Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Addressing The Needs Of Caregivers: Self-Reported Practices Of Occupational Therapists In The U.S., Kimberly Naguwa

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Theses (2010-2015)

To investigate the (1) the attitudes of occupational therapists regarding caregiver training for the informal caregivers of people who experienced a stroke, (2) strategies for assessment of caregivers, (3) content of caregiver training and education (CTE) sessions, and (4) barriers and supports therapists experience in addressing the needs of caregivers. Method: Responses to a novel survey by 73 registered occupational therapists (31% response rate) who treated adult clients with stroke in the past year were compiled. Descriptive statistics were calculated to analyze the attitudes and practices of the respondents. Chi-square cross-tabulations were utilized in data analysis.

The Effect Of Alpine Skiing On Behavior Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder As Viewed By Their Parent., Katie O'Brien

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Theses (2010-2015)

Research has shown that physical activity and sensory input can have positive effects on the behavior of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study sought to examine whether participation in a seven week alpine skiing program had an effect on behaviors of children with an ASD as well as to examine the family’s perspective regarding their child’s participation in the program. Participants were recruited through an adaptive ski program and included three children with an ASD and one of their parent's. The Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) was used to assess sensory-based behaviors. A questionnaire was developed to …

Life After Upper Extremity Replantation: An Examination Of The Experiences Of An Adolescent Male, His Family, And The Treating Certified Hand Therapist, Karina O'Connor

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Theses (2010-2015)

The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth perspective on the experience of replantation of a traumatically amputated upper extremity and the subsequent rehabilitation process through the point of view of a 15 year old patient, his parents, his sister, and the treating Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). As an occupational therapist it is important to understand the family relationships, support networks, and the role of the patient in the family. The therapist is in a unique position to provide treatment and emotional support that the patient and family need after experiencing trauma. This case study appraisal using a …

Differences In The Utilization Of Therapeutic Use Of Self By Occupational Therapists In Military And Civilian Settings, Cj Gill

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Theses (2010-2015)

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of therapeutic use of self, and the factors that may influence that implementation in military and civilian settings, as described by occupational therapists who have experience in both settings. A semi-structured qualitative design was used to interview two practicing occupational therapists. Analysis of the audio transcripts resulted in two themes on the comparison of implementation of therapeutic use of self in military and civilian settings: Knowing your Population (identifying differences between the military and civilian settings) and Some Things Do Not Change (identifying similarities between the military and civilian settings). …

Occupational Therapy Needs Assessment Of Male United States Veterans Who Are Homeless, Karyn Best

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Theses (2010-2015)

The current occupational therapy research base related to individuals who are homeless is sparse, and few studies have identified the various needs of subgroups within the population. To provide appropriate interventions, treatment, and program development for homeless veterans, an understanding of their occupational performance, including impact of prior experiences, roles, and meaningful and valued activities is necessary. This study used qualitative methodology to explore the needs of a small number of male United States veterans in urban Western Washington who are currently or were previously homeless, in order to determine in what way the occupational therapy profession can best meet …

An Occupational Therapy Needs Assessment For At-Risk High School Students Attending An Alternative Education Program: A Case Study, Brittany Mcfadden

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Theses (2010-2015)

The purpose of this mixed-methods needs assessment was to identify how occupational therapy services might support at-risk high school students enrolled in an alternative education program. Sixteen staff members and 24 students completed a survey addressing potential needs across performance areas and client factors within the domain of occupational therapy. Interviews and observation were used to add breadth and depth to these survey data. The findings indicated a need for intervention in multiple areas including time management, behavior regulation, attention, health and wellness, stress management, communication skills, job skills, and goal setting. Students and staff indicated similar areas of needs …

The Relationship Between A Teacher Check List And Standardised Tests For Visual Perception Skills: A South African Remedial Primary School Perspective, Janet Richmond, K Holland

Research outputs pre 2011

Occupational therapy in remedial education settings has been questioned by the South African Government as they see occupational therapy as a costly service and thus has challenged occupational therapy clinicians’ approach to assessment. This study was undertaken to establish whether the results of standardised tests of visual perception skills, relate to teachers’ observations in respect of primary remedial school age children (six to eleven years) attending a short term remedial school because of low scholastic achievement despite having average or above intellectual ability. The Test of Visual Perceptual Skills – Revised, the Developmental Test of Visual Perception-2, the Jordan Left-Right …

A Correlational Study Of Telework Frequency, Information Communication Technology, And Job Satisfaction Of Home-Based Teleworkers, Shana P. Webster-Trotman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2008, 33.7 million Americans teleworked from home. The Telework Enhancement Act (S. 707) and the Telework Improvements Act (H.R. 1722) of 2009 were designed to increase the number of teleworkers. The research problem addressed was the lack of understanding of factors that influence home-based teleworkers' job satisfaction. Job dissatisfaction has been found to have a significant impact on voluntary turnover. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship among telework frequency, information communication technology (ICT), and job satisfaction. The research questions were designed to answer whether correlational relationships exist among telework frequency, ICT, and job satisfaction and …

Response To Task-Specific Sex Differences In Muscle Fatigue: Is There A Common Underlying Cause?, Sandra K. Hunter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Duration Of Selected Music As An Intervention On Postoperative Pain In Open-Heart Surgery Patients During Chair Rest On The First Postoperative Day, Tzu-Ting Shu

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of selected music on reducing postoperative pain and use of pain relief medications in open-heart surgery patients during chair rest on the first postoperative day.

This study was conducted using a pretest-posttest experimental design. A convenience sample of 13 open-heart surgery patients from a metropolitan hospital in southeastern Michigan were randomly assigned to the music group (n = 6) and the control group (n = 7). T-test analysis showed that pain scores (numeric rating scale, NRS = 0-10) were lower in the music group than the control group after 30, …

Psychosocial Responses To Spinal Cord Injury As Predictors Of Pressure Sores, Hanoch Livneh, Samuel T. Gontkovsky, Dobrivoje S. Stokic, Erin Martz

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pressure sores are a preventable, but common, secondary complication of a spinal cord injury (SCI). Research is limited concerning the influence of psychological factors in the development of pressure sores. The purpose of our ex post facto study was to examine the role that emotional responses and coping strategies play in moderating the relationships between demographic and SCI-related medical variables and the frequency and severity of pressure sores. Ninety-five individuals, who sustained a sudden-onset SCI, completed a self-report questionnaire sent to the population of patients that received post-injury rehabilitation services at a rehabilitation center in the southern U.S. Multiple regression …

Perspectives Of Executive Women: Life Choices And Balancing Career With Marriage And Children, Wendy James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of executive women and their choices in balancing work with marriage and children. Research on women in the workplace tends to conflate categories of hourly workers, part-time employees, and middle- and upper-management careers. Yet, the literature on balancing career and family life does not adequately portray the experiences of executive women. The purpose of the study was to discover executive women's perceptions about their career, how they chose their path, and how their career choices affected their decisions about marriage and children. The research questions for this study examined: (a) The effect of executive …

Job Satisfaction, Job Involvement, And Perceived Organizational Support As Predictors Of Organizational Commitment, Jennifer Parker Ayers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there is a significant relationship between job satisfaction, job involvement, perceived organizational support, and organizational commitment among educators. A review of the literature revealed there is limited research that examined organizational behaviors among educators. Organizational commitment has been identified as a leading factor impacting an employee's level of success in various organizations. There remains a gap in the current literature regarding specific attitudinal behaviors influencing organizational commitment across various levels of education. Organizational commitment among educators employed at the primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels was examined. The sample for …

Using A Structured Decision Making Protocol To Stratify Caseloads In The Child Support Program, Steven J. Golightly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although structured decision making and risk assessment protocols have successfully been used in human service programs, little research has been done on their applicability in the child support program. In this study, problems identified with child support case management were examined, along with positive and negative attributes of various risk assessment tools utilized in other arenas. The overall research problem asserted that there are no structured decision making protocols in the child support program to support case assignment by enforcement difficulty. The primary research question asked whether or not a process stratified by risk and level of enforcement difficulty could …

The Able Scale: The Development And Psychometric Properties Of A New Outcome Measure For The Spinal Cord Injury Population, Elizabeth Ardolino

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Effect Of An Incline Walking Surface And The Contribution Of Balance On Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters Of Older Adults, Richard A. Ferraro

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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National Survey On Equine Assisted Therapy: An Exploratory Study Of Current Practitioners And Programs, Patricia J. Mcconnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Equine facilitated psychotherapy (EFP), a new field in psychology, is an alternative method of therapy that uses horses to facilitate therapeutic outcomes. There is minimal peer reviewed literature and few published studies examining efficacy. The conceptual lens of this study was grounded theory, as there is insufficient evidence of theoretical frame-works guiding equine assisted therapy. The purpose of this exploratory concurrent mixed methods study was to examine the theoretical foundation of practitioners; program make up; client populations; efficacy of program; and why the horse serves as the therapeutic catalyst of this model. A 43-item survey was sent to 800 programs, …

Delayed Differentiation In Embryonic Stem Cells And Mesodermal Progenitors In The Absence Of Ctbp2, Heather Tarleton

Health and Human Sciences Faculty Works

Mammalian embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are characterized by an ability to self-renew and give rise to each of the three germ layers. ESCs are a pluripotential source of numerous primitive progenitors and committed lineages and can make stoichiometric decisions leading to either asymmetric or symmetric cell division. Several genes have been identified as essential for maintenance of self-renewal, but few non-lineage specific genes have been identified as essential for differentiation. We selected the chromatin factor Ctbp2 from microarray data for its enriched expression in stem cells, in comparison to committed progenitors. RNA interference (RNAi) was used to knockdown gene expression …

The Role Of The Occupational Therapist In Adolescent Substance Intervention, Cassandra Leach, Kori Le Blanc

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The current occupational therapy literature has limited information regarding the use of occupational therapy interventions for substance abuse specific to the adolescent population. Adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17 years have increased their engagement in illicit drug use from 9.3% in 2008 to 10% in 2009 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). In regards to alcohol use, in 2009, approximately 10.4 million persons (27%) ages 12-20 years reported drinking alcohol within the last month (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). According to Martin, Bliven, and Boisvert, (2008) substance abuse addictions significantly impact the person’s …

The Adl Of Sexuality: A Guide For Occupational Therapists For Elderly Clients, Autumn Edmundson, Amber Lafrenz

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a guide that would address the assessments, treatment/interventions, and discharge planning process regarding sexual health/sexuality with an elderly client. Through the use of the guide and accompanying resources it is assumed that occupational therapists will have an increased level of comfort, knowledge, and competence. This is important as Couloumbis and Miller (1994) study indicated that occupational therapists that received formal education (academically or clinical practice) addressed sexuality in the elderly 27.8% more than occupational therapists who did not have any educational experience.

Methodology: An in depth literature review was conducted …