Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Effects Of Physical Activity, Play And Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Emotional Regulation And Emotional Awareness Skills In Adults With Developmental Disabilities At A Day-Time Assistance Program, Aaron Arndt

OT Student Capstones

Background: According to literature, deficiencies in emotional regulation and emotional awareness skills are more prevalent among adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Limited research shows promising support that the use of noninvasive treatments such as exercise, and play can promote emotional well-being among this population. This project aims to better understand the benefits of physical activity, play, and mindfulness-based interventions on emotional regulation skills in adults with developmental disabilities who attend a day-time assistance program.

Method: This 14-week capstone project was conducted at Lauren’s Institute for Education’s Adult Day Treatment (DTA) program. The occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) student developed and implemented …

Effects Of An Occupation-Based Social And Life Skills Session On The Strength Of Intimate Partner Violence Victims’ Generalized Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Sierra Moes

OT Student Capstones

Background: Prior research has identified occupational therapy as a profession poised to provide interventions to enhance the recovery of intimate partner violence victims. The present study aimed to implement a program to affect the generalized self-efficacy beliefs of intimate partner violence victims residing in Autumn House Emergency Crisis Shelter.

Methodology: The Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale was administered before and after a total of seven individual/group sessions to a sample of adults residing at the shelter over the course of the occupational therapy program. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing a one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and paired T-test Cronbach’s alpha to establish whether the …

Life Skills Intervention For Formerly Incarcerated Individuals At Maricopa Reentry Center, Dalenna Bellum

OT Student Capstones

The rates of incarceration quickly rose in the United States in the late 1900’s in response to change in legislation in favor of more tough on crime movements and policy. In addition to these movements and other social, environmental, and demographic factors, certain groups of individuals faced increased risk for incarceration and increased challenges before, during, and after incarceration. The purpose of this doctoral capstone experience and report is to explore challenges during community reentry after incarceration that can lead to re-arrest, or recidivism. This is a crucial time because without the appropriate tools, resources, and supports, the individual is …

The Relationship Between Head And Neck Lymphedema And Dysphagia For Individuals With Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Retrospective Study, Madison A. Cherry

OT Student Capstones

The American Cancer Society (2022) estimates about 54,000 new cases of oropharyngeal cancer in 2022. Oropharyngeal cancer, a type of head and neck cancer (HNC), typically refers to cancer in the base of tongue, oropharynx, tonsils, or mouth. The American Cancer Society (as cited by Cohen et al., 2016) recommends that physicians assess HNC survivors for lymphedema and refer them to a lymphedema therapist if necessary. Lymphedema presents as soft-tissue swelling and localized accumulation of high-protein fluid that can cause an inflammatory response resulting in disfigurement, tissue fibrosis, functional limitation, pain, and infections (Gutiérrez et al., 2020). There are two …

Occupational Health And Safety For Commercial Pilots During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Autumn M. Dawley

OT Student Capstones

BACKGROUND

The aviation industry has been growing with the number of aircraft pilots jumping from 590,038 in 2015 to 664,563 in 2019. With an increasing demand for distribution of cargo, a review of the effects of work-related stressors during the coronavirus pandemic and, further, a solution to increase the health and well-being of individuals in the industry is essential. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) addresses fatigue and routinely revises regulations which alleviate job stress; however, the coronavirus pandemic has added new stressors to the aviation industry.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the pandemic …

Impact Of The Level Of Parental Involvement In Occupational Therapy Services On Patient Outcomes For Children Ages 0-3 In The Outpatient Setting, Lauren Hackl

OT Student Capstones

This project aims to analyze the relationship between parent involvement in OT services and patient outcomes for children ages 0-3 in the outpatient setting. This project involves both therapist and parent interactions with the administration of surveys over the span of a 14-week period to measure parental involvement. Standardized assessment scores were used throughout the project to measure patient outcomes. The implementation of this project can help parents understand the importance of their involvement in occupational therapy services both inside the clinic and at home and how it can increase patient outcomes and child development.

Ability360 Program Evaluation And Modification, Tim Filion

OT Student Capstones

Health care in the United States has shifted over the past several decades, from an emphasis on addressing morbidity and mortality to health promotion and overall quality of life (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018a). As a result, clinicians in various fields have begun to incorporate considerations for wellness initiatives in addition to preventive strategies. The phrase health-related quality of life (HRQOL) refers to “an individual’s or group's perceived physical and mental health over time” (CDC, 2018a, p. 7). As specified in that definition, HRQOL can be viewed at an individual or community level. For individuals, this includes …

Establishing Test-Retest Reliability And Internal Consistency Of The Occupational Resilience Measure, Kara Gore

OT Student Capstones

Without a clear understanding of the dynamic relationship between resilience and occupation, occupational therapy has lacked the tools necessary to optimize resilience in research and clinical practice.

Occupational resilience is defined as “the capacity for persistence in the performance of an occupation, whereby capacity is reflected in both duration and intensity of engagement in a specified occupation” (Muriithi et al., 2022).

Occupational Resilience Measure 1.0 (ORM) and the Occupational Resilience Individual Perception Scale (ORIPS) to be used as the primary assessment tools for measuring resilience in individual occupations.

Aim: Establish the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the ORM; establish …

The Development Of An Exercise-Based Fall Prevention Program Tailored To Incorporate Caregivers Caring For Older Adults At Risk For Falls, Emma Heldt

OT Student Capstones

Older adults are living longer than ever. The global proportion of individuals 65 years or older was 526 million in 2010 and is estimated to reach 1.5 billion in 2050 (Duarte et al., 2020). The growing aging population comes with various challenges, such as chronic health conditions, which are the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Chronic health conditions can lead to other difficulties, such as declines in physical function or mobility. Duarte et al. (2020) found that around 10 million American older adults have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs, presenting a risk for falls.

Falling in older …

The Effectiveness Of Sensory Interventions On Social Participation, Morgan Holcom

OT Student Capstones

Sensory integration is among the most frequently used treatment approaches in pediatric occupational therapy (Schoen et al., 2019). Approximately 5%-16% of children in the United States experience sensory integration dysfunctions and that percentage increases in children with disabilities (Flanagan et al., 2019; Matsushima & Kato, 2013; Randell et al., 2019; Reynolds et al., 2011; Schaaf et al, 2018; Smith Roley et al., 2015). Children with sensory integration dysfunction have been found to experience disruptions in their everyday occupations, including social participation (Lane et al., 2019). To address such deficits, both sensory integration and sensory-based interventions have increasingly been used to …

Developing A Resource For Optimizing Occupational Engagement In Adults With Dementia, Maria Del Carmen Rosas Ojeda

OT Student Capstones

Dementia is an umbrella term for cognitive impairments in memory, language, executive function, which may affect behavior and personality. Globally, about 50 million people have dementia, and that number is expected to reach 150 million by the year 2050 (Fortinsky et al., 2020). Dementia is a progressive disease that affects an individual’s ability to perform their daily occupations. The progression of dementia stages can be classified as early/mild, middle/moderate, and late/severe. Alzheimer’s disease makes up 60-80% of all dementia cases, although there are various other types of dementia, including Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body dementia, Vascular dementia, and Parkinson’s disease dementia …

Implementation Of Functional Cognition Screening Tool And Program Development In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting, Michelle Spotskey

OT Student Capstones

This project aims to develop and educate occupational therapists on functional cognition screening tools and interventions in an inpatient setting. This program development is intended to improve occupational therapist evaluation processes at Banner Baywood Facility to include cognitive components and improve the interdisciplinary approach to treating cognitive deficits amongst other professionals, especially speech pathologists. The implementation of this program development provided the therapist with tools and resources vital for determining the disposition and level of independence for medication management/bill paying upon discharge. Therapists gained skill levels to implement appropriate functional cognition interventions, goals, and family training to guide the plan …

Identifying An Association Between Sensory Processing And Food Sensitivities, Taylor Tonks

OT Student Capstones

Introduction: Feeding difficulties are quite common in children and can lead to a multitude of poor health outcomes. Children with sensory processing difficulties can present with feeding difficulties. The relationship between sensory processing and feeding difficulties in children has been previously researched. However, most of the existing research focuses on children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: The purpose of the present study was to identify the association between sensory processing and food sensitivities in children of varying diagnoses using retrospective data. In the study, the researcher included 47 children who presented to an outpatient pediatric clinic for a feeding …

A Comprehensive Manual Of The Shoulder Exercise Machine And An Introduction To The Potential Benefits Of The Novel Device, Angus Lochhead

OT Student Capstones

The most common standard therapy exercise equipment for upper extremity (UE) strengthening consists of elastic/resistance bands, dumbbells, and dowels. During the rehabilitation process, more effective equipment may assist patients in achieving the strength needed for optimal UE functioning. The novel shoulder exercise machine allows linear movement exercises in any direction and attaches to nonporous surfaces (horizontal to vertical surfaces) via two powerful vacuum cups. It uses resistance bands to provide tension during resistance training to target muscles of the shoulder complex. The machine enhances safety by providing controlled linear movements and increased UE support and stabilization compared to using weights …

A Cognitive Protocol For Individuals With Concussion, Faith M. Urbanik

OT Student Capstones

Background: Concussions have been identified in the literature to cause impairments in several cognitive domains. Limited research exists for cognitive interventions for occupational therapists (OTs) working with concussions and post-concussion syndrome (PCS) using a bottom-up approach that targets domains of cognition. This pilot study responds to these shortcomings by identifying and implementing evidence-based treatment options for OTs working with individuals with concussion and PCS to mitigate associated cognitive deficits. Method: The researcher included participants, ages 18 years or older, who are three days’ to six months’ post-concussion with concussions or PCS in this study. The researcher administered a cognitive protocol …

Fostering Healthy Therapeutic Relationships: Foster Parent Education Program, Sydnie Barboza

OT Student Capstones

Background: Children who have been placed in the foster care system due to trauma often have difficulty coping with past experiences. These traumatic experiences can often affect their development, physically and mentally, and emotional regulation, relationships, and attachment. As of April 2021, more than 13,400 children were placed in the foster care system in Arizona. While removing children from their birth home to a safer environment is critical, it brings along many challenges such as emotional trauma and inconsistent caregiving. Methods: The foster parent educational program described in this paper, “Fostering Healthy Therapeutic Relationships,” is a foster and adoptive parent …

Occupational Therapy Scope Of Practice: Pediatric Mental Health Across The Continuum, Kacey Varnell

OT Student Capstones

This capstone project was completed in a pediatric hospital setting and is written to generalize observations, resources created, and a plan for implementing change to a larger population. Pediatric mental health conditions and the related psychosocial components are underserved client factors in the hospital setting. It typically falls second to physical limitations of the client when it comes to therapy, especially in the intensive care setting. Long term outcomes that are seen post-hospitalization include negative psychosocial consequences that decline overall quality of life. Anxiety, depression, and PTSD are the main conditions that can follow the traumatic experiences related to being …

Video-Based Educational Module To Support Adaptive Gaming Services, Kendyl Zimmer

OT Student Capstones

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. Improve access to adaptive video gaming technology 2. Mitigate abandonment of the technology

METHODS

Over 14 weeks, the student designed and created an educational video-based module in collaboration with AzTAP. The process included:

• Conducting research on current accessible gaming technology
• Identifying video topics that would be useful to the community
• Writing the script for each video
• Editing and adding subtitles

PROJECT OUTCOME

To evaluate the module’s effectiveness in meeting the objectives, four AzTAP staff members watched the complete module and responded to a qualitative follow-up questionnaire comprised of six questions

Implementing An Aging In Place Program With Emphasis On Home Safety And Accessibility For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Erin K. Richardson

OT Student Capstones

The baby boomer generation is the largest and most diverse population to ever age in America’s history. By the year 2030, the baby boomer population will reach 65 and older (American Counts Staff, 2019). Meaning every 1 in 5 individuals in the United States will be over 65 within the next decade (Rural Health Information Hub, n.d.). The Census Bureau projects that older adults are expected to outnumber children under 18 for the first time in America’s history by the year 2034 (American Counts Staff, 2019). For this reason, the National Alliance for Caregiving (2020) advocates for more policies, funding, …

Using Sensory-Based Approaches To Manage The Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Children In An Acute Behavioral Health Center, Linda Materu

OT Student Capstones

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a sensory-based program for occupational therapists to assist in mitigating the effects of ACEs in children. This sensory- based program was implemented at St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center, an acute inpatient psychiatric facility. Interventions were provided and information collected over a period of 10 weeks on children ages 5–12 years (N=54), Additionally, feedback from four therapy and staff members was also collected over the same period. Several tools were used as outcome measures, including pre-and post-intervention questionnaires for participants, observation questionnaire and staff/nurses/therapist feedback questionnaire. The results demonstrated that there was …

Parent Education And Creative Art Interventions For Foster Families, Alyssa Haselsteiner

OT Student Capstones

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop a program to provide parent education on topics that address trauma-informed care in order to facilitate healthy development in children and adolescents. This education was provided to foster parents and topics included attachment and healthy bonding, mental health in children and adolescents, management of challenging behaviors, and use of creative art and mindfulness interventions. Creative art interventions were practiced with parents so they could use the interventions with their kids at home. Each topic addressed provided education to guide foster parents through difficult situations with the goal of setting their …

The Use Of Managemed Screening Tool For Directing Occupational Therapy Intervention In The Home Health Setting, Taylor J. Kouts

OT Student Capstones

Medication non-adherence has been an ongoing problematic public health issue in the United States that has resulted in negative complications such as financial expenditure, a lower quality of life, increased chronic health conditions, frequent hospital readmission, increased health care costs, morbidity, and mortality across a variety of health care conditions (CDC, 2017; Yap et al., 2016). An estimated $100-300 billion dollars is spent annually on medication adherence across the nation (CDC, 2017; Robnett et al., 2007). With costs on the rise, it has been identified that around 50% of individuals take medication incorrectly, and 14-77% actively or passively fall in …

Pediatric Feeding Interventions Across A Variety Of Diagnoses, Jenna Penning

OT Student Capstones

Pediatric feeding disorders can compromise a child’s health status leading to serious long-term consequences including failure to thrive due to inadequate nutrition (Carter et al., 2014). Therefore, specialized feeding intervention approaches are needed to address pediatric feeding difficulties (Carter et al., 2014). Although various treatment approaches are provided for addressing pediatric feeding difficulties, differences occur in the preferred delivery form for effectively implementing feeding interventions (Howe & Wang, 2013). Occupational therapists have the skill set to address pediatric feeding difficulties through implementing behavioral interventions, sensory and oral motor-based interventions, and family-based interventions (Henton, 2018; Nadler et al., 2019; Snider et …

Balance And Bloom: Encouraging Self-Regulation And Resilience Through Yoga And Mindfulness, Kayla Previti

OT Student Capstones

The experiences an individual has throughout their childhood sets the foundation for their overall life trajectory. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) leave a lifelong impact on a person's mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. It is estimated that the impact of ACES on an individual leads to an economic burden of $830,928 in terms of such services as law enforcement, child welfare, medical treatment, hospitalization, and loss of productivity and wages (Fang, Brown, Florence, & Mercy, 2012; Peterson, Florence, & Klevens, 2018). Occupational therapists and other health professionals have the ability to develop programs that fill the gaps in preventing and …

Development Of Clinical Practice Guidelines For Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Rehabilitation, Rikki Silver

OT Student Capstones

In the past four decades, there have been significant improvements in early cancer detection and efficacy of cancer treatments, resulting in a growing number of cancer survivors. People diagnosed with cancer are now living longer than ever before; while lifespan after cancer is increasing, cancer survivors are experiencing health and functional challenges due to the persistent effects of curative therapy (Rowland et al., 2018). One of these effects includes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Approximately 70% of patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy experience CIPN, an uncomfortable and sometimes painful sensation in the hands and feet (Seretny et al., 2014). The likelihood of …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In A Multidisciplinary Outpatient Concussion Setting: Persistent-Post Concussion Symptoms, Lina Rivera

OT Student Capstones

Background and Purpose: Nearly 15%-20% of individuals with a concussive or mTBI experience persistent residual cognitive, psychosocial or physical symptoms (Cogan et al., 2019). Majority of patients who sustain a concussion recover within 10 days, however, 15-20% of individuals experience prolonged recovery lasting longer than 10 days or suffer from post concussive symptoms affecting one’s participation in daily occupations (Patricios et al., 2015 & Harris et al., 2019.) With increased awareness of concussions, concussion management approaches have shifted from complete rest to a holistic, whole-body approach and graded return to activity to improve functional outcomes. The purpose of this study …

An Exploratory Study Of Rehabilitation Services Available For Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients In The Outpatient Setting, Amber Wojcik

OT Student Capstones

Little is known about the experiences of rehabilitation therapists treating soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients in the outpatient setting. As the number of survivors of STS increases, so does the need for therapists who have the knowledge and skillsets vital for providing the highest quality of holistic care for this unique cancer population. Holistic cancer rehabilitation includes considerations for the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs of the soft tissue sarcoma patient. This paper explores the subspeciality of cancer rehabilitation and the experiences of physical therapists (PT) treating STS patients in the outpatient setting. A secondary aim of this study is …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy Within Primary Care: A Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program, Amanda Rivas

OT Student Capstones

Primary care is essential in the United States, especially as more Americans are diagnosed with a chronic condition and the aging population increases. For many Americans, primary care providers are their only access to the health care system due to financial burden, limited access, and several other barriers. For these reasons, primary care clinics need to develop multidisciplinary teams where patients can receive whole-person health care. Occupational therapists have the knowledge and skills to provide client-center care and work within primary care. However, multiple barriers prohibit occupational therapists from entering the primary care field. The most significant barrier is reimbursement. …

Distal Radius Fractures: Comparing Surgical Approaches To Identify Functional Outcomes, Sonia Morales

OT Student Capstones

Distal radius fractures (DRF) are the most commonly encountered fracture in clinical settings. Although the volar approach has gained recognition as the standard surgical treatment method to treat DRF there is still great debate as to what exactly the surgery should consist of. Individuals who suffer from a DRF have a high prevalence of developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) (Cherubino, Bini, & Marcolli, 2010; Niver & Ilyas, 2012; Wang et al., 2018). Surgeons are unsure if individuals will benefit more from solely performing a volar open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery or to perform the volar ORIF along with …

Experiences Of Caregivers And Healthcare Practitioners Working With Children With Histories Of Family Trauma And Substance Abuse, Alexandra Contreras

OT Student Capstones

While the number of infants born with substance abuse exposure continues to grow, the United States lacks a national monitoring system (CDC, 2019). This may contribute to the discrepancy of services and supports available to those working with children with histories of family trauma and substance abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs and challenges of caregivers and healthcare practitioners working with children with histories of family trauma and substance abuse. To obtain a better understanding and well-rounded image of the challenges and needs, information was gathered from various perspectives of those involved. This OT doctoral …