Digital Commons Network^™

Gender As Occupation: The "Doing" Of Authentic Expression And Reciprocally Affirming Care For Transgender Individuals, Annie Derolf, Johnna Belkiewitz, Sally Wasmuth

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The current predominant view of gender as binary, alongside limited training of affirmative care practices, is severely and negatively impacting transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. This paper urges the re-conceptualization of gender as an occupation, suggesting that gender is a doing that allows for positive identity development, roles, habits, and routines. Doing gender facilitates meaning-making and the ability to engage in other occupations. However, occupational injustices rooted in discrimination, stigma, and/or implicit biases impede TGD people’s ability to engage in the doing of gender and other occupations. Articulation of conceptual guidelines and interventions to support TGD people’s ability to …

Crawling Out From Under: A Physical Therapist’S Celebration Of The Power Of Occupational Therapy, Natalie N. Michaels

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Isaacs’ syndrome, also known as Acquired Neuromyotonia, is a rare condition caused by continuous firing of the motor units, leading to twitching muscles and cramping that will persist even during sleep. The medical treatment of Isaacs’ syndrome is nondescript and arbitrary. Because of the rare incidence of the disorder, very few studies have been conducted to help determine the appropriate intervention for individuals with this affliction. This paper is a narrative case-study that offers a first-person account of a physical therapist with Isaacs’ syndrome and her journey through rehabilitation with her occupational therapist. The progress of this individual over time …

Aging In Place: Key Occupational Therapy Collaborators, Shivani B. Vij

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

A New Opportunity For Occupational Therapists To Open Cases In Home Health, Amy Oselio, Bryan M. Gee, Kimberly Lloyd

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

As of January 1, 2022, licensed occupational therapists have the permanent ability to open home health cases for the first time since 1999. This ability creates opportunities for occupational therapists to case-manage in the home health setting and showcase the benefits of occupation-based interventions for their clients. Further, occupation-based interventions create opportunities to establish aging-in-place and other cost-saving strategies. Occupational therapists will need to inform their home health agencies about this new ability, emphasizing the benefits of a more substantial presence in home health episodes of care. They will also need to develop new skills in the admission process or …

Use Of Formal And Informal Strategies To Manage Stress During Level Ii Occupational Therapy Fieldwork, Ryan Thomure

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Stress may play a role in the performance of occupational therapy students during Level II fieldwork, but little research exists regarding the causes of stress or the stress management strategies students use. The objective of this study was to determine factors that contribute to fieldwork-related stress and strategies students use to manage that stress on Level II fieldwork.

Students or recent graduates of occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant programs who completed at least one Level II fieldwork experience in the previous 36 months were eligible to participate. An online survey was distributed to participants through snowball sampling. The participants …

Application Of A Model Of Family-Centered Harm Reduction In Community-Based Programming, Johnna Belkiewitz, Victoria G. Wilburn, Sydney Larson, Kate Schrader

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Coupling high substance use disorder rates with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation faces a growing mental health crisis and a shortage of adequately trained mental and behavioral health providers. As occupational therapists work toward recognition as qualified providers in this practice area, we must ensure that future therapists can meet client needs. Traditional mental and behavioral health educational practices in occupational therapy use a model of harm reduction that minimizes negative outcomes for a select subset of the population engaging in specific “high-risk” behaviors, such as individuals engaging in substance use and sexual activity. Expanding our understanding …

Intraprofessional Conversations Begin In The Classroom: An Exploratory Study Of An Occupational Therapist And Occupational Therapy Assistant Joint Class, Patricia Gentile, Michele Mills, Tsu-Hsin Howe

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Effective occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant partnerships are essential for the provision of quality patient care and satisfactory intraprofessional working relationships. Providing OT and OTA students with collaborative educational experiences can enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of each other’s roles, as well as set the groundwork for successful future work experiences.

This project describes the experience of a graduate OT master’s degree program and an associate degree OTA program in a northeastern metropolitan city. Faculty from both programs worked together to design and implement a collaborative learning experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, conducted via Zoom.

The purpose of this …

Addressing The Long-Term Influence Of Neurotrauma On Self-Concept And Self-Identity Development: A Pilot Study, Alyse C. Giallorenzo, Brittany C. Adams, Jessica M. Winter

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Numerous neurotrauma survivors face lifelong disability post injury as a result of an event, yet there are limited specialized continued care services to support future outcomes, specifically self-concept, self-identity, and quality of life. To reduce health care barriers and support health promotion post injury, student researchers explored the influence of a community-based occupational therapy (OT) program for the neurotrauma population.

Methods: Four participants, 37 to 58 years of age, with a history of neurotrauma, participated in a mixed methods study composed of a 6-week community-based educational OT program. Outcome measures included Activity Card Sort, Lawton Brody Scale, …

Physicians' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Practice, Shivani B. Vij

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapy (OT) is a client-centered profession vital to an interdisciplinary team. Despite its importance, medical providers have limited knowledge and understanding of OT's scope of practice. This can lead to limited referrals, ineffective teamwork, inefficient therapeutic outcomes, limited OT practice scope, and consumer access to OT services. This study explored physicians' knowledge and understanding of OT to find opportunities and strategies for education and knowledge sharing to improve awareness of OT practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Method: A descriptive online survey was conducted for physicians in a Virginia suburban hospital to obtain knowledge and perception about OT …

Exploration Of Occupational Therapy Practice For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders In The Dominican Republic, Katherine Lally, Michelle Messer, Vanessa D. Jewell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: To better understand the current practice trends of ASD treatment globally and promote practitioner collaboration, it is important to complete studies in countries where little is known about the diagnosis and treatment of ASD through an occupational lens. The aim of this study was to gain an insight into how occupational therapists in the Dominican Republic evaluate and treat children diagnosed with ASD.

Method: This qualitative descriptive study explored the perception of occupational therapists (n = 6) and caregivers of children with ASD (n = 28) through a questionnaire and focus group. Interview transcripts and questionnaire text …

Connected Rhythm: A Scoping Review Of Therapeutic Drumming As An Intervention For Autistic Individuals, Zahava L. Friedman, Jorge Ochoa, Dina Prisco, Francine M. Seruya

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurologically-based developmental disorder representing a subdomain of neurodivergence. Occupational therapy intervention for ASD typically incorporates sensory modalities, addressing a multitude of challenges, including mental health outcomes. This scoping review analyzes available evidence of the sensory-based intervention of therapeutic drumming (TD) to improve mental health in autistic clients.

Method: Following the Johanna Briggs methodological framework, Proquest, Ebsco, Scopus and OTseeker databases were searched with the key and related words of “autism,” “therapeutic drumming,” and “mental health,” yielding 448 articles. After removal of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, seventeen articles were included …

Exploring The Use Of Ecological Momentary Assessment Within A Telehealth Intervention For Families Of Children With Autism, Anna Wallisch, Lauren Little, Allison Wainer, Winnie Dunn

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure parent self-efficacy and stress throughout a 9-week occupation-based coaching telehealth intervention for families of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Methods. The participants included seven families of children with ASD 2 to 6 years of age. The parents were sent emails to gather EMA measures weekly during the intervention. We used percentages to examine response rates to EMA surveys and a mixed-model regression to examine changes in parent-self efficacy and stress during the intervention.

Results. The parents responded to …

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’ …

Providing Personalized Interest-Based Activities To Prevent Delirium: A Multicomponent Quality Improvement Initiative In An Acute Care Setting, Qianwen Liu, Elena V. Donoso Brown, Shauni Johnson, Autumn Moss-Corcoran

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Hospital-induced delirium is a prevalent condition across inpatient settings, frequently impacting older adults’ recovery. A 10-week multi-component quality improvement (QI) project was designed for an existing delirium prevention program in four acute care units, aiming to support patient and caregiver engagement in delirium prevention activities.

Method: The participants were hospitalized adults who were 70 years of age and older and met specific inclusion criteria. The project provided personalized interest-based activities, orientation stimulation, and caregiver education. An abbreviated version of the Modified Interest Checklist was used to identify the participants’ activity choices. Activity daily logs, satisfaction survey, and …

Thermoplastic Material Selection And Barriers To Custom Orthotic Fabrication: A Survey Of Occupational And Physical Therapists, Priya Bakshi, Daisy Castillo, Heidi Mitchener, Zoee Lagerhausen, Lauren Paisley, Amanda Quinlivan, Brandi Andreae

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: There is limited literature regarding therapists’ selection of thermoplastic material since the 1990s and less is known about the challenges of custom orthotic fabrication.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was designed and distributed to members of the American Society of Hand Therapists in August 2021. The survey included closed-ended questions with option for free-text comments. Descriptive statistics and content analysis was used to analyze categorical data and free-text comments, respectively.

Results: The responses of 333 therapists were included in the study. Drapability, thickness, and rigidity were the main properties the therapists considered when selecting thermoplastic material (82.9%; …

Examining The Delivery Mode Of Mental Practice In Reducing Hemiparesis: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Teresa M. Green, Nicole M. Fromm, Farida Sita Gayle, Jinna Lee, Wanyi Wang, Asha K. Vas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Mental Practice (MP) is an effective intervention to address upper extremity (UE) hemiparesis post-stroke. However, parameters for the delivery mode of MP have not been defined. Therefore, this study's purpose was to define delivery mode parameters by comparing the effectiveness of audio-guided and video-guided MP.

Method: Eighteen participants, < 1-month post-stroke, with UE hemiparesis were randomized to a MP, repetitive task practice (RTP) or control group. The MP groups performed audio-guided or video-guided MP, 5x/week. The RTP group physically performed the functional tasks. The control group received traditional stroke rehabilitation. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) were used to assess change in UE hemiparesis.

Results: Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrated audio MP increased FMA-UE scores from pretest (Mdn = 34.0, Mean = 34.0, SD =9.56) to posttest (Mdn = 49.0, Mean = 49.6, SD =7.5), p = .042, r = .64. Similar improvement in FMA-UE scores was found with traditional therapy. Audio MP decreased WMFT …

Occupational Therapist And Occupational Therapy Assistant: We Are Proud Of These Titles, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Interprofessional Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy And Applied Behavior Analysis, Elizabeth Fairchild

Honors Theses

The fields of Occupational Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis are currently two of the most common treatment approaches for children with autism spectrum disorder. Unfortunately, a lack of understanding and mutual respect between the fields has led to poor interprofessional collaboration among professionals in each practice area, negatively impacting client outcomes. While both fields differ greatly in treatment approaches, collaboration is crucial between practitioners as they address similar skills in a child with autism spectrum disorder. Interprofessional collaboration can allow practitioners to share their individualized background and lens with another field in order to mutually address client goals. This project …

Examining Guided Reading Practices In Kindergarten Classrooms, Erica Barnes, Kimberly L. Anderson, Thea Yurkewecz

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This study investigated how 15 kindergarten teachers from one school district implemented small-group Guided Reading (GR). Analysis of video recordings indicates substantial differences in how GR was conducted, with none of the teachers fully implementing GR as conceptualized by Fountas and Pinnell (2012). Consistency across teachers was limited to reading a new book and using a picture walk as part of the book introduction. Differences were observed in how the books were read (choral, round robin, or independent reading) and in instructional activities before and after reading the new book, with word solving being the most prevalent focus of instruction. …

Coaching High School English Teachers In Guided Reading For Struggling Readers, Tiffany L. Gallagher, Arlene Grierson, Catherine Susin

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Although small-group guided reading is traditionally an elementary school instructional practice, this study details how high school English teachers perceived its implementation in high school classrooms. As part of a larger, multiyear research project, this 2-year study examined a dual-level coaching professional learning program that included two school district literacy coaches, eight provincial literacy facilitators, and 21 high school teachers. Teachers were coached in the implementation of guided reading and small-group instruction to support students in Grades 9–10 who were struggling with reading. Qualitative methods were used to gather data including observations of the professional learning meetings and teachers’ instruction; …

Unpacking And Illustrating Coiro’S Multifaceted Heuristic Of Digital Reading Through The Development Of The Cot-R Assessment, Jodi Pilgrim, Sheri Vasinda

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Although much research exists on digital reading, confusion about literacy terminology persists. Inspired by a recent article in Reading Research Quarterly, the authors explore a multifaceted heuristic of digital reading developed by Julie Coiro. The heuristic, which offers a way to systematically organize, label, and define complex terms, concepts, and practices related to digital reading experiences, served as a reference point to examine the authors’ journey of defining digital reading. Highlighting three aspects of Coiro’s heuristic--text, activity, and context--the authors begin by describing the development of an authentic online reading assessment instrument (COT-R), which focuses on elementary students’ processes of …

Editorial Review Board

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

No abstract provided.

The Student Veteran Instructional Communication Training (Svic): An Analysis Of Student Veteran Instructional Needs And Corresponding Instructional Behaviors, Trevor Kauer, Marian Houser

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Student veteran’s (SV) transition into academic life is challenging, and faculty/staff are uniquely positioned to support this change. Research calls for academic faculty/staff training to support SVs’ and aid in their retention and academic success. Framed by Rhetorical and Relational Goal Theory (RRGT; Mottet et al., 2006), qualitative data identified SVs’ instructional communication needs and produced a faculty/staff training program. Twenty-three SVs were interviewed about their instructional communication needs, namely, a need for: Structure, Integration, and Awareness. These needs were translated into instructor communication behaviors, and a SV instructional communication training (SVIC) was created to (a) promote organization, (b) facilitate …

Exploring The Dimensions Of Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Affirmative Clinical Supervision, Lindsey N. Dollar

Dissertations

Graduate programs have continued to improve over time regarding incorporating training on LGB issues into coursework and practicum experiences with less emphasis on supervision. Since supervision is a major training area where therapists learn about clients and themselves, it becomes an important area for also teaching supervisees how to work with minority populations. However, relatively absent from discussions of cultural influences in supervision is a focus on LGB concerns, and missing is the ‘how to’ within the supervisory relationship. This quantitative investigation sought to learn how clinical supervisors with knowledge of LGB issues and people implement LGB-affirmative supervision, and to …

Risk And Resilience Factors For Black Individuals Who Face Racial Discrimination, Tabitha M. Mpamira

Dissertations

African Americans report extensive experiences of discrimination across a range of individual, institutional, cultural situations, and more than any other marginalized group (RWJF, 2017). The pervasiveness of discrimination keeps Black individuals at risk of severe physiological ills and heightened risk of psychopathology, including onset of depression and racial trauma symptoms (Williams & Mohammed, 2009). This study investigated risk and resilience factors for Black individuals who face racial discrimination in the United States of America by examining whether encounters of discrimination correlated with psychological distress (depression, anxiety) and racial trauma symptoms. Additionally, the study investigated factors (social support, psychological flexibility, and …

Exploring Biotic And Abiotic Constraints On Competition For Signal Space Within Birdsong Communities, Joanna M. Sblendorio

Dissertations

With the acceleration of climate change and the conversion of natural ecosystems to human-dominated landscapes, there is concern for the persistence of biodiversity amid novel biotic and abiotic factors. An important outcome of shifting species distributions and environmental disturbance is the formation of novel assemblages. For animals that vocalize for mate attraction and resource defense, the introduction of new species into communities may alter availability of acoustic space for signaling and affect detection of signals by conspecifics. Thus, to minimize signal overlap, species should partition signal space and thereby inhabit well-defined acoustic niches. Yet mixed evidence exists regarding signal space …

The Basic Communication Course And College Student Retention: A Longitudinal Analysis, David E. Schneider, Jennifer D. Mccullough

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between two formats of the basic communication course (BCC) and first-year college student retention over a four-year period. Chi-square and logistic regression models indicated students who completed the BCC were more likely to be retained than those who did not complete the BCC. While completing the BCC was associated with retention for both formats, the hybrid BCC format was more consistently related to retention than the public speaking BCC. Students from certain demographic groups who completed the hybrid BCC were retained more frequently than students from the same demographic who did not complete the …

Origin Of The Mega-Streamlined Morphology In Ne Africa And Arabia: Remote Sensing And Field-Based Investigations, Mohamed Samy Mohamed Elhebery

Dissertations

Mega-streamlined landforms on Earth and Mars have been attributed to aeolian, glaciogenic, fluvial, and tectonic processes. Identifying the forces that shaped these landforms is paramount for understanding landscape evolution and constraining paleo-climate models and ice sheet reconstructions. Exhumed Late Ordovician glacial deposits and landscape of the North Gondwana are reported here for the first time from SE Egypt. Using field and remote sensing (Advanced Land Observing Satellite [ALOS], Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) radar, multispectral Landsat TM datasets, and digital elevation models (DEMs) I mapped the distribution of the Late Ordovician glacial features (i.e. deposits and landforms) in …

The Impact Of Historical Narratives On Students' Nos Understanding And Science Motivation, Peng Dai

Dissertations

Scholars over the past few years have drawn attention to the enormous potential role historical stories can play in promoting student understanding of issues associated with the nature of science (NOS). Such stories, often referred to as “historical narratives,” are thought to do so by providing a rich historical context within which students are acquainted with how scientists in the past reasoned about scientific phenomena. Klassen (2009) developed a theoretical framework that identifies ten essential elements that must be present to qualify as a historical narrative. Only a few studies have empirically assessed the merits of Klassen’s framework, and in …

Investigation Of The Philosophical Foundations And Use Of Culturally Responsive Evaluation, Ouen Hunter

Dissertations

This three-study dissertation investigated the various aspects of culturally responsive evaluation (CRE) from the perspectives of scholars and practitioners.

The first study investigated CRE scholars’ philosophical stance on CRE through one-on-one interviews. The 14 scholars shared how their lived experiences motivated them to write about CRE. They noted the flexibility of CRE as a complement to other evaluation approaches. The interviewees reported several essential qualities of CRE practitioners. This study highlights the scholars’ commitment to serving marginalized communities as their ontological superordinate theme.

The second study investigated how practitioners applied the CRE lens in their practice. This study confirmed the …