Digital Commons Network^™

Childhood Feeding And Eating Evaluation And Home Programming, Alexis Paige Lehmann

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Up to 20% of typically developing and about 80% of atypically developing infants and children suffer from feeding difficulties (Chatoor & Macaoay, 2008; Nichols et al., 2018). These feeding difficulties may lead to delays in growth and development, refusal to eat, behavioral issues, and medical complications (Chatoor & Macaoay, 2008). Occupational therapists address these feeding difficulties through the therapeutic process, which includes initial evaluation, intervention, re-evaluation, and discharge planning (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020). When completing a feeding evaluation, practitioners often rely on skilled observation and their clinical judgment to determine what is developmentally appropriate. Practitioners also may …

Addressing Classroom Behaviors Through Sensory-Informed Design And Instruction To Support Performance And Participation, Monicah Nyakoe

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: In the United States, students spend a significant portion of their day within the school setting. The school environment, rich with sensory experiences, can either bolster or hinder a student's success and behavior. Research has indicated that unaddressed sensory needs may lead to disruptive behaviors and reduced educational engagement and participation. The purpose of this project was to empower educators with the understanding and tools to identify sensory needs and to shape sensory-supportive environments, ensuring students can thrive to their fullest potential in their educational occupations.

Method: The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model was the theoretical framework that guided this project. …

Enriching Social Connections: A Handbook For Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Lauryne Griego

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Enriching Social Connections: A Handbook for Occupational Therapy Practitioners

Introduction: For many children and adolescents with a neurological or neurodevelopmental disorder, navigating social relationships can be challenging. The multifaceted nature of these challenges significantly impacts their ability to engage in meaningful social participation (Hilton & Kramer, 2020). Children and adolescents encountering inherent barriers, including deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, may lack the foundational skills needed for successful participation in social events, thereby interfering with their overall success (Hilton & Kramer, 2020). Social participation, an area of occupation frequently addressed in occupational therapy, is instrumental in child and adolescent …

Supporting Interoceptive Learning Across Environments: A Guide For Educators And Caregivers, Jamie M. Steinhoff

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Children aged four to six experience rapid brain development, advancing language skills, and understanding of the human body (Schaan et al., 2019). This developmental stage highlights the importance of educators and caregivers teaching interoception to improve preschool-aged children's occupational engagement and emotional regulation. Children lacking developed interoceptive skills may encounter difficulties regulating their emotions, impacting activities such as play, social participation, education, and health management (Arnold et al., 2019). This product was developed to offer caregivers and educators a comprehensive understanding of interoception through a handbook and training sessions containing strategies, exercises, tools, and activities to facilitate interoceptive development …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy To Support Engagement In Activities For Adults Throughout The Cancer Continuum, Alexis Brolsma

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: More than 18 million people currently living in the United States have received a cancer diagnosis sometime throughout their lives. Advancements in treatment for cancer are increasing the livelihood of those surviving cancer, but there are lasting challenges. More than 40% of individuals within the cancer continuum continue to experience performance challenges with their daily tasks. Occupational therapy can target these challenges, but this profession is underutilized within cancer care. The purpose of this project was to increase awareness of occupational therapy’s role in cancer care, educate providers, and create a resource to address the needs of the cancer …

You Don’T Have Celiac Disease: A Patient Perspective On Potential Issues With Stress Leading To Misdiagnosis, Ashley M. Snyder

Public Health Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Education-Based Programs And Preventative Strategies On Oral Health Outcomes For Older Adults In Rural Communities: A Critically Appraised Topic, Meagan Barnes Pearson, Abby Ellenberger, Becca Valdez

Critically Appraised Topics

Elderly adults in rural populations are facing difficulties with oral health due to accessibility difficulties, lower socioeconomic status, and decreased OHL. Limited research has been conducted on occupational therapy interventions within this specific occupational domain, or with this particular population. This CAT investigates the positive impacts oral health education programs that incorporate preventative strategies have on the oral health outcomes of the aging population living in rural locations when implemented by occupational therapists alongside an interdisciplinary team.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Transitioning & Community Integration, Payton Baumann, Madison Thomas, Anna Voegel

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper will concentrate on the most effective formatting of transition programs necessary to improve a sense of community belonging and overall quality of life (QOL). The main factors to consider in the scenario are accessibility to programs, funding for programs, social stigmas and attitudes, and mental health of individuals who are experiencing a transition. Populations experiencing a transition may include those transitioning from incarceration, experiencing homelessness, educational programs, employment opportunities, hospital care settings, active-duty status, and migration. To develop a sense of community belonging, social participation will be an important aspect to integrate into interventions, which …

The Role Of Occupational Therapists Working With Adults With Substance Use Disorder In Rural Areas, Kyra M. Jessen, Jackie M. Middendorf

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper focused on the availability of occupation-based interventions for adults (18 years and older) faced with substance use disorders in rural areas. The main factors to consider in this scenario were the population of rural areas, substance use services in rural areas, and the role of occupational therapy. The U.S. Census Bureau did not directly define rural but instead considered rural to be any area that is not urban, while urban areas were considered to have more than 50,000 people and urban clusters were stated to have between 2,500 and 50,000 people (U.S. Department of Agriculture, …

Realizing The Role Of Interdisciplinary Practices In Psycho-Educational Assessment For Learners With Special Education Needs/Disabilities In Guyana, Keon Cheong

Theses and Dissertations

A growing number of students are referred to special education sectors. With the growing numbers, there is a need for structures and systems to be in place to ensure that the least restrictive environment is used while ensuring that learners are adequately placed based on their abilities. This challenge is heightened in the Global South. In the Caribbean, few countries have legislation to address disabilities, and in locations where there is legislation, it is either outdated or not enforced. This dissertation conducts a systematic review using 60 studies to compile comprehensive research-based information about interdisciplinary practices, specifically in the psycho-educational …

Transitional Support Programming For First-Year Occupational Therapy Graduate Students, Samantha Proctor

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Transitional Support Programming for First-Year Occupational Therapy Graduate Students

Background: The focus of the project represents the Scholarship of Application, which is the translation of existing research into practice. A student’s transition from undergraduate to graduate-level programs can be challenging due to the increased academic rigor inherent to graduate programs. This can lead to an imbalance in students' lives and an increase in stress, anxiety, and burnout. As the overall well-being of students decreases, the likelihood of students experiencing academic hardships increases. Students need diverse academic and professional skills to navigate graduate school successfully; however, many students lack those …

Addressing Psychosocial Factors In Upper Extremity Injuries To Improve Outcomes And Quality Of Life, Jace Allard

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Following upper extremity injuries, negative psychosocial factors such as anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression are found to be prevalent (Hardison et al., 2021; Maddison et al., 2023). Negative psychosocial symptoms such as these can negatively affect recovery outcomes and quality of life for individuals (Kinsley et al., 2020; Sposato et al., 2018). Typical treatment received in hand therapy for individuals with upper extremity injuries consists primarily of physical remediation through a biomedical frame of reference and less on addressing psychosocial factors (Chown et al., 2018; Kurrus et al., 2022; Robinson et al., 2016). Certified hand therapists report …

Treatment Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Tricyclic Antidepressants Versus Diet Modification And Visceral Manipulation, Alexis Int Veldt

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the gut-brain interaction that is a chronic and often debilitating disorder characterized by symptoms of recurrent abdominal pain and disordered defecation, affecting up to 10-12% of adults in North America. The purpose of this study analysis is to compare tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) use to diet modification and visceral manipulation in the treatment of IBS. A literature review was performed using various health science databases such as, PubMed, Google Scholar and ClinicalKey, within a time frame of 20 years. Studies chosen for review were peer reviewed and focused on randomized control trials. Several …

Let’S Move! Benefits Of Exercise Compared To Ssris (Escitalopram) For The Management Of Depression: Research From 2020 And Beyond, Brianna Droessler-Aschliman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to determine the effectiveness of exercise as either monotherapy or in combination with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for the management of major depressive disorder. Studies gathered for this review came from the following databases: PubMed, SpringerLink, Academic Search Ultimate, Academic Search Complete, and CINAHL. Current research completed between the years 2020-2023 that consisted of either clinical trials, RCTs, or meta-analysis were included. A total of eleven studies were reviewed that addressed either the benefits of exercise, SSRIs, or a combination for the management of depression. Upon completion of the literature review, it …

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis: Immunosuppression Versus Stem Cell Therapy, Bailee Blickensderfer

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

methotrexate monotherapy, rheumatoid, arthritis, mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, anti-TNF, CXCL8, CXCL12, CXCL13, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell, and adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cell

The Efficacy Of Probiotic Use In Patients With Anxiety And Depression, Joanna Mcclelland

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Given the impact of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, it is helpful to know the available resources and treatment options to offer patients to aid in the modulation of symptoms. The gut-brain connection has become more widely researched for its impacts on anxiety and depression. This bodes the question that if the gut microbiome can be altered, would there be a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression as a result? One way to alter gut microbiome is to implement a probiotic. To determine if this is an effective treatment option for anxiety and depression, a literature …

Exercise And Preventing Dementia In Older Adults, Valerie K. Snelling

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Dementia is a devastating diagnosis for millions of individuals and the prevalence is projected to increase significantly in the next 30 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019), there are over five million individuals aged 65 and over living in the United States with dementia. That number is estimated to increase to 14 million by 2060. The impact of the increasing prevalence of dementia is significant. Because dementia is a complex disease caused by over 50 underlying health conditions, finding effective treatments for the disease is difficult. This makes prevention of dementia extremely important. The purpose …

Efficacy Of Complimentary Manual Therapies For Labor Pain Management, Emily Yenter

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Labor and delivery pain is commonly considered to be the most pain a woman will ever experience. Options for pain control during labor include pharmacological and nonpharmacological. The purpose of this systematic literature is to determine if complementary manual therapies such as massage therapy, acupressure, and reflexology are effective nonpharmacologic management tools for labor pain. The electronic databases PubMed and ClinicalKey were searched, and the ten studies chosen for this review were randomized controlled trials published within the past ten years. Current research provides significant data supporting these three complementary modalities as effective nonpharmacologic management tools to control labor pain. …

Winter Commencement: December 14-15, 2023, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 14 and 15, 2023.

Endometriosis And Its Effect On Women's Lives, Haley Duncan

Psychology Student Publications

My paper is about women with endometriosis, and its effects on women's lives. I discussed the disease itself, as well as its psychological and physical impacts it has on not just affected women, but their partners as well.

The Worrying Doesn't Stop, Shayla Rickford

Psychology Student Publications

This paper is all about anxiety and anxiety disorders. Within the paper I list some examples and feelings that I have had myself, as I struggle with anxiety. With use of scientific articles, I discuss a lot of what anxiety is, anxiety disorders, how people with anxiety feel, the causes of anxiety and treatment for anxiety.

How Do Biased Police Lineups Effect The Accuracy Of The Eyewitness?, Brady Haskell

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Are Animals The Best Therapists?, Debra Bigelow Davis

Psychology Student Publications

Scientific Communication Paper

What Even Is Occupational Therapy, Malia Mckenzie

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

How Does Coloring Affect Your Mental Health?, Adriana Iverson

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Be A Buddy Not A Bully, Luisa Walz

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Man In Black: Perceptions Of Black Clothing, John Smith

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Mind Matters: Unveiling The Dynamics Of Mental Well-Being In Adulthood Through Exercise, Madison Ahlers

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Keeping A Secret Isn't Hard! Just Lie About It!, Noelle Martin

Psychology Student Publications

This paper analyzes the negative effects of secrecy and how a person can avoid lying about unnecessary things. It uses examples from real world situations in which people lie often, creating a more relatable discussion.

Antisocial Personality Disorder & Psychopathy, Mackenzie Meyer

Psychology Student Publications

No abstract provided.