Digital Commons Network^™

Military Combat Veterans, Sentencing Reform, And Problem-Solving Courts, Andrea Sivanich

Theses and Dissertations

Military veterans involved with the criminal justice system may have unique behavioral health and physical needs, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and could benefit from sentence mitigation that emphasizes rehabilitation. This research is related to sentencing reform and how it may support problem-solving court sentencing, as a subset of community-based treatment options within the criminal justice system. This research is important in that it attempts to determine whether the law distinguishes veteran offenders, as a specific population, from other offenders with treatment needs. To do that, this dissertation examines the role of legal texts in …

A Group-Protocol: Returning To Life Post Breast Cancer Treatment, Janice Finley, Ashley Timm

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to design a group protocol to assist breast cancer survivors living in the community to address unmet physical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs. There are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors within the United States today (American Cancer Society, n.d.). A cancer survivor's performance in meaningful occupations and roles need to be addressed as they learn to live with the long-term physical and psychosocial effects of treatments such as self-confidence and pain management (Burg et al., 2015; Kim, Kim, & Han, 2020). There is a lack of occupational therapy services for individuals diagnosed with …

Parental Caregiver Guide For An Adolescent With Down Syndrome: Transitioning Out Of High School, Kalindi Rachey, Hailey Johnson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The current literature revealed a need to address the establishment, organization, and application of primary health care as well as support programs for parental caregivers of adolescents with Down syndrome, especially during the transition period out of high school (Barros, Barros, Barros, & Santos, 2017). Providing information, resources, and support to parental caregivers of adolescents with Down syndrome and health care professionals, such as occupational therapists, can help alleviate caregiver burden and promote the parents’ quality of life. Occupational therapists can play an important role during the post-secondary transition period for adolescents with Down syndrome by assisting them in …

Addressing Sexual Intimacy Post-Spinal Cord Injury With Clients And Their Significant Other, Michelle Arnhalt, Taylor Beatty

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Discussing sexual participation with a client who has experienced a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be a critical component to addressing their overall occupational needs during the rehabilitation process. Literature has shown that education on sexual intimacy following their injury is often neglected during therapy due to the sensitive nature of the topic (Federici, Artegianai, Pigliautile, Antonelli, Diotallevi, Ritacco, & Maschke, 2019; Hess & Hough, 2012; Walker, Otte, LeMond, Hess, Kaizer, Faulkner, & Christy, 2020). Overlooking the topic of sexual intimacy during the client’s rehabilitation process can impact the client psychologically by decreasing their self-esteem and confidence, their desire to …

Prevention Of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Individuals Utilizing A Home Computer Workstation, Dalton Fetsch, Jonah Kratochvil

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive educational guide for office workers and students who utilize a home computer workstation for a majority of their day utilizing current evidence. This guide is intended to help prevent the onset of MSDs that often occur due to improper ergonomic positioning and limited resources when utilizing home computer workstations

Broadening The Role Of Occupational Therapists Within The Icu Setting: An Occupation-Based Toolkit, Roxana Chirinos, Carly Derouin

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create a quick intervention toolkit for occupational therapists treating clients in the intensive care unit (ICU) in order to increase occupation-based services, quality of care, and improve client outcomes. Additionally, this project hopes to enlighten occupational therapists who may experience burnout while providing services within such an intensive setting.

Creating Sense Of It: An In-Service To Address Military Students Experiencing Sensory Deficits, Danielle Cox, Katelyn Jennings

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Life for military children is challenging as they are exposed to various experiences that may have adverse effects. There is an unprecedented need for additional resources regarding sensory deficits in military children to provide more insight into the challenges faced by this population as well as to increase awareness and support for the demands placed upon children in military families. The purpose of this project is to provide information to educators regarding added sensory challenges faced by military students as well as to increase awareness and support for the demands placed upon these children.

Occupational Therapy For Pregnant Women: An Ergonomics Program For First-Time Mothers, Kaitlyn Berglund, Brianna Peterman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

This scholarly project, Occupational Therapy for Pregnant Women: An Ergonomics Program for First-Time Mothers, provides occupational therapy practitioners with a 3-session group protocol to address ergonomic concerns of pregnancy and new motherhood with pregnant women who are becoming mothers for the first time. These ergonomic concerns are addressed as they specifically relate to the occupations of the clients. Through an extensive literature review, it was found that there is limited research and programming specific to occupational therapy’s role in providing services to pregnant women and new mothers. Ergonomic programming for pregnant women that was previously available did not address occupations …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Promoting Employment Outcomes With Individuals Diagnosed With A Serious Mental Illness, Lexie Coalwell, Allison Moran

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to enhance occupational therapy (OT) practitioners’ and other healthcare professionals’ knowledge on the essential role OT plays in promoting employment outcomes among individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI).

Increasing Quality Of Life And Occupational Performance: A Treatment Protocol For Military Burn Patients And Their Families, Emma Chafin, Jessica Lambert

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a treatment protocol to address the challenges that can affect quality of life and occupational performance of military burn patients and their families. Occupational therapy can offer skilled treatment to help facilitate a successful transition back into civilian life after sustaining a lifealtering combat wound.

The Occupational Therapy Guide For Enabling Meaningful Social Participation Post-Tbi, Vanessa Johnson, Hope Nelson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a guide for occupational therapists to enable meaningful social participation throughout the rehabilitation phases with adults who have sustained a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Guide discusses and presents assessments and interventions recommended for each phase of the rehabilitation process.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Developing Social Skills For Adolescents With Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Rachel Grubb, Amira Ragab

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a group protocol for occupational therapy practitioners to provide skilled mental health services to adolescents experiencing complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) due to domestic violence.

Increasing Participation In Meaningful Occupations For Disabled Veterans Through The Promotion Of Spirituality: An Intervention Resource Manual For Occupational Therapists., Tristen Smith, Audrya Tarango

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Veterans with psychological disorders may experience a combination of deficits that decrease their ability to engage in meaningful activities (Speicher, Walter, & Chard, 2014). Increasing the well-being and quality of life for veterans is an optimal opportunity for the OT profession to assert its distinct value in addressing the mental health needs of veterans through the enhancement of spirituality. The inclusion of spirituality in interventions are beneficial when alleviating symptoms of a physical and mental capacity, reestablishing beliefs, values, moral code, and relationships with self and the transcendent (Brémault-Phillips et al., 2019).

Occupational Therapy Joining Bariatric Care Teams: A Web-Based Resource, Annabelle Tarnowski, Rylee Skyberg

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose

Despite the overall positive physical and mental health results patients obtain following bariatric surgery, some individuals still experience significant negative health challenges postoperatively. Researchers have asserted that the psychosocial concerns of patients that undergo bariatric surgery are not being properly addressed prior to surgery; therefore, patients are not appropriately equipped with strategies or follow-up care to promote continued weight loss and increase quality of life post-operatively (Kalarchian & Marcus, 2019). Patients who undergo bariatric surgery have experienced maladaptive eating, substance abuse, suicide and self-harm at an increased rate (Kalarchian & Marcus, 2019; Sarwer & Heinberg, 2020). Additionally, occupational therapy …

A Practitioner's Guide: Using The Cognitive Performance Test To Increase Independent Living Skills For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Alycia Peacock, Grace Spanos

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) have the desire to live as independently as possible (Gragoudas, 2014). There are a number of barriers that impact living independently including the ability to complete self-care tasks, money management, home management, and health management (Bond & Hurst, 2010). Other barriers reported for individuals with ID include relationships with caregivers, living alone, and vulnerability (Bond & Hurst, 2010). Research identifies that it is difficult to determine the amount of support needed to promote independence in individuals with ID (Francis & Reed, 2019). Occupational therapists (OTs) possess a unique skillset to assist clients with ID …

Youth Mental Health Community Based Ot Intervention Guide: Putting The Pieces Back Together, Bailey Schumacher, Meaghan Wolfgram

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Each year, approximately half a million youth are brought to juvenile detention centers. Based on these statistics, 26,000 children are detained each day (Holman & Ziedenber, 2006). Many children and youth who encounter the juvenile justice system have past experiences of exposure to trauma and mental health illnesses. When these are overlooked or neglected, this may lead to worsening mental health and longstanding involvement within the criminal justice system. For young people, action of prevention to keep them in school and in the community is key: kids should not be in jail in the first place, especially not as …

Coffee With Farmers, Ivy Steiger, Kelsey Sherry

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The farming community is an underserved population in health care and historically there has been a lack of recognition of the psychosocial stress farmers endure. There is a lack of programming for addressing farmers’ psychosocial stress and mental health, specifically within the field of occupational therapy. The overall purpose of this independent study was to explore the role occupational therapy has within the farming community and develop a program that can be implemented to address psychosocial health with this population.

Test-Retest Reliabilities Of Four Tactic-First Sexual Violence History Questionnaires, Raeann E. Anderson, Monica A. Garcia, Douglas L. Delahanty

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: The present study documented, compared, and contrasted the test-retest reliabilities of the victimization and perpetration forms of a Tactic-first Sexual Experiences Survey (T-SESs) and the PostRefusal Sexual Persistence Scale (PRSPSs).

Methods: 243 Mechanical Turk workers (116 women, 124 men) completed four questionnaires in a randomized order via an anonymous web survey at Time 1 and approximately one week later at Time 2.

Results: There were consistent gender differences in test-retest estimates. When assessing a history of victimization in women, both the T-SES and the PRSPS demonstrated evidence of minimal to good reliability (κ > .61, ICC = …

Post-Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Interventions And Their Relationship To Social Involvement And Quality Of Life For Middle-Aged Women, Abby Bauman, Jenna Holm, Sarah Zuelzke

Critically Appraised Topics

In the United States, statistics have shown that there is a one in eight percent chance that a woman will develop breast cancer sometime throughout their life, and it is estimated that there will be 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in women in the year 2021 (American Cancer Society, 2021). One in five of the women who survive breast cancer will develop lymphedema within the initial three years following their breast cancer treatment (American College of Surgeons, 2013; DiSipio et al., 2013). Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive condition that is defined by the abnormal swelling caused …

Decreasing Suicidal Risks Among Military Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Or Major Depression, Manpreet K. Sheabat

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Suicide is a major cause of death in US. Military personnel are at a higher risk of committing suicide compared to the general population. The risk is exacerbated by Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and major depression.

• Few reviews have explored the effects of the recommended psychotherapeutic interventions on suicidal ideations and suicide rates for these two disorders, focusing on the veteran population. To address this, a literature search was performed through electronic databases to identify appropriate journal articles.

• Treatment with CPT and PE for PTSD has been found effective in decreasing suicidal thoughts, intents, and attempts. On the …

Utilizing A Community-Based Core Approach To Foster Occupational Engagement In Individuals With Mental Health Conditions Within Rural Communities, Anne Domanus, Melanie Martinez, Sheena Miller

Critically Appraised Topics

“Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness,” which was approximately 51.1 million people in 2019 (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021, para. 1). This is an important issue within the country; however, it is not widely talked about, especially in rural areas. Research has shown that the prevalence of mental health conditions is consistent across urban and rural areas, but the stigma that surrounds mental health conditions is worse within rural communities (Thorne & Ebener, 2020). This has been attributed to the lack of access to resources, lack of knowledge about resources and mental health conditions …

A Guide For Occupational Therapist Working With Women With Postpartum Depression And Eating Disorders, Nathina Crabtree, Sara Gregoire

Occupational Therapy Capstones

An eating disorder (ED) is characterized by regular and constant disturbances in eating or an eating-related behavior that are associated with distress and impairments (Marcus, 2018). Schmidt et al., (2016), noted that the average duration of an ED illness is six years and young women make up the majority of people with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). According to Knoph et al., (2013) the majority of women with AN and BN that were pregnant appeared to turn to adaptive changes in eating behaviors. The researchers in the article by Knoph et al., (2013) found that pregnancy is a …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Addressing Mental Health Needs In Middle Schoolers, Taylor Anderson, Emily Annen, Seira Dick

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Adolescence is a period of time filled with many transitions. The transition from elementary to middle school comes with new academic, social, and environmental demands. Currently, adolescents often lack the skills and the support necessary to cope with these demands, leading to an increase in mental health challenges (Moksnes, Lohre, Lillefiell, Byrne, & Haugen, 2016). While there are many school-based interventions designed to support students throughout this difficult transition, many environmental barriers exist which prevent the effective implementation of these interventions. One category of barriers is the lack of school resources. Although there is significant positive research on social emotional …

Creating An Adaptive In-School Sports Program To Increase Occupational Engagement And Performance In Children With Physical Disabilities: A Resource Manual For Occupational Therapists, Bethany Kasberger, Kaylee Loken

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Participating in physical activity, including sports programs, has been found to have many positive health benefits both physically and mentally (Moss, Lim, K, Prunty, & Norris, 2020). The purpose of creating adaptive sports programs within schools is to promote engagement in physical activity and achieve the many benefits that sports programs have to offer. Children with and without physical disabilities should have equal access to these benefits for appropriate development. Enabling individuals with physical disabilities to participate in sports can assist in improving their overall quality of life and begin building skills that will benefit them in adulthood.

Americans Support For Renewable Energy Is Disconnected From Their Understanding Of Powerline Infrastructure As A Mechanism To Mitigate Climate Change, Rebecca J. Romsdahl, Christopher J. Felege, Joshua E. Hunter, Cheryl Hunter, Susan N. Ellis-Felege

Earth System Science and Policy Faculty Publications

As nations are transitioning to renewable energy sources, they will need to expand and upgrade their energy infrastructure, including high-voltage power lines (HVPL). We have conducted the first nation-wide survey in the last thirty years to assess public attitudes toward HVPL in the USA. The study evaluates perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes toward building new transmission lines, as these relate to renewable energy, place attachment, and environmental impacts. Our results show that Americans do not recognize how new HVPL could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions; instead, respondents favor moving from centralized energy (large power stations and HVPL) to decentralized energy (local …

Impact Of Social Skills Groups On School Aged Children With Emotional Disturbance, Stephanie Coauette, Kaitlyn Ekre, Benjamin Stagg

Critically Appraised Topics

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (U.S. Department of Education, 2017, Sec. 300.8), emotional disturbance is defined as a condition in which there are one or more of the following symptoms that interferes with a child’s ability perform successfully in their education: “An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors, an inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers, inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances, a general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression, and a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal …

Evidence For The Use Of Health Promotion Programs In Schools, Anna Burggraf, Kathryn College, Taylor White

Critically Appraised Topics

Health promotion is defined as “a process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health” (Scaffa, 2019, p. 442). Promotion of health is a common goal that is shared by numerous disciplines (Reitz & Graham, 2019). Health promotion directed towards occupational therapy is the “client-centered use of occupations, adaptations to context, or alteration of context to maximize individuals’, families’, communities’, and groups’ pursuit of health and quality of life” (Reitz & Graham, 2019). Health promotion is essential for all age groups, especially for young children who are completing their beginning years of school. Children’s thoughts, behaviors, …

Assessing The Relationships Between Organizational Management Factors (4ps) And A Resilient Safety Culture In A Collegiate Aviation Program With A Safety Management Systems (Sms), Daniel Kwasi Adjekum

Aviation Faculty Publications

Resilient safety culture is a key factor in sustaining safety management systems (SMS) in a U.S. collegiate aviation program. The relationships between four organizational management factors (Principles, Policy, Procedures, Practices) and a resilient safety culture model based on Reason’s concept was assessed using an online survey instrument. Structural Equation Model (SEM) technique were used to assess measurement models of factors underlying a resilient safety culture. All four management factors had significant predictive relationship with resilient safety culture. Practices had the weakest predictive relationship with resilient safety culture and Policy had the highest. Procedures strongly mediated path between Policies and Practices …

The Use Of Sensory Processing Interventions To Improve Academics And Social Participation For Adolescents With Trauma, Michayla Burckhard, Austin Ellis, Michael Helgeson

Critically Appraised Topics

Childhood and adolescent trauma are defined as psychological, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as household dysfunctions that include substance abuse, criminal history, mental illness, and witnessing violence or abuse against a parent (Felitti et al., 1998; Noel-London et al., 2021). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a form of trauma for those under the age of 18 involving neglect and abuse (Elmore & Crouch, 2020). ACEs have been shown to have a lasting impact on an individual’s life, including violence, behavioral disorders, and mental health disorders (Noel-London et al., 2021; Sigurvinsdottir et al., 2021). ACEs and trauma can impact all …

Integrating Assistive Technology Into Outpatient Rehabilitation Programs To Increase Independent Living In Older Adults: A Critically Appraised Topic (Cat), Josie Anhorn, Kenadee Eyre, Tiana Griffith

Critically Appraised Topics

In the United States, older adults account for about “16% of the population” (Administration on Aging, 2020, p.5). Older adults are defined as anyone aged 60 and older. There has been a steady increase in the number of older adults living in the United States, and that number is expected to continue growing at a rapid rate as it is predicted that by 2040, older adults will make up approximately “21.6% of the population” (Administration on Aging, 2020, p. 5-6). The majority of this population does not reside in assisted living facilities or nursing homes but instead lives in the …