Digital Commons Network^™

Treatment Option Decision Making For Low-Grade Prostate Cancer, Janene Witherite

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer, among men, in the United States.

 Low-grade PCa is defined by; lack of metastasis outside the prostate (M0), no lymph node involvement (N0), tumor staging up to T2a, a PSA of less than 10 ng/ml, a Gleason score of less than 6, and no more than two of the 10-12 tissue samples (each composed of less than 50% cancer cells) of the 10-12 samples taken.

 Four treatment options exist for low-grade PCa patients: active surveillance (AS), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), brachytherapy, and radical prostatectomy (RP), all of which cause …

Aging In Place: Causes And Importance Of Fall Prevention Education, Molly Banks, Danielle Halstead, Mariah Leroux

Critically Appraised Topics

Falls are a significant concern for older community-dwelling adults’ ability to age in place, specifically those who aged 60 and older. Many factors contribute to the risk of falls in older adults that need to be addressed by health care facilities, home health providers, and caretakers. Occupational therapy has a role to educate older adults, as well as health care providers on how to prevent the risk factors of older adults and falls. The purpose of this CAT is to take a deeper look at why this population has so many falls and examine the research addressing education and risk …

Yes, (Most) Men Know What Rape Is: A Mixed-Methods Investigation Into College Men’S Definitions Of Rape, Jaclyn A. Siegel, Raeann E. Anderson, Kristin E. Silver, Tara L. Mitchell

Psychology Faculty Publications

Sexual violence, including rape, is a pervasive problem on college campuses in the United States. Although men perpetrate the majority of sexual violence, men’s attitudes, experiences, and perspectives are not typically included in research on rape and sexual violence. We addressed this empirical gap through our mixed-methods analysis of 365 young men’s definitions of the term “rape.” Our analysis via consensual qualitative research revealed that men’s definitions fit into nine primary domains: lack of consent, taken advantage of, sex, sexual activity, unwanted, gender/sex-specific, harm to victim, relationship, and emotional response, as well as a miscellaneous domain. Further, using chi square …

A Holistic Approach To Infant Sleep, Mackenzie Danielson, Karlie Marler, Alyssa Turner-Strong

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A Holistic Approach to Infant Sleep. Mackenzie Danielson, Karlie Marler, Alyssa Turner-Strong, Dr. Julie Grabanski, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 1301 N. Columbia Road, Grand Forks, ND 58202

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to analyze and review current literature to determine the key variables that impact infant sleep. Based on the literature, the authors then created an educational manual and sleep assessment for occupational therapists that holistically addresses infant sleep.

Methodology: An extensive review of literature was completed on the role of occupational therapy, assessment tools, interventions, modifications …

Best Practices For The Occupation Of Education For College Students With Mental Health Issues, Karen Jaspers, Brianna Johnson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Objective: To examine the available evidence for interventions provided on college campuses that address mental illness in college-aged students.

Method: The scoping review process laid out in Arksey and O’Malley (2005) was utilized to help guide the process. Four databases were used to search for articles. Specific search terms for each database were developed with the aid of a librarian. A total of 82 articles were included in the final scoping review.

Results: Interventions were categorized based on the Public Health Model and intervention type. 30 articles fell within the tier 1, universal category, 52 articles fell within the tier …

The Home Program Adherence Tackle Box: A Fishing-Themed Toolkit For Rehabilitation Clinicians, Nicholas Riveland, Colter Pettit

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Home programs (HPs) are an important part of the rehabilitation experience and are regularly recommended by occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) and other rehabilitation clinicians for continuation and supplementation of care, to address a client’s continual needs at home and in the community (DeForge et al., 2008; Donoso Brown, & Fichter, 2017; Emmerson et al., 2017; Picha, & Howell, 2018; Proffitt, 2016). Home programs created by rehabilitation professionals for clients typically include therapeutic exercises, activities, and lifestyle behavior modifications to compliment treatment and/or discharge recommendations. Issuing home programs is an established standard of care to help clients meet targeted client …

How To Be An Advocate: Summary Of “Realizing Abct’S Mission In A Politicized World” Presented By Lynn Bufka, Anita Brown, Brandon Gaudiano, Megan Gordan-Kane, Lauren Macivor Thompson, And Laura Seligman, Raeann E. Anderson, Erica L. Goodman, Danielle Piggott, Sidney Thimm, Kristin E. Silver, Paige Michel

Psychology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Forecast Of Streamflows To The Arctic Ocean By A Bayesian Neural Network Model With Snowcover And Climate Inputs, Kabir Rasouli, Bouchra R. Nasri, Armina Soleymani, Taufique H. Mahmood, Masahiro Hori, Ali Torabi Haghighi

Geology and Geological Engineering Faculty Publications

Increasing water flowing into the Arctic Ocean affects oceanic freshwater balance, which may lead to the thermohaline circulation collapse and unpredictable climatic conditions if freshwater inputs continue to increase. Despite the crucial role of ocean inflow in the climate system, less is known about its predictability, variability, and connectivity to cryospheric and climatic patterns on different time scales. In this study, multi-scale variation modes were decomposed from observed daily and monthly snowcover and river flows to improve the predictability of Arctic Ocean inflows from the Mackenzie River Basin in Canada. Two multi-linear regression and Bayesian neural network models were used …

Fostering Needs First: An Otr’S Guide To Evaluation For Individuals Transitioning Out Of Foster Care, Paige Melby, Meagan Flom

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Fostering Needs First: An OTRs guide to evaluation

Background: Individuals transitioning out of foster care (ITF) are experiencing occupational, personal, and environmental barriers, affecting their ability to maintain independent living. Specific barriers to independence experienced by this population include high rates of homelessness, increased rates of poverty, and increased mental health disruptions (Gomez, Ryan, Norton, Jones, & Galan-Cisneros 2015; Lee & Morgan, 2017; O’Neal, 2015).

Purpose: The purpose of this product is to establish the role for occupational therapy in the foster care system, specifically in the transition out of services and into independent living. This product aims …

Occupational Therapy Program For Women Residing In Domestic Violence Shelters, Paige Mccullough, Kelsey Wehe

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background Domestic violence is a public health concern that affects 43.6 million women, or greater than one in three women, each year in the United States (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence [NCADV], n.d.). Following experiences with domestic violence, victims endure various long-term physical and mental health challenges. These challenges negatively affect women’s abilities to carry out many daily occupations, as well as live independently. When a victim flees domestic violence, they often find themselves seeking support and safety from domestic violence shelters. These shelters are designed to focus on the victim’s immediate physical needs and less on their mental health …

Redirected Mindset: A Guide To A More Holistic Practice In Physical Rehabilitation, Sara Anderson, Ashley Malina

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: Current practice is that the occupational therapists’ identity has become rooted in the practice setting they are working in versus the core values and beliefs of the profession. Despite the core values and beliefs of the profession, occupational therapists have pigeon-holed themselves as physical or mental health practitioners (Terry & Westcott, 2012). This results in restricted assessments and interventions that are not holistic and often not occupation based (Terry & Westcott, 2012). “Occupational therapy practitioners need to have an understanding of the physical, emotional, and psychosocial aspects of recovery from physical disability to address potential obstacles to their patient’s …

A Home-Based Program For Adolescents Recovering From Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa: The Promotion Of Recovery In The Natural Context, Rachael Gabrelcik, Kathryn Jensen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Eating disorders (EDs) have the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition for all ages (Watt & Dickens, 2018). Eating disorders are particularly deadly in adolescents with 1.8% of adolescents dying and 17% remaining unwell long term (Beukers, Berends, de Man‐van Ginkel, van Elburg, & van Meijel, 2015). Carter et al. (2012) expressed that specialized intensive treatment for AN often produces successful responses to treatment, but the significant rate of relapse suggests that acute inpatient/day treatment alone may not be adequate to result in long lasting behavioral changes to maintain normal weight and symptom abstinence once the external structure …

Finding Your Fire A Group Therapy Manual Designed For Women Who Experience Ptsd From Sexual Violence, Brittanie Schafer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Studies have shown that sexual violence affects approximately 17.7 million women annually (RAINN, 2019). Many of these women lead busy lives, often balancing the roles set upon them by jobs and families. With this in mind, many women believe that they do not have the time to attend therapy or that their other roles in their lives are more important. Some women still do not have the confidence to go to therapy out of the fear of reliving the trauma, experiencing embarrassment, and/or coping with low self-esteem (Keefe, Wiltsey Stirman, Cohen, DeRubeis, Smith, & Resick, 2018). Occupational therapists have …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy With The Foster Care System: Implementation Of Routine Screening Procedures, Sydney Gayton, Hannah Merges

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Children in foster care are considered an at-risk population for developmental delays, due to their life experiences (Fraser et al., 2017; Jacobsen et al., 2013; Mueller et al., 2010; Oral et al., 2016; Ryan et al., 2017; Wade et al., 2017). The purpose of this scholarly project was to identify the needs of these children specifically in the regions of the University of North Dakota’s Occupational Therapy Program’s campuses. The campuses are located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Casper, Wyoming. Currently, there is an increase of children entering the foster care systems in ND and WY (Casey Family …

An Allen's Cognitive Levels Training Program For More Comprehensive Interprofessional Care, Ashton Hudspeth, Colton Peltier

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this product was to create a quick reference guide with a corresponding in-service training to be used by the treatment team within the physical rehabilitative settings in order to address comorbid cognitive diagnoses in a consistent manner.

• 10-30% of all new hospital admissions have been estimated to experience delirium, or a disruption in the person's cognitive abilities (Ahmed, Leurent, & Sampson, 2014)
• Individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment had a 17-39% increase in the rate of hospitalizations (Callahan et al., 2015)
• 20-60% of clients who receive anesthesia for surgery experience delirium or some residual cognitive deficit …

A Holistic And Proactive Approach For Preparing Occupational Therapy Practitioners To Combat Compassion Fatigue, Olivia Kack, Mimi Yunker

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose

Occupational therapy is a unique profession working with individuals across the lifespan to overcome adversity and increase overall quality of life. Of the many settings where occupational therapists can work, 93% work in direct-patient care (AOTA, "Work Setting Trends for Occupational Therapy: How to Choose a Setting"). These settings are high demand in nature and require large quantities of time, energy, empathy, and compassion. Continuous use of empathy and compassion daily creates a risk for developing compassion fatigue among healthcare providers. Unfortunately, there currently appears to be a disjunction in occupational therapy literature related to compassion fatigue in occupational …

The Utility Of Smart Home Technology Within Occupational Therapy Practice, Kylie Walthers, Jessie Zimmer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore occupational therapist practitioners’ (OTPs) utility of smart home technology (SHT) in their practice, as well as to inquire into the facilitators and barriers of utilization of smart home technology within the practice of occupational therapy.

Methodology: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, ND. A quantitative, descriptive research design utilizing survey methodology was used. Recruitment was conducted through purposive and convenience sampling. A 30-question Qualtrics survey was distributed to participants via social media and internet pages (OT4OT; AT4OT; CommunOT; …

Creating Inclusive And Culturally Competent Healthcare For The Lgbtq+ Community: A Curriculum, Caelin Hansen, Jordyn Himley

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc. (LGBTQ+) population is growing in America and in recent years has shown an increase in equal rights and societal acceptance (Newport, 2018). However, despite the positive changes that have been made, the LGBTQ population is still underserved in healthcare and faces health disparities (Dean, Victor, & Grimes, 2016; Institute of Medicine, 2011). This may be due to the fact that medical professionals receive little to no education regarding LGBTQ care, which can result in misconceptions, discomfort, and use of microaggressions towards the population. (Beagan, Chiasson, Fiske, Forseth, Hosein, Myers, & Stang, 2013; Utamsingh, …

Operationalizing Leisure As A Therapeutic Modality In Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Web-Based Resource, Elizabeth Hauck, Summer Miller

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose

Residents in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are experiencing depression and occupational deprivation and have limited opportunities to engage in meaningful activities (Causey-Upton, 2015). The purpose of this scholarly project is to address the health, well-being, and quality of life of residents in SNFs by creating an evidence-based, model-driven, accessible resource for occupational therapy (OT) practitioners to promote the use of occupation-based interventions using leisure as a therapeutic modality.

Methodology

The results of a thorough literature review supported the need for a resource for OT practitioners. Literature supporting engagement in occupation-based interventions, especially leisure, to enhance physical, mental, and emotional …

Occupational Gearing For Child Rearing: Occupational Therapy’S Role In Helping New Mothers Succeed After Giving Birth, Alana Grabarkewitz, Lydia Swanson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to provide occupational therapists with access to an educational website that helps fill the current gaps in care for mothers and advocates for the occupational therapy profession to contribute to a mother’s care team.

A substantial literature review was completed to gather information about difficulties mothers encounter and how occupational therapy can assist mothers with the difficulties. To find reliable and trustworthy information on what issues and conditions a mother may experience and how occupational therapy can help mothers, various search engines were used. The findings from the literature review were used to …

Occupational Therapy Based Resource Designed For Caregivers Of Children In The Foster Care System, Courtney Haugen, Brianna Mcnelly

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Abstract: In 2018, 687,345 foster care children were placed into the foster care system (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). The foster care system is a complex, diverse system that continues to witness an increasing need for foster parents to support and provide for children placed in foster care. Foster parents present as an underserved population that requires education to navigate the child welfare system and develop and utilize skills to appropriately address the barriers and stressors encountered daily in their role as a foster parent. A literature review was conducted and found multiple resources for assisting foster …

Exploring A Best-Practice Approach For Preventing Challenging Behavior In Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Mckenzie Ramsey Gehring, Kimberly Harmelink

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose This scholarly project was created to provide pediatric occupational therapists with a best-practice approach to address challenging behavior by focusing on its prevention while establishing consistency throughout the clinic.

Methodology An extensive literature review was performed using eight search databases and combinations of six primary search terms as well as original works by key scholars and researchers. The results of this literature review suggested the need for a best-practice approach to both protect occupational therapists and their clients during interventions related to challenging behavior and to provide guidance as to how to format a consistent approach toward challenging behavior …

Home: Home Occupations For Mainstay Elders, Marissa Jahnke, Alyana Marie Louisse Simpron

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: According to the National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA), at least one-fourth of Native American Elders experienced a fall at least once in the past year (Adamsen, 2018). Based on a consult review of the NRCNAA’s fall prevention program, the participants demonstrated limited follow through with the physical exercises because the recommendations were not culturally meaningful. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a safe mobility program for Elders.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using the PEOP model and the Native American medicine wheel to identify fall risk factors, outline current fall risk assessments …

Hand Therapy Outcomes: Therapists’ Perceptions Of Occupation-Based Interventions In Practice, Cheyenne Hanson, Molly Maudal

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: It is well known that hand therapists frequently use biomechanical-based interventions in their treatment of upper extremity injuries and pathologies. There is a push to return to the occupational therapy profession’s roots of occupation-based practice, which has recently been further reinforced with the introduction of the American Occupational Therapy’s (AOTA) Choosing WiselyⓇ Initiative (Gillen et al., 2019). Hand therapy is one area in which occupation-based practice could become more prevalent. This study will enhance the existing research on occupation-based hand therapy through the use of focus group interviews with occupational therapists who have a majority of their caseload classified …

Occupational Therapy Best Practice Addressing Anxiety-Related Behaviors: Extending Strategies Into The Classroom, Hannah Burks, Kristen Kilian-Weides

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to develop a product, created by occupational therapists, for teachers and support staff that offers behavioral management strategies for students demonstrating anxiety related behaviors in the classroom. Research conducted by Nash, Schlösser, and Scarr (2016) revealed that teachers reported feeling underprepared to not only identify anxiety presenting in the classroom, but also to manage these disruptive behaviors resulting from anxiety. Thus, the product, titled Tips for Teachers, was developed to address this need and to increase collaboration between occupational therapists, teachers, and support staff.

The hierarchical approach utilized in the current behavioral management system …

Home In Place: An Activities Of Daily Living Resource Guide For Informal Caregivers Caring For Their Loved One With Dementia, Justine Flattum, Nora Stevenson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

There are over 70 million people in the Baby-Boomer generation that are progressing in age (Dupuis-Blanchard et al., 2015). It is imperative that healthcare providers consider the needs of this growing population. Home in Place is a resource guide that has been created for occupational therapists to distribute to informal caregivers of older adults with dementia. This original guide is intended to be introduced by occupational therapists working in hospitals or outpatient clinics where an individual with dementia is being discharged home and caregiver education is necessary. Although this guide is intended to promote aging in place, it can also …

Upper Extremity Orthopedic & Neurological Issues, An Exploratory Study Focusing On Protective & Preventative Strategies Using Practicing Occupational Therapists, Megan Klein, Shaina Simonson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the frequencies of injuries, causes, and protective and preventative strategies for practicing occupational therapists when working with upper extremity injuries. There has been limited research pertaining specifically to work-related injuries among practicing occupational therapists in upper extremity rehabilitation has been done. For this study, researchers examined the prevalence of occupational injury, pain, risk factors, and prevention strategies among practicing upper extremity occupational therapists.

Methodology: An exploratory survey research design was implemented following approval from the University of North Dakota (UND) Institutional Review Board on August 14, 2019. Potential occupational therapists were …

Addressing The Occupational Needs Of Children With Post Traumatic Brain Injury In The School Setting, Reghan Boldt, Madisyn Rick

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: The purpose of this project was to develop a guide for occupational therapy practitioners to use in the school setting for elementary-age children with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), to increase services for these children, and to improve their back to school transition process.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted to understand the needs and barriers of elementary-age children who transition back to the school setting after experiencing a mTBI. Sources used in the process include online databases, textbooks, and government websites. The Person, Occupation, and Environment (PEO) model by Law and colleagues (1996) was selected to direct the …

Looking Beyond The User: An Occupationally Supportive Training For Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren In The Opioid Crisis, Jenna Marton, Kaitlyn Stewart

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The U.S. opioid crisis impacts families everywhere, cutting across all racial, urban and rural lines (Chan & Trant, 2018). Parental opioid-related overdose was attributed as one of the primary causes for the rise of children entering state custody and foster care from 1999 to 2016 (Haffajee & Frank, 2018). Therefore, more relatives are raising these children due to the unforeseen circumstances associated with opioid misuse, and it is often the grandparents who assume the primary caregiving role. According to Ellis and Simmons (2014), there are approximately 2.7 million grandparent caregivers or those who have primary responsibility for grandchildren under 18 …

Critically Appraised Topic: Evidence For Mindfulness Therapies For Veterans With Ptsd, Hayley Blom, Julie Juracich, Sydnie Merriman

Critically Appraised Topics

The purpose of this critically appraised topic (CAT) is to explore the effectiveness of mindfulness therapies to assist veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with symptom management. Assisting veterans to purposely engage in rest, health management and social participation are areas of occupation that will increase overall quality of life, as these occupations are negatively impacted by PTSD symptoms (American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 2010; Barr, Davis, Diguiseppi, Keeling & Castro, 2019; Beck et al., 2017; Bormann et al., 2018; Cole et al., 2015; Cuellar, 2008; Cushing, Braun, Alden, Katz & Alden, 2018; Marchand, Yabko, Herrmann, Curtis, & Lackner, …