are various benefits, supports, and barriers which contribute to participation in outdoor play for children with disabilities. Rainbow Tree Therapies (RTT) and its community face various accessibility challenges that limit outdoor play participation.

Purpose. The purpose of this project was to develop educational materials and resources for families of children with disabilities who have experienced accessibility concerns.

Approach. The approach of this project can be divided into 4 activities: (1) evaluation of RTT, (2) creation of accessible garden planters, (3) development of educational materials, and (4) analysis of survey results.

Outcomes. There were seven survey responses, all of …

Supporting Best Practice In Mental Health Occupational Therapy For Veterans: An Educational Resource For Staff On Evidence-Based Outcome Assessment Tools, Kaitlyn Huntley

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

The rate of mental health diagnoses in the veteran population in the United States (US) has increased in recent years, with approximately 1 in 3 veterans diagnosed with a mental health condition and experiencing unmet occupational needs as a result (Derefinko et al., 2018; Hunt et al., 2019; Inoue et al., 2023; Plach & Sells, 2013; Trivedi et al., 2015). The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes this as a critical issue and has identified mental health occupational therapy (MH OT) as a means of improving the overall wellness of veterans. This quality improvement project took place at the …

Providing Sensory Modulation Education To Shelter Staff Serving Adolescent Survivors Of Sex Trafficking, Sydney Hrastich

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Despite recent efforts to improve services, survivors of sex trafficking (SST) have numerous unmet support needs and barriers to achieving optimal quality of life due to the effects of complex trauma and other mental health diagnoses. Supporting the recovery journey of SST is an emerging practice area for the field of occupational therapy. Sensory modulation in particular is one intervention within the scope of occupational therapy that has shown promise as a bottom-up approach to support regulation and participation in meaningful occupations. A training module on sensory modulation and a Sensory Toolkit resource were developed and delivered to staff at …

Are You Safe At Home?: Rebuilding A Program, Zachary Wells

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to complete a program evaluation of the Safe at Home program provided by Rebuilding Together Minnesota (RTMN). The program evaluation assessed the efficiency of the program and identified areas for improvement. The program evaluation used the Framework for Program Evaluation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the conceptual framework. Four themes were identified by RTMN staff to guide the program evaluation activities: 1) operational efficiency, 2) funding and resource deficits, 3) future goals, and 4) relationship and communication. The key themes from the other participants that informed the …

Sensory Gardens: Supporting Families And Therapists Through Education, Mia Massaro

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Background: Exposure to and engagement with nature is an essential element of healthy physical, emotional, and social development for all children. Sensory gardens combine many of the supportive pieces of outdoor play to increase participation for children of all abilities. Additional resources and education are needed to support children’s engagement with nature.

Purpose: This portfolio outlines the development, implementation, and evaluation of educational materials for caregivers and nature- based therapists related to sensory gardens.

Approach: Educational materials were developed and distributed via an interactive online learning platform, Thinkific, and evaluated through surveys completed by participants.

Outcomes: At the time of …

Fall Risk Screen Development For Episcopal Homes, Jennifer Malwitz

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction: Many older adults experience injurious and non-injurious falls each year, with many of the falls happening at or around the home. Falls cost the health care system over $51 billion dollars each year. There are many risk factors for experiencing a fall with social determinants of health being a large factor.

Purpose: The purpose of this capstone project was to increase the identification of fall risk factors to reduce fall rates among the independent living population at Episcopal Homes and develop a fall risk screen and referral guide.

Approach: Three active participants took part in an educational session developed …

Improving Wellness Services For Community Dwelling Older Adults Through Education On Team Collaboration, Cerena Ice

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

The number of older adults in the U.S. is estimated to reach 1 billion by 2030 (United States Census Bureau, 2018). As individuals, they ma experience changes in our health. Some common disabilities experienced by older adults over 65 years old include vision loss, risk of falls, hearing difficulties, cognitive impairments, reduced independence, and difficulties with self-care tasks, all of which can create barriers to independent living (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018). Many older adults also experience chronic disease and complex health needs that can be difficult to manage independently while living in the community. To support healthy aging and good …

Supporting Diversity, Inclusion And Equity Efforts In A Professional Organization, Diamond Hill

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction: Most of the occupational therapy profession identifies as white, female practitioners. The lack of diversity in the profession must be addressed on a national and state level. Occupational therapy state associations can contribute to the closing of the gap between cultural humility and cultural competence in occupational therapy education. State associations provide students and practitioners with resources, education, and opportunities for professional development. Current DEI literature promotes the use of the transformative adult learning in continuing education to increase the self-awareness of practitioners and improve patient-centered care. Transformative adult learning theory aligns closely with diversity, inclusion, and equity principles. …

Educating Using Plain Language: Nighttime Postural Care Assessment Training Package, Faye Mcguire

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Background. There is a lack of high-quality research and inadequate training available to healthcare professionals and caregivers on Nighttime Postural Care (NTPC). Purpose. The purpose of this project was to 1) develop a training package on NTPC assessments to educate caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and the research team, and 2) educate clinical scientists on plain language.

Approaches. The author used the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and Program for Research Institute of Medicine and Science (PRISM) Editing Checklist to evaluate training materials and generated recommendations. Volunteer research team member representatives completed the training and pre-post training …

Training For Caregivers Of Children And Adolescents With Trauma-Related Food Difficulties, Olivia Kreuser

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Not available

Night Time Postural Care Training Package Development, Eleanor Leabch

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction. Individuals with cerebral palsy often struggle with sleep positioning. Night time postural care (NTPC) is a possible intervention to help with body shape, comfort, pain, and sleep quality although there is not currently strong evidence supporting it.

Purpose. The purpose of this capstone was to develop a training program in preparation for a pilot study and to educate clinical scientists on health literacy and plain language.

Approach. Two separate approaches were taken: the first was for the training packages and the second approach was for the education session. For the training packages, volunteers were sent one of three NTPC …

The Beyond Bethany Mentorship Program: Equipping Volunteers To Support Asylum-Seeking Women, Erin Bugajski

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

There are a number of factors that negatively impact the integration of asylum-seekers into the culture and society of their host countries. This portfolio describes the creation of a mentorship intervention to support the integration of asylum-seeking women in an urban community. This included the creation of a mentor role description, application, virtual training, and follow-up surveys. The initial training included 5 mentors. Survey results indicated that mentor training positively impacted volunteer self-perceived readiness for mentorship. It also positively impacted their self-perceived ability to practice trauma informed care and cultural humility in their relationship with their mentee. This project suggests …

Sharing An Early Intervention Progress Report With Providers Of Children With Feeding Disorders: An Evidence-Based Process, Hibak Abdullahi Jama

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction: This project explored ways to generate knowledge and use best practices when disseminating research findings. Having effective ways to share research-based information with Early Intervention (EI) Providers is important so that they can improve practices.

Methods: To finalize this project, I reviewed the Feeding Matters branding (style and organizational-based) guidelines, the Early Intervention (EI) data from a previous survey that was sent to EI providers in 2018, a report card that graded EI programs based on their past survey responses, identified resources and recommendations for EI provider-based action steps, made evidence-based suggestions for future survey use and created a …

Impact Of Integrated Education On Child Oral Health, Rachel Mcpherson

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Background. Allied health professionals can apply their unique scope of practice to educate and promote oral health that best fits families’ daily habits, routines, and cultural practices (Anderson et al., 2020; Gold & Tomar, 2018; Iwao et al., 2019).

Purpose. The primary purpose of this capstone project was to increase family utilization of oral healthcare services and daily oral hygiene practices through cultivating positive oral health experiences for all children.

Approach. A child intake questionnaire and social story were created to prepare children for their dental exam, provide child-specific oral health education, and understand childrens’ oral health habits and dental …

Nonpharmacological Interventions For Pain For Prenatal And Postnatal Women: An Education Module For Providers, Clara Hildebrandt

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction. Pain during pregnancy is one of the most common complaints from the expecting mother (Katonis et al., 2011). An educational module was created for the staff at Options for Women Cornerstone and a post-module survey was provided to examine outcomes.

Purpose. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to educate providers at Options for Women Cornerstone on nonpharmacological interventions for pain to potentially use with future clients who may be experiencing pain, and to examine the post-module survey responses that supplemented suggestions for future practice. Approach An initial needs assessment was conducted to identify the primary purpose of …

Using A Knowledge-Translation Approach To Advance Evidence-Supported Cognitive Rehabilitation Practices In An Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Setting, Kelly Breuer

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

There is an identified 17-year gap in implementing evidence into practice. Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute (CKRI) has the goal of updating their cognitive rehabilitation guidelines by 2023. This project aimed to provide the materials and supports necessary for CKRI to develop, implement, and have follow-up for new evidence-based interventions in their cognitive rehabilitation practice for people with acquired brain injuries and thus improve patient outcomes. A needs assessment, development of an evidence summary, implementation and provision of support were completed to address this need. An evidence table and summary, two presentations, and five intervention-specific handouts were created to support the …

Occupational Therapy Service Delivery In The School Setting, Christina Cink

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Best practice for occupational therapy in the school setting has evolved due to updated AOTA recommendations and legal mandates. The current literature identifies inclusive and collaborative practice as the best framework, but there is a knowledge-to-practice gap between research findings and how OT is practiced in the school. This paper outlines the background on the issue of OT service delivery in the school setting, and the methodology and results of a quality improvement project with Zumbro Education District (ZED) in southeast Minnesota. The purpose of the quality improvement project is to educate stakeholders about the role of OT and best …

Promoting Pre-Feeding Skills: Development And Implementation Of An Oral Motor Protocol And Clinical Guidelines In A Level Iv Nicu, Joy Berthelsen

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Intro: Oral feeding is often the last discharge criterion for preterm infants in the NICU and a leading cause of extended hospital stay. Preterm infants lack motor practice they would receive in utero when swallowing amniotic fluid and have underdeveloped physiological systems and oral structures, delaying feeding skills. Standardized pre-feeding oral motor protocols that include stimulation of oral structures and sucking on pacifiers have been shown to improve feeding efficiency, decrease transition time to full oral feeding, and decrease length of stay.

Purpose: The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to update the clinical guidelines on oral motor interventions …

Staff Training For Non-Correctional Employees Working With Justice-Involved Women, Hawo Abdullahi Jama

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Purpose. Justice-involved women have unique pathways into the criminal justice system, so it is important staff are trained to address their needs. Staff receiving inclusive practice training and using trauma-informed care principles may be more effective when working with justice- involved populations. There is little known about the impact of inclusive practice training on staff knowledge, so this project aims to investigate the impact of a training session on the knowledge of re-entry staff.

Approach. For this capstone project, I used an evidence-based process to create an employee handbook and provide a 4-hour training. I then used surveys containing Likert-type …

Assistive Technology And Older Adults: Education To Support Evidence-Based Practice, Danielle Erler

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Background: In 2020 there were over 54 million older adults in the U.S. (USCB, 2020). Nearly 90% of these older adults intend to live in their homes and communities for as long as possible (AARP, 2011) although nearly 40% of individuals 65+ report having at least one disability (USCB, 2014). Community partner LiveLife Therapy Solutions (LLTS) seeks to provide assistive technology (AT) services to community-dwelling individuals of all ages, supporting their independence. They have recently branched out into the aging sector. Continued education can aid practitioners in use of evidence-based practice (EBP) to support older adults (Stetler et al., 2014). …

Research Ready: Developing Pain Management Materials And Study Protocols, Melanie Homan

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Introduction: For a growing number of older adults, chronic health conditions and pain result in reduced quality of life (QoL) and significant health care costs (CDC, 2019; CDC, 2020). Due to the opioid epidemic, alternative interventions for managing pain are important (NIH, 2020). A St. Catherine University interprofessional research team conducted a study entitled, “Examining the impact of Far Infrared Technology in Addition to Pain Education on Quality of Life in Older Adults.”

Purpose: The aims of this project were three-fold: to create accessible pain education materials for older adults, provide training to occupational therapy (OT) fieldwork students, and oversee …

Co-Teaching Social Emotional Learning To Improve Regulation And Mental Health: Implications For School Based Practice, Jennifer Brady-Johnson

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects

Addressing sensory processing and integration difficulties is a primary area of assessment and intervention for school-based occupational therapists. School-based occupational therapists support students with these difficulties through interventions that target self-regulation, motor development, teacher and educator training, and accommodations. In an effort to better meet these student’s needs, this knowledge translation doctoral project reviewed evidence in self regulation interventions which considered student mental health needs. Although there are meta analyses on interventions to support self-regulation in occupational therapy (Battin, et al., 2020; Bodison, et al., 2018; Miller-Kuhaneck, et al., 2018; Pfeirffer, et al., 2018) many of these studies lacked a …