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Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Student Volunteer Activities During Covid-19 And Beliefs About Practitioner Roles In Crisis Management, Olivia Biller, Frances Calingo, Tina M. Deangelis, Maclain Capron Ba

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Due to the global novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many students in entry-level occupational therapy programs faced changes to their daily roles, habits, and routines. To understand beliefs about OT practitioner roles in a public health crisis, a cross-sectional study was designed to understand occupational therapy students (OTS) and occupational therapy assistant students (OTAS) volunteer activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A survey was developed and distributed in April 2020, and closed after five weeks. Quantitative data was analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 27) and open response data was categorized in Microsoft Excel.

Results: Respondents …

The Relationship Between Holistic Admissions Criteria And Program Ranking Among Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Programs, Kristian Taylor, Cat-Tien Nguyen, Jenny Grant, Mary B. Brewster, Mary A. Barrett, Teal Benevides, Sharon M. Cosper

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Holistic admissions criteria are one strategy to be more inclusive of students with a variety of experiences, cultures, and beliefs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between holistic admissions criteria and occupational therapy program ranking. We used a retrospective cross-sectional cohort descriptive study design of occupational therapy programs in the United States to understand whether top performing programs employ holistic admissions criteria. Secondary descriptive analysis from the top and bottom 50 ranked occupational therapy programs in 2020 U.S. News & World Report (Morse et al., 2020) was completed. We used a nominal scale to classify programs …

Program Development For Group Interventions Targeting Loneliness In Older Adults, Antoinette Cave

Capstone Projects

The topic of loneliness is complex and subjective in nature, and treatment of the condition requires the client-centered approach that occupational therapy encompasses within its scope of practice. Using an occupation-based, mental health approach to develop the program, weekly focus groups were created based on participant-preferred activities to decrease loneliness among older adults at PACE InnovAge’s outpatient and assisted living locations in Thornton, Colorado. Education was provided to participants and staff throughout the 14-week experience. Further training and sustainability efforts were created and distributed among participants and staff at the end of the experience through an occupation-based handout with external …

Occupational Therapy Health & Wellness Promotion For Adults Living With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, Sydni Rodriguez

Capstone Projects

Based on educational principles and program development, this occupational therapy doctoral capstone experience (DCE) was centered on addressing the health and wellness needs of adults living with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) at Self-Help Alternative Living Opportunities Michigan (SHALOM), a Christian non-profit organization. Research has shown that adults living with I/DD have an increased chance of having health complications related to health disparities when compared to the general population of adults. Occupational therapists have a profound role in health and wellness as it relates to access and engagement in daily occupations. This DCE was accomplished through development of a recurrent monthly walking …

Osces’ Impact On Occupational Therapy Student Learning: Insights From Second- And Third-Year Focus Groups, Craig R. St. Jean, Karin Werther, Mary R. Roberts

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are widely used in health programs to assess clinical skills. We present results of a qualitative study investigating occupational therapy students’ perceptions of OSCEs’ impact on their learning and readiness for clinical practice.

Method: Six second and six third year students in the University of Alberta’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program were interviewed in separate focus groups. Independent reviewers applied thematic analysis to the focus group transcripts to identify, analyze, and report themes in the data.

Results: Five themes were constructed from the data: from learning to action, transition …

Establishing Initial Content Validity, Interrater Reliability, And Intra-Rater Reliability Of The Revised Visual Activity Sort For At-Risk Adolescents And Young Adults, Sharon Gutman, Katie O'Day, Ashley Choi, Alexis Kearney, Sandra Rogers

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to establish the content validity and inter- and intra-rater reliability of the revised Visual Activity Sort, which is a card sorting assessment designed specifically for at-risk adolescents and young adults.

Method: Six content experts were selected and asked to rate the relevancy of each of the 121 Visual Activity Sort cards. Two trained raters participated in the establishment of inter- and intra-rater reliability with 30 high school students attending a charter school for at-risk adolescents and young adults in a socioeconomically disadvantaged urban area.

Results: Based on the content experts’ …

Occupational Therapist Perspectives On Oral Hygiene Interventions Among Children And Youth With Autism, Kimberly Duetsch, Megan Chamberlin, Jordyn Hamilton, Anna Mostoller, Giannalise Pepoli, Emma Sanchez

Occupational Therapy Student Scholarship

What are the perceptions and experiences of OT professionals regarding the implementation and efficacy of interventions addressing oral hygiene among children with ASD?

The current study suggests that a wide variety ofOH interventions are being implemented in practice and are perceived to be efficacious by OT/OTAs. Implementation of these interventions is not without barriers, the most reported being carryover in the home. Findings suggest the potential for positive outcomes of the collaboration between dental professionals and OTs/OTAs. Future research is needed to explore how to navigate this collaboration given the time and setting constraints within each discipline.

Examining The Latent Structure And Correlates Of Sensory Reactivity In Autism: A Multi-Site Integrative Data Analysis By The Autism Sensory Research Consortium, Zachary J. Williams, Roseann Schaaf, Karla K. Ausderau, Grace T. Baranek, D. Jonah Barrett, Carissa J. Cascio, Rachel L. Dumont, Ekomobong E. Eyoh, Michelle D. Failla, Jacob I. Feldman, Jennifer H. Foss-Feig, Heather L. Green, Shulamite A. Green, Jason L. He, Elizabeth A. Kaplan-Kahn, Bahar Keçeli-Kaysılı, Keren Maclennan, Zoe Mailloux, Elysa J. Marco, Lisa E. Mash, Elizabeth P. Mckernan, Sophie Molholm, Stewart H. Mostofsky, Nicolaas A.J. Puts, Caroline E. Robertson, Natalie Russo, Nicole Shea, John Sideris, James S. Sutcliffe, Teresa Tavassoli, Mark T. Wallace, Ericka L. Wodka, Tiffany G. Woynaroski

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Differences in responding to sensory stimuli, including sensory hyperreactivity (HYPER), hyporeactivity (HYPO), and sensory seeking (SEEK) have been observed in autistic individuals across sensory modalities, but few studies have examined the structure of these "supra-modal" traits in the autistic population.

METHODS: Leveraging a combined sample of 3868 autistic youth drawn from 12 distinct data sources (ages 3-18 years and representing the full range of cognitive ability), the current study used modern psychometric and meta-analytic techniques to interrogate the latent structure and correlates of caregiver-reported HYPER, HYPO, and SEEK within and across sensory modalities. Bifactor statistical indices were used to …

Evaluating Non-Pharmacological Approaches To Nursing Home Dementia Care: A Protocol, Natalie E Leland, Victoria Shier, Catherine V. Piersol, Cara Lekovitch, Jenny Martínez, Yuna H Bae-Shaaw, Neeraj Sood, Claire Day, Paul Cass, Dominique Como, Carin Wong, Felicia Chew

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the daily challenges nursing home (NH) staff face caring for the residents living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (

METHODS: This clustered randomized trial will compare

CONCLUSION: This trial will be the first-ever evaluation of team- and problem-based approaches to ADRD care across multiple NHs and geographic regions. Results can provide health system leaders and policymakers with evidence on how to optimize ADRD training for staff in an effort to enhance ADRD care delivery.

Exploring The Experiences Of Underrepresented Students Pursuing Health-Related Graduate Or Professional Programs, Alison Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For many years graduate and professional education programs for the health professions have sought to increase the diversity of their student body to include students from a wider variety of backgrounds. Increasing the diversity of healthcare providers is an essential component of addressing inequities in healthcare. However, despite initiatives to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the health professions, these professions remain largely White and female. Previous researchers have sought to identify the reasons that racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in healthcare, and the barriers to persistence and success. Little research exists explaining why men are underrepresented in the …

Enhancing Student Support In Higher Education: Occupation-Based Programming And The Vital Role Of Occupational Therapy, Emily M. Medcalf

Graduate Projects & Research

Introduction: With the higher education student populations facing greater prevalence of mental health conditions and greater presence of students with disabilities attending higher education, there is a greater demand than many higher education resources can meet. Therefore, there is a need to revise the current student support structure. This project advocated for the role of occupational therapy (OT) program development in higher education student disability services.

Purpose: The primary aim of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a virtual 4-week occupation-based pilot program. The initial pilot participants included students receiving accommodations from the Student Accessibility and Accommodations (SA&A) …

Reflections From The Other Side Of Acute Care, Debbie Amini

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist of 40 years experiences a traumatic event during her time in an acute care hospital. She journeys through a host of life-altering experiences, including cognitive decline, delusion, paranoia, and an inability to engage in her desired occupations. While on this journey and during reflections following her return home, she is able to see more clearly how an occupational therapist may have assisted with several of the major concerns she was experiencing, thus improving her well-being and quality of life. She is an Assistant Editor for the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT) and this is her story.

A Preventative Approach To Musculoskeletal Hand Injuries For First Year Dental Students, Ellyette Lara

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Health Sciences, Karinne A. Osumi

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Designing A Conceptual Framework To Align Learning Objectives To The Interprofessional Education Collaborative Core Competencies: A Narrative Review, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen E. Johnson

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Early placement of interprofessional education (IPE) in academic curricula may foster foundational learning to shape student attitudes, knowledge, and skills and better prepare practice-ready clinicians for future team-based collaboration. The purpose of this narrative review was to investigate and analyze the current use of IPE in OT and PT higher education.

Methods: Three databases, Academic Search Complete, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and ERIC, were searched from 2017 to 2022. Inclusion criteria were articles with full text availability, published within the 5 year search time range from the time of the narrative review process, peer reviewed studies, …

Efektivitas Manual Therapy Dan Ultrasound Terhadap Peningkatan Fungsi Gerak Bahu Pada Kasus Nyeri Bahu Et Causa Bursitis Subacromialis Dengan Parameter Spadi Di Rsud Muhammad Natsir, Fadhilah Az-Zahra, Ronal Lufitos, Faizah Abdullah Djawas

Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia or Indonesian Journal of Applied Physiotherapy

ABSTRACT: Adhesive Capsulitis is a disorder that occurs in the shoulder area in the form of inflammation of the joint capsule which causes a feeling of stiffness and pain. Glenohumeral joint mobilization with the Maitland mobilization technique is using passive mobilization with physiological oscillatory movements which can produce a stretching effect and release of adhesive on the ligament capsule in the shoulder so that the range of motion of the shoulder joint can be increased. Hold relax is an exercise therapy with the principle of reciprocal inhibition which aims to improve antagonistic pattern relaxation, and mobilization, and to reduce pain. …

A Pilot Program To Inform High School Students About Allied Healthcare Professions, Nhu Mac

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The literature revealed the lack of diversity in the workforce, limited recruiting and retention methods, and lack of exposure to these professions as the contributions to the shortage and demand for the profession of occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech- language pathology (SLP). As a result, the fourteen-week program to inform high school students about OT, PT, and SLP roles in the community and public health was implemented at Desert Pines High School in Clark County School District (CCSD) to see if it would influence their perceived attitudes, knowledge, beliefs, and the likelihood of pursuing these careers. Using …

Community Support Post-Hospitalization: A Practitioner Resource, Della Dupre

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

No abstract provided.

Exploring And Implementing Evidence-Based Educational Approaches In An Entry-Level Doctoral Occupational Therapy Program, Hannah Schultheiss

Capstone Projects

As occupational therapy programs begin to shift from entry-level Master’s to Doctorate curriculum, progressing the rigor accordingly while holding true to the field’s occupational roots remains a crucial consideration. At a private university in the Midwest, faculty were working against time constraints while building an entry-level doctoral occupational therapy program from the ground up and sought to establish a healthy, professional culture between faculty and students. This capstone experience and project addressed these goals by exploring the role and expectations of working as an educator in the program. Learning experiences were centered upon developing content related to pediatric and adolescent …

Increasing Quality Of Life: Providing Education And Resources For Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jeanette Kymes

Capstone Projects

This 14-week capstone project aimed to develop and implement meaningful modifications to an early intensive behavioral intervention center from an occupational therapy (OT) perspective. An evidence-based evaluation of the existing program was conducted, and it was identified that parents of children 18 months to 6 years old with autism lacked the awareness of available resources to support their overall quality of life. A new process was developed and implemented for parents to get connected with resources that met their current needs, resulting in a total of 18 different categories of resources. Parents also received education regarding caregiver burnout and developmental …

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy And Dentistry For Autistic Patients And Sensory Processing Differences, Mallory Fox

Capstone Projects

Dental care is the most frequently cited unmet healthcare need for children with special needs (Cermak et al., 2015). Given the increased research linking oral health to overall health, it is important to ensure that dental care is accessible to all individuals. Oral hygiene and health management are both occupations included in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (4th ed). Combined with the unique training of an occupational therapist in sensory processing and environmental adaptations, the profession of occupational therapy has an important role in addressing the availability of dental care for those with disabilities.

The aim of my doctoral capstone …

Life Skills Program For Refugees, Diana Hasan

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Capstone Posters

p capstone included the development and implementation of a 6-week life skills program fro refugees at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. This program provided the refugee population with hands on experience and education of the necessary life skills to adapt and navigate in their new home and community, while improving their quality of life.

A Pilot Study To Compare Lecture And Active Learning, Jennifer Calabrese

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Active learning strategies are being increasingly valued by instructors and implemented in higher education. However, mixed outcomes exist regarding learning, exam results, and student preferences for active learning compared to traditional lectures. A convenience sample of 26 first-year graduate students participated in a study that examined the impact of attending a traditional lecture versus an active learning session. Both sessions included a PowerPoint presentation and the active learning class also included embedded educational videos, instructor-led class discussions, a case study, and a think-pair-share activity. The instructor used a pre and post-test for each class and conducted a survey after each …

Using A Flipped Classroom To Teach Evidence-Based Practice To Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Students, April C. Cowan, Karen Ratcliff, Chih-Ying Li

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Constructivist teaching approaches rely on students to be active participants in their learning. A flipped classroom is a constructivist approach that requires the students to complete pre-learning activities outside of class. Thus, in class the students can practice and engage in team-based discussions and teacher guided learning. We delivered evidence-based practice (EBP) concepts to entry level occupational therapy (OT) students in a doctoral program using a constructivist approach, that included a flipped classroom model and reliance on team-based strategies. We used the Evidence Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) Scale to assess the change in students’ confidence in EBP. Students demonstrated statistically …

Concept Mapping As An Instructional Method To Support Critical Thinking In Occupational Therapy Students: A Pilot Study, Alissa R. Baker, Cassandra C. Ginn

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

In occupational therapy practice, critical thinking is a foundational skill for the delivery of effective care; however, there is limited evidence on the development of critical thinking skills in occupational therapy education. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects and student perceptions of concept mapping on critical thinking skills in occupational therapy education. This study used a quasi-experimental design with a retrospective pre-post assessment after two teaching conditions: (a) traditional lecture and (b) concept mapping. The same convenience sample of students was used for each condition. Additional outcome measures included assessment of student concept maps using a …

The Impact Of Racism And Ethnic Discrimination On Students' Educational Experiences, Melissa Luong, Julie D. Kugel, Sharon Pavlovich, Liane Hewitt, Lida Gharibvand

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study explored how occupational therapy students’ perceptions of racism and ethnic discrimination impacted their educational experiences. Participants included 226 students ages 18-60 years old enrolled in occupational therapy entry-level, post-professional, or assistant programs throughout the United States. Students completed an anonymous web-based survey that included a demographic questionnaire, the Brief Perceived Ethnic Discrimination Questionnaire-Community Version (PEDQ-CV), and open-ended survey questions. Results found that students’ educational performance were negatively impacted by their experiences with racism and ethnic discrimination. While students reported to have experienced racism or ethnic discrimination within the classroom and fieldwork settings, classroom conversations and content related to …

The Impact Of An Educational Human Trafficking Panel On Occupational Therapy Students’ Knowledge And Self-Efficacy, Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, Andrea Thinnes, Yongyue Qi, Arduizur Carli Richie Zavaleta, Ashlynn York

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

A rise in attention to and assistance for human trafficking (HT) victims and survivors has resulted in a call to action for occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals. Victims and survivors often seek healthcare services in a variety of settings, yet ill-equipped healthcare professionals lacking training and self-efficacy with this population have left many unidentified needs unaddressed. Occupational therapists possess the skills necessary to support and assist survivors of HT in their reintegration and healing processes. However, little to no specific training for practitioners in this field has been developed. This study explored how an educational panel of OTs and …

Applying An Anti-Racist Pedagogy To Develop And Deliver A Racial Microaggressions Workshop For Occupational Therapy Students, Shannon Giannitsopoulou, Jane A. Davis, Bismah Khalid, Ruheena Sangrar

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Many workshops about identifying, understanding, and responding to microaggressions have been designed and delivered to learners within health education. However, few workshops implement an anti-racist pedagogical approach, and none presented in the literature have been created specifically for occupational therapy students. Anti-racist pedagogical approaches explicitly link interpersonal and institutional/structural oppressions to ensure that the impacts of microaggressions are not minimized by focusing solely on interpersonal interactions. A specific workshop is needed to address the noted persistence of racial microaggressions directed at clients, families, students, and practitioners within occupational therapy contexts and due to the embeddedness of practitioners in clients’ daily …

Increasing Self-Efficacy And Engagement In Occupational Therapy Education Through The Use Of An Unfolding Case Study Curricular Design, Michael J. Jensen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The unfolding case study, which has the case study client evolve over time, has been shown to positively influence both academic and affective performance, though to this point has not been studied in terms of development of self-efficacy in clinical skills or engagement with course content. This study used a quasi-experimental design as well as retrospective data analysis to examine two case study designs (one static or unchanging and one unfolding) within an occupational therapy doctorate program. The study found that occupational therapy students (n = 16) reported a statistically significant difference in the development of clinical skill self-efficacy (p < .05) after engaging in a semester long unfolding case study compared to a semester long static case study. Additionally, the study found that occupational therapy students (n = 47) demonstrated greater engagement with the online curricular content supporting the unfolding case study compared to the static case study (p < .001). The findings of the study suggest that there may be benefits to using an unfolding case study as a curricular design strategy in relation to increased clinical skill self-efficacy and enhanced engagement with course content.

Validating The Assessing Student Competence And Knowledge Of Social Determinants Of Health (Asck-Sdh) Instrument, Whitney Lucas Molitor, Moses N. Ikiugu, Leah M. Stade, Jana L. Wardian

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The impact of the social determinants of health (SDH) on health outcomes is receiving increased attention. Health profession students need to learn about SDH; however, there are no validated tools to measure student competence in assessing SDH. There is a need for a brief, valid instrument to measure student competency and knowledge of SDH. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected pre (N=394) and post (N=387) for an interprofessional learning event. We utilized principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation to determine the internal structure of the tool. The original measure consisted of 11 items; the analysis resulted …