Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

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 …

The Social Participation Development For Individuals With Unilateral And Bilateral Lower Extremity Amputation, Priscilla D. Omewah, Cassandra Nelson, Scott Love

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This occupation-based program aims to help maintain and increase social participation for individuals with unilateral or bilateral lower extremity amputations. It was developed with an occupational therapy (OT) lens targeting adults with a lower limb amputation with a population of various ages (18-70), genders, and causes of injury to develop an occupation-based program with an OT focus. Individuals living with amputation often experience hardship when developing crucial ADL/IADL skills that can be vital for social participation regardless of age or cause of injury. This program focuses on developing social participation skills lost due to decreased functional mobility and skills caused …

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 …

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 The Post-Surgical Needs Of Guatemalan Children And Their Families From Low Socioeconomic Status (Ses) Communities Using An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Diana Del Carmen Tojin Romero, Karen Aranha, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Despite a decline in infant mortality rates in the Global South (GS), there has been a rise in congenital and developmental disabilities. International short-term medical (ISTM) missions in Guatemala seek to address the surgical needs of children from low SES communities, but the understanding of the impacts of such assistance and the post-surgical needs of these communities remains limited. Embracing the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to healthcare as a foundation for this study recognizes health as a fundamental human right. The main tenets of this approach will guide this investigation to understand the post-surgical needs of children and their …

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 …

Exploring The Form, Function, And Meaning Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Alvin Ma, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling martial art derived from Judo and primarily uses chokeholds and joint locks to incapacitate an attacker. These techniques require little strength and can apply tremendous amounts of force to anatomically weaker areas of the body. BJJ is a growing martial art due to its popularity in self-defense and its effectiveness in sports like mixed martial arts (MMA). This study uses a phenomenological approach and aims to increase the understanding of the form, function, and meaning of BJJ through the lived experiences of BJJ practitioners from different experience levels. Participants will be recruited and interviewed …

Animal-Assisted Therapy And Quality Of Life In Patients With Dementia, Karissa D. Thomson

Student Capstone Papers

The aim of this quantitative study was to examine the effects animal-assisted therapy (AAT) had on people diagnosed with dementia living in a nursing home. The study aimed to examine the effects AAT had on depression, blood pressure, social interaction, and how these factors impact quality of life (QOL). The study was conducted once a week for one hour on Thursdays for 6 weeks. 7 participants were included in the study and further broken down into two groups based upon their level of cognition as measured by the Mini-Mental Status Examination. Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) and the World Health Organization …

Identifying Opportunities For The Role Of Occupational Therapy In A Correctional Setting, Maxwell Sand

Student Capstone Papers

This study provides insight into the experiences of 7 individuals who had previous first-hand experience working in a correctional setting. Workplace culture related to health and wellness are discussed where participants disclose negative effects the environment posed to their well-being which in turn impacted their job satisfaction. Correctional settings prove not only to be restrictive to inmates, but also to staff members as they limit access to meaningful occupations, roles, and routines. Job demands linked to poor work policies and interaction with inmates are also found to take a toll physically, mentally, and emotionally which further exacerbates symptoms of stress, …

The Impact Of Body-Weight Supported Locomotor Training In A Toddler With Gmfcs Level V Cerebral Palsy: A Case Study, Megan Flores, Carolyn Da Silva

Physical Therapy Collection

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level V present with decreased gross motor function and trunk control that impacts their functional activities and participation in family activities. Research indicates body-weight supported locomotor training (BWSLT) may improve motor control for children with neuromotor disabilities. The toddler years present a window of opportunity for developmental changes. The purpose of this case study was to explore the impact of a 6-week BWSLT intervention on postural control, gross motor function, and quality of life in a young child with cerebral palsy in GMFCS level …

Management Of Charcot–Marie–Tooth Disease: Improving Long-Term Care With A Multidisciplinary Approach, Donald Mccorquodale, Evan M. Pucillo, Nicholas E. Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common inherited neuropathy and one of the most common inherited diseases in humans. The diagnosis of CMT is traditionally made by the neurologic specialist, yet the optimal management of CMT patients includes genetic counselors, physical and occupational therapists, physiatrists, orthotists, mental health providers, and community resources. Rapidly developing genetic discoveries and novel gene discovery techniques continue to add a growing number of genetic subtypes of CMT. The first large clinical natural history and therapeutic trials have added to our knowledge of each CMT subtype and revealed how CMT impacts patient quality of life. In …