Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Intimacy Following Cerebral Vascular Accident, Hannah Caitlyn Guschel, Sarah Hendrickson

Graduate Student Scholarship

In the United States, a cerebral vascular accident (CVA) is a leading cause of death and a significant contributor to severe disabilities for adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022a). Two areas of post-stroke deficits and changes that are not frequently addressed in treatments are sexual activity dysfunctions and challenges with intimacy after stroke. Occupational therapy practitioners have the education, training, and practice areas within our framework to address issues relating to sexuality and provide education on the matter. Sexuality should be addressed, like all other activities of daily living, thorough and assiduous. This study was a cross-sectional design …

The Impact Of Habit Formation On Healthcare Workers: An Occupational Therapy Approach To Well-Being, Hillary Littlefield Msot, Otr/L

All Student Scholarship

Occupational therapists have an opportunity to act as consultants in their healthcare systems to provide education, resources and guidance to interdisciplinary team members. This concept aimed to provide evidence to support an occupational therapy-based program focused on incorporation of healthy habits and routines into one’s daily life as a means to improve nursing altruism, quality of life and perception of one’s successes and value in their occupation. Pre- and post- survey data was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of an occupational therapy-based initiative that provided 1:1 and group coaching to a population of acute care nurses as an evaluation of …

Preparatory Program For Women During Pregnancy/Postpartum And Transitioning Back To Work Or School, Bria Runnels, Rebecca King

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Despite the importance of maternal health during the prenatal, postnatal, and parenting stages, there is a lack of research on the role of occupational therapists (OTs) in addressing the occupational challenges faced by women during this transitional phase. This dissertation aims to develop a program that raises awareness of the role of occupational therapy in maternal health and promotes occupational therapists as part of an interdisciplinary team within the scope of maternal health care. By adapting co-occupation for mothers, occupational therapists can play an important role in individualizing occupations for enhanced transitioning and overall quality of life. The study highlights …

Bridging The Gap Between The Occupational Therapy Department And The Education Department At An Inclusive Preschool, Brenna C. Hunt

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with First Steps Inc. in Nashville, TN. First Steps Inc. is both an outpatient therapy clinic and an inclusive childcare facility that provides education for children with special needs alongside their typically developing peers. This project sought to bridge the gap between the occupational therapy department and the education department at First Steps to promote participation, inclusion, and developmental growth in the classrooms. The focus of the project was the development and implementation of various OT tools and resources to be used in the classrooms. Deliverables included choice boards, visual schedules, …

Living With Chemo Brain – Tips And Tricks To Improve The Quality Of Life For Individual’S Diagnosed With Cancer, Jamie Brown

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee, a non-profit organization focused on creating a sense of community and support for individuals who are impacted by cancer. The focus of this project was to develop a resource for members that addressed executive functioning changes that occur with chemo brain with a goal of making it both applicable and user friendly. The deliverable sought to provide members with basic tips and tricks for improving their quality of life. Utilizing an occupational lens, this manual contains practical strategies to address decreased memory, cognitive fatigue, processing …

The Occupational Performance Of Student-Athletes Post-Concussion: A Guide For Coaches And Athletic Trainers, Baylee A. Felts, Mary Ann Smith, Danielle Cade

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Concussions are a rising concern amongst the sports community. Student-athletes with concussions can exhibit deficits in physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and visual-perceptual abilities (Centers for Disease Control, 2019). Occupational therapists are equipped to address the impacts of those deficits to improve occupational engagement and performance but are often overlooked in concussion management teams (Finn, 2019). A concussion management team typically consists of coaches, athletic trainers (ATs), physicians, and sometimes physical therapists, depending on the severity of the concussion. Due to growing concern and continued research, the concussion management team must be current with new information. Coaches and ATs may not keep …

Occupational Therapists' Perception Of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Sleep In Pediatric Outpatient Settings, Carina Jimenez, Susan Macdermott, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The capstone investigates pediatric occupational therapists' views on managing sleep issues in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. It highlights gaps in education and resources and emphasizes the need for evidence-based interventions. Findings emphasize the importance of enhancing occupational therapists' role in addressing sleep challenges for improved family well-being, advocating for more comprehensive education and support systems.

Implementing Occupational Therapy Principles Into The Linden Waldorf Neurodivergent Student Population, Brooke M. Bledsoe

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through partnership with Linden Waldorf School in Nashville, TN. The focus of this project was development, implementation, and advocacy regarding occupational therapy techniques for the neurodivergent student population. The goal of this project was to provide direct observations, educational presentations, and various educational materials on a variety of neurodivergent deficits and diagnoses in order to help empower Linden Waldorf faculty and staff to best meet the needs of their students. The deficits and diagnoses covered in this project are as follows: executive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity …

Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions Of Their Experience In A Role-Emerging Level Ii Fieldwork Within Higher Education Student Services, Marie-Christine Potvin, Alexis Morales, Erin West, Mika Kalimi, Jeanne M Coviello

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Role-emerging settings - those where occupational therapy (OT) services have not traditionally been provided - are common sites for practice placements of entry-level occupational therapy students. A growing body of literature has attempted to determine the value and drawbacks of such practice placements on the professional preparedness of OT students with mixed findings. Benefits have been identified, including increased cultural understanding, advocacy, creativity, initiative, and problem-solving skills. However, OT students have been reported to perceive such placement as limiting their professional growth and preparedness to practice compared to traditional placements.

METHODS: A phenomenological study was conducted seeking the perceptions …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Creating An Educational Employment Program For Individuals With Disabilities., Jessica Tully, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this poster was to explain the steps taken to create an educational employment program for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Social Participation Program For Older Adults With Dementia Residing In Long Term Care Facilities, Keri Mcclelland

Student Capstone Papers

Social participation is characterized by activities that involve social interaction with others and supports social interdependence; individuals engage in this occupation through a variety of contexts including with their community, family, friends, and peers (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). Social participation has been discovered to influence general health and well-being, cognitive health, risk of dementia, and stress (Sommerlad et al., 2023). Dementia is a prevalent disease affecting approximately 50 million individuals worldwide (Sommerlad et al., 2023) causing increased dependence and disability among the older adult population and is shown to be growing as the aging population increases in number (Wang …

Playful Progress: A Parent's Guide To Growth And Development, Gabriella N. Lawrey

Honors Theses

This thesis presents a creative project aimed at empowering parents to recognize developmental achievements, as well as address potential developmental delays in their children. Grounded in the principles of child development, this project focuses on creating age-appropriate activities that facilitate the identification of developmental milestones. By utilizing foundational resources in the field of child development, this toolkit of engaging activities has been curated to support parental understanding and observation. The primary objective of this applied knowledge project is to better equip parents with the vocabulary and tools to facilitate their child’s development. Throughout these activities, parents are encouraged to engage …

Toying With Adapted Toys, Joshua King

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

My project is a design for an adapted toy that occupational therapists (OT) can use when working with kids. OTs are people who help others to be able to do daily tasks that they need to do to live their lives. This can look like helping a person who has been injured or has a disability to accomplish tasks like getting dressed or feeding themselves. It can also involve helping school children to improve their writing or to use assistive technology. My project started out as an idea from my mom who is an OT and was using a coffee …

Intersections Of Occupational Therapy And Translational Science, M Nicole Martino

Translational Science in Occupation

No abstract provided.

Developmentally Appropriate Care In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu), Ashten Cenkus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

As specialized healthcare professionals educated in developmental care, occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have a role in educating, coaching, and assessing the needs of infants, their families, and the staff in the NICU. These high-risk and medically fragile infants require specialized care that considers the incorporation of neurodevelopment, neurobehavioral regulation, sensory stimulation, and motor development through supportive and appropriate interventions. A project addressing these needs across 14 weeks was implemented as part of an Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) capstone experience at WVU Medicine Children’s in Morgantown, West Virginia. This project examined the results of the NICU staff's confidence, knowledge, and awareness …

Health Club: The Pursuit For A Diverse Healthcare Team, Michelle Ariana Morales, Angela Labrie Blackwell, Erik Perez

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Currently, the ethnic and racial demographics of occupational therapy students do not reflect the US’ diverse populations due to a general lack of awareness about occupational therapy (OT) amongst diverse high school students (HSS). Many factors serve as common barriers amongst diverse, minority communities, limiting students’ exposure to and knowledge about health professions, such as OT. To address these barriers, Health Club is a six-week, high school afterschool program designed to raise awareness about healthcare professions where ethnically and racially diverse populations are commonly underrepresented. Health Club uses lessons consisting of fundamental healthcare knowledge to provide HSS with opportunities to …

International Response Of Occupational Therapy To The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Report From The Global Occupational Therapy Think Tank (Gottt), Khader A. Almhdawi, Mette Andresen, Farrukh Chishtie, Ursula Costa, Daniel Cezar De Cruz, Natalie Gätz, Kristine Haertl, Moses Ikiugu, Judity Parker Kent, Kinsuk Maitra, Madison Medina, Janet Elizabeth Njelesani, Regi Robnett, Franklin Stein, Verena Tatzer, George Tomlin, Siska Vandemaele, Chih-Huang Yu

Global Occupational Therapy Think Tank

No abstract provided.

Establishing A Transformative Social Emotional Learning Evaluation Plan To Support All Students Within A Targeted School District, Tia Coleman, Angela Blackwell, Tiffany Lee

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Social and emotional learning (SEL) refers to the process through which individuals acquire social and emotional competencies (Geesa et al., 2022). This capstone project aimed to enhance education by developing a transformative SEL evaluation plan in a school district. The school district presented a commitment to fostering SEL but recognized the need for more targeted and transformative actions. This initiative arises from the acknowledgment that the existing SEL program did not meet the district's specific needs of inclusivity and equity, potentially impacting overall student performance, participation, and well-being. To address this gap, the district incorporated insights from occupational therapy practice …

Raising Awareness For Occupational Therapy's Role With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Sle), Madelyn Cabrera, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga, Amy Lyons-Brown

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project aims to raise awareness for occupational therapy's (OT) role in managing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) through education and to advocate OT's role within the SLE healthcare team. This project aims to understand the daily barriers that SLE patients experience and raise awareness for OT's role with SLE patients, OTs in practice, OT students, and healthcare professionals involved in SLE care. It also advocates for OT's role in comprehensive care for SLE patients to assist in disease/lifestyle management and improved quality of life.

Exploring Occupational Therapy’S Role In Foster Care: A Mixed Methods Study On Financial Literacy Education For Foster Youth, Ashley Carmichael, Karen Park

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Foster youth are children under 21 years old who have been removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse and are susceptible to early adversity and trauma (Alternative Family Services, n.d.; AOTA, 2017). Financial literacy is the knowledge and skills to take control of finances (National Financial Educators Council, n.d.). In the foster care setting, occupational therapists (OTs) provide client-centered care that traditionally focuses on transitional life skills, such as seeking employment (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2017).

Problem/Purpose: The lack of resources for foster youth to gain financial literacy skills leads to a disadvantage in …

Perceptions Of Professionals: Karate As An Ot Intervention, Matthew Watkins, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Karate in literature is shown to be therapeutic for a wide range of populations and conditions they may have, yet current research has not investigated the barriers and opportunities of a collaboration between occupational therapists and karate instructors to implement karate as a therapeutic medium. This mixed-methods study aimed to gain the perspective of both professional groups on potentially collaborating with one another, via a survey and qualitative interviews. Results indicated that intrinsic and extrinsic factors can act as barriers or supports depending on client and intervention context, that knowledge must be shared between all parties for successful collaboration, and …

Ots Role In The Interdisciplinary Team With Partial Hand Amputations And Prosthetics, Ashley Soebbing, Amy Lyons-Brown

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A mixed methods study that explores the barriers within the healthcare system to receiving a referral to a prosthetist after partial hand amputation.

A Manualized Occupational Therapy Module On Cognitive Defusion For People With Ptsd, Joshua Mimun, Steven M. Gerardi

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

CD has been identified as a treatment module that should be included in a manualized OT protocol for people with PTSD but had not yet been developed. Thus, the purpose of this capstone project is to create a manualized OT treatment module on CD for people with PTSD.

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Mina Salinas, Mary Greer, Rudy Seward

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive inherited type of muscular dystrophy that results in progressive muscle weakness and requires a multidisciplinary approach for disease management. Occupational Therapy (OT) services are extremely valuable to this population as individuals diagnosed with this condition face significant difficulty in areas of occupational performance. Research shows occupational therapy services are not being received consistently and there are disparities in services received leaving a gap in the literature about the referral process and the understanding of OT's role.

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Cognition In The Pediatric Population, Mia Ramirez, Hope Mccarroll, Lisa Griggs-Stapleton

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Coronavirus disease or COVID-19, is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 can affect adults and children by causing long-term symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, long-term breathing problems, and even heart complications. Children represent about 19% of all reported COVID-19 cases since the pandemic first began. Children also can have trouble concentrating, which can impact their ability to attend school and do their daily activities that require concentration, such as dressing, showering, and social participation. Cognitive deficits due to COVID-19 can impact the pediatric population as they may have decreased occupational performance in desired occupations, such …

Plan For Retirement Versus The Occupational Impact Throughout Retirement: The Significance Of Identity And Role Transitions, Priscilla Guardado, Amy Lyons-Brown

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a mixed methods research study on retired individuals and identifying their occupational identity throughout their retired experience.

METHODS: Using survey methods, a demographic questionnaire was sent out to individuals who signed up to participate in the study. To participate, individuals had to be in the age range of 50-80 years with a minimum of 2 years post retirement. A total of 15 participants initially signed up with a 93% survey response rate (n=14) and 86% (n=13) response rate for completion of the study with an interview.

RESULTS: Most participants reported dealing …

Exploring Relationships And Intimacy With Adults With Intellectual And/Or Developmental Disabilities (I/Dd), Gabrielle Kennedy, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga, Thais Petrocelli

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project, Exploring Relationships and Intimacy with Adults with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), was completed by a Doctor of Occupational Therapy candidate at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. The purpose of the project is to increase adults with I/DD's access to intimate partner relationships, sexual expression, and occupations related to intimacy by providing adaptive, community-centered, and meaningful resources.

The current occupational deprivation that the population experiences surrounding intimacy, sexual expression, and intimate partner relationships must be addressed to improve the population’s overall quality of life, health, and well-being. This project aims to inspire and …

New-R Intervention For Clients With Severe Mental Illness And Obesity: Grant Writing For Implementation Funds Supporting Occupational Therapy Interventions, Kaitlyn Hoffman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Increasing numbers of people suffer from obesity and severe mental illness co-morbidly. If these conditions remain untreated, they can harm an individual's health and well-being. Unfortunately, there are very few programs currently available that target both management and improvement of these conditions simultaneously. Even so, despite the lack of programming options, it must be noted that the NEW-R program strives to reach those goals, although there hasn't been an abundance of literature supporting the effectiveness of this program. This poses a concern for occupational therapy practitioners who hope to assist their clients in managing these conditions as occupational therapy treatments …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Meeting Mental Health Needs Of College Students In The South Dakota Regental University System, Molly J. Graesser

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

College students with mental health concerns and disabilities are at risk for poorer academic outcomes. Utilization of student support services (TRIO, disability services, and student counseling services) can mitigate these issues. However, utilization patterns and the service delivery process are not well understood in the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) system. This study aimed to investigate 1. The extent to which students utilize mental health and disability services in the South Dakota Board of Regent (SDBOR) University system. 2. How service providers deliver those services to students. Utilizing a cross sectional survey and grounded theory design, researchers found that …

Addressing The Needs Of Parkinson’S Disease Care Partners, Jenna Wall

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that can affect all aspects of life, requiring individuals with this condition to require support from a care partner. The extensive support PD care partners provide impacts their health and well-being resulting in an increased prevalence of negative health outcomes. Furthermore, these care partners do not receive adequate support which only compiles the effect of caregiving. The main goals of this capstone project were the development and implementation of a 4-week PD care partner support protocol, the creation of an electronic resource, and improving community awareness about PD and PD care partner needs. …