Digital Commons Network^™

Advocating For The Role Of An Occupational Therapy Assistant In The Mental Health Field, Aleah Snell

Honors Theses

As a student in the WMU OTA Bachelor's of Science program, I completed a baccalaureate project. I chose to advocate for the role of occupational therapy in traditional mental health settings. I chose this topic as I have had several close loved ones struggle with mental health, and I wanted to push my learning of occupational therapy's role in this setting further. Upon choosing my topic, I learned although occupational therapy initially started in mental health aiding veterans returning from war, only 2-3% of OT practitioners work in a mental health setting today. I wanted to understand this decline, and …

Occupational Performance With Formstack: Academic Fieldwork Coordinator's Perceptions And Experiences, Sara Clark

Dissertations

This multiple descriptive case-study explored the perceptions and experiences of eight occupational therapy program academic fieldwork coordinators (AFWCs), regarding their usage of Formstack, as an online fieldwork data collection system. Previous survey research revealed that AFWCs had positive feelings about the new AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (AOTA, 2020) housed within Formstack (Sanders & Carpenter, 2024), but the AOTA AFWC national list-serve suggests frustration with the online platform itself. Past research by Sanders and Carpenter (2024) also recommended further investigation into the usability of Formstack. To this end, this inquiry focused on two research questions: (a) How do AFWCs at multiple …

Picturing The Teaching Of The Holocaust: A Narrative Case Study Of Four English Language Arts Teachers Who Teach The Holocaust, Shelley L. Esman

Dissertations

This qualitative narrative case study was designed to examine the pedagogical choices of four English Language Arts teachers who teach the Holocaust. This study shares the “picture” of the four English language arts teachers from Michigan, Indiana, and Florida. Data collected through interviews and curricular documents were analyzed in connection to each of the teacher’s identities and rationales for teaching the Holocaust. This study highlights each teacher’s process of becoming a Holocaust teacher and describes how each teaches the content of the Holocaust in grades fifth to tenth. It uncovers the common dispositions of these four teachers. It shares the …

Public Health Implications Of State-Level Public Health Organizational And System Structures, Cameron Ferguson Hays

Dissertations

Public health thought leaders such as the Institute of Medicine and National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine have long been concerned about the lack of standardization among state-level public health systems (IOM, 1988; NASEM, 2023). However, little research studies these systems, their structures, and whether structural constructs affect population health outcomes.

This study attempted to examine the structural constructs that make up these systems and the impact of those constructs using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. Variables from management science were qualitatively extracted from materials describing all 50 state-level public health systems. Those variables were then analyzed using a …

Intelligent Health Monitoring Systems Via Flexible Hybrid Electronics And Machine Learning, Masoud Panahi

Dissertations

Advanced data analytics approaches, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly being integrated into all aspects of patient care. This integration is paving the way for minimally invasive or non-invasive treatment modalities. By combining recent advancements in fabrication technology and computing ingenuity, wearable devices now enable continuous health monitoring and provide data for AI-driven analysis. These intelligent devices seamlessly integrate with the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling remote or “at-home” patient monitoring.

This dissertation study investigates the integration of recent advancements in flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) and machine learning (ML) to develop intelligent health monitoring systems. The developed FHE-based health …

A Single Session Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In A Group Format To Promote Health-Related Behavior Change In Nutrition And Sleep: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Thi Anh Tran

Dissertations

Nutrition and sleep are important health-related behaviors for which only a small percentage of the population meet recommended guidelines. To impact population-health it is important to develop focused, flexible, efficient, and efficacious interventions. This study examined the efficacy of a 60-minute Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in a group presentation format to initiate change in nutrition and sleep related behaviors in college students. Thirty-two collegians (M age = 18.55 [.85], 66% female, 34% Hispanic, 25% white) were randomized to receive ACT focusing on nutrition (n = 18 participants across 4 groups) or sleep (n = 14 participants across 3 …

All Children Matter: Developing Social Capital Through School Renewal Rounds, Jeremy Allen Andrick

Dissertations

Educational researchers and practitioners have worked for decades to improve student achievement and close achievement gaps. Knowing from multiple research studies that the teacher is the number one influence on student learning, these researchers and practitioners have attempted to grow teacher practice individually through teacher evaluation systems and across classrooms through group-based approaches such as PLCs, Learning Walks, and the Harvard Model of Instructional Rounds. The result is that pockets of instructional and academic excellence persist meaning that not all students benefit equitably across classrooms, schools, and districts. In response, this study explored the role of the HIL-Project inspired and …

Single-Shot Mev-Resolution Hard X-Ray Spectrograph For Cavity-Based X-Ray Free Electron Laser, Keshab Kauchha

Dissertations

The Cavity-Based X-ray Free Electron Laser (CBXFEL) is a possible future direction in the development of fully coherent hard X-ray sources of high spectral brilliance, a narrow spectral bandwidth of ≃ 1 − 100 meV, and a high repetition rate of ≃ 1 MHz. A diagnostic tool is required to measure CBXFEL spectra with a meV resolution on a shot-to-shot basis.

The CBXFEL hard X-ray spectrograph is designed to image 9.831 keV X-rays in a ≃ 200 meV spectral window and with a spectral resolution of a few meV using an LCLS XFEL (Linac Coherent Light Source X-ray Free Electron …

An Exploration Of The Experiences That Influenced Black Males To Become Information Technology Professionals, Ronnie Mcmillian

Dissertations

Historically, the United States (U.S.) has led the world in the development of innovative high-tech solutions that increased employment opportunities, wages, productivity, and the economic growth of our nation. However, STEM workers are in great need to fill the millions of vacancies in the STEM workforce. Despite the increasing demand for STEM professionals, racial minorities, especially Blacks, continue to be disproportionately underrepresented in STEM. In order to adequately address the STEM workforce problem and remain competitive globally, the U.S. must motivate a much larger cross-section of its population to enter STEM fields. Since Blacks are disproportionately underrepresented in STEM, they …

Faulty Perception Correction Of Autonomous Vehicles In Real-Life Driving Scenarios, Mark Omwansa

Dissertations

Driving is one of the most popular modes of transportation in the world. The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reported 2.8 trillion vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) in 2020, and the National Highway Traffic Association (NHTSA) recorded 3.2 trillion VMT in 2019. Also recorded in the NHTSA report were 39,096 fatalities and 2.7 million injuries due to traffic accidents, costing the economy an estimated $242 billion. Most of these recorded accidents can be attributed to human error or misjudgment. It is for this reason that governments and the automotive industry are looking at autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies …

Synthesis, Characterization And Testing Of Graphene-Based Materials For Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Catalysts, Hassan Shirzadi Jahromi

Dissertations

The requirement for low cost and efficient catalysts for fuel cells motivated the proposed research on Nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) integrated with transition metal zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). Synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of the newly synthesized nitrogen-doped graphene oxide-based catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) constitutes the main objective of this thesis.

The synthesis of N-rGO combined with cobalt, nickel, or iron ZIFs was carried out using wet chemical methods followed by one step pyrolysis at 900°C, resulting in catalysts with highly porous structures and uniform metal nanoparticle distribution. These were characterized for structure, microstructure, composition …

Informative Recital, Avery Molnar

Honors Theses

We must keep discovering pieces by underrepresented composers. For example, playing pieces by underrepresented composers in music classes at public schools is important. If the students do not see their identities represented in the curriculum, it is more difficult to picture themselves in a potential career. Students must see themselves being represented in their curriculum to expand the student’s full potential later in life. A hidden curriculum is something not in the curriculum. If something is not part of a curriculum, students will start to conclude that the subject does not matter and is not worthy of learning whether it …

Sisu, Kaizen, And American Management: An Exploratory Study Of Cross-Cultural Approaches To Organizational Success, Bryan Hagenbarth

Honors Theses

Abstract Introduction

This thesis, “Sisu, Kaizen, and American Management: An Exploratory Study of Cross-Cultural Approaches to Organizational Success,” explores the interplay of cultural management methodologies across three nations – Finland, Japan, and the United States. It proposes a hybrid organizational model that integrates the principles of Sisu, Kaizen, and the American Dream (respectively) to common business practices.

Through the idea of “cross-cultural analysis,” this study delves into the underlying cultural frameworks – termed "human hardware" – that shape societal values and behaviors. The goal therein is to analyze the influencing characteristics that affect their adoption (and effectiveness) of foreign management …

Condemned To Affliction, Cameron Hachigian

Honors Theses

Hello, all. I'd like to thank you all for coming. Your attendance means a lot to me. First, I would like to thank my family and friends for their constant support. And I would like to give a huge thank you to all of my teachers and mentors. For without you, my musical journey never would have flourished.

This concert that you are about to witness is my senior recital. It is a culmination of my best works. I have toiled hard for many years to create music that I deem suitable for public consumption and it has finally come …

Dance Inclusivity For People With Low Vision, Emma Winckler

Honors Theses

The primary concentration of my project was providing education to promote inclusivity in dance for people with low vision. My objectives for this project were to create a literature review relating to my project, create an educational infographic for how to best support those with low vision in a dance class, and share the infographic I created with the WMU dance department and at the Barbra Rider Colloquium.

Dance has been an integral part of my life and in my experience, I’ve never seen dance opportunities provided to people with low vision. After looking more into dance with low vision …

Bridging The Gap Between Occupational Therapy And Therapeutic Horseback Riding: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Further Engagement In Childhood Occupations, Veronica Smith

Honors Theses

My name is Veronica Smith and I have been a CTRI (certified therapeutic riding instructor) since 2022. I began volunteering at a therapeutic riding program center in elementary school and have accumulated 5000+ hours of experiences that instilled this passion in me. With these experiences, I recognized a gap and developed my thesis project with a clear vision.

With a passion for occupational therapy, and a special interest in equines, I focused my undergrad honors thesis project that also served as my baccalaureate project for the occupational therapy assistant program around these values. I created an activity book that can …

Teaching Linked Data Principles Through Virtual Wikidata Edit‐A‐Thons, Marianne Swierenga

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Presentations

Cataloging and metadata professionals in libraries have an interest in learning about the Semantic Web and Linked Data technologies. However, with limited release time and funding for continuing education, professional development opportunities need to be designed with learner needs in mind: free, flexible, and fun. Our regional Linked Data interest group approached this challenge by developing an annual program in the form of a five-day edit-a-thon, providing training and hands-on experience in creating and editing Wikidata. The flexible format makes use of synchronous video conferencing, detailed online documentation, independent editing days for hands-on learning, and opt-in community discussion via Slack. …

Navigating Library Services: Challenges And Opportunities In Moving Music And Dance Collections During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael J. Duffy Iv

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Presentations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the University Libraries at Western Michigan University closed the Harper C. Maybee Music and Dance Library, and moved its collections to Waldo Library, the main library on campus. This decision was the result of budget cuts at Western Michigan University during the pandemic, and the University Libraries’ response to operate within our budget by consolidating services and collection spaces. The Maybee Music and Dance Library was closed, along with the rest of the campus libraries, in March 2020. The music and dance collections were moved between March and May of 2021,after which they were available to …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Special Meeting ,October 16, 2024, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda

1. Remarks by the Chair

2. Remarks by the President

3. Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

4. Western Michigan University American Association of University Professors (WMU-AAUP)

Compensation and Health Care

5. General Public Comments

Art As An Intervention For Healing And Empowerment, Erin Barrus

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Komal Patel, an occupational therapist and artist residing in New Jersey, USA, provided the cover art for the Fall 2024 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Emotions” is a piece made from acrylic on canvas that depicts the emotional complexities the human mind goes through during a person’s experience or stage of life. The inspiration comes from her personal journey of moving to the United States from India and the emotional turbulence, both negative and positive, she experienced. Art has become part of the healing story for herself and others. She shares how incorporating this intervention leads …

Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders In Navajo Weavers, Ramona F. Yazzie, Kimberly Masker, Kristin Biggins

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The Navajo Nation is one of the many reservations that lack access to health care services, leading to increasing chronic health conditions. Navajo rug weaving is a common creative occupation on the reservation. Navajo rug weaving involves multiple steps in creating a beautiful rug. The multiple steps include repetitive gripping, pinching, reaching, pulling, and prolonged sitting. Therefore, weavers are at risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), preventing individuals from participating in meaningful occupations. Occupational therapists have the skills to provide appropriate education through active listening, visual handouts, and family members. However, occupational therapists must demonstrate and understand cultural sensitivity to …

Social And Environmental Determinants Of Occupation And The Need For An Intersectional Approach To Culturally Meaningful Practice, Diane Smith

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

To provide culturally-centered care to clients and develop interventions that meet the client’s holistic needs, occupational therapists need to consider social and physical environments affecting participation in culturally meaningful occupations. Using a case study, this paper describes the use of the concept of social and environmental determinants of occupation (SEDO) as a necessary strategy to incorporate in clinical practice to determine how SEDO intersect, resulting in occupational justices/injustices that influence access to participation. SEDO are defined as broad (and intersecting) social and environmental factors that increase or limit an individual, community, or population’s ability to participate in culturally meaningful occupations …

Moving Toward Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy For Autistic People: Key Questions And Next Steps, Aaron Dallman, Kathryn Williams, Jacklyn Boheler, Greg Boheler

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

With the rise in popularity of neurodiversity-affirming practices in occupational therapy, specifically with the autistic population, there is a need to establish a more robust theoretical underpinning for this work. A neurodiversity framework is different from the prevailing medical model that informs current practice in much of Westernized health care, and interested occupational therapists are now asking questions about how to apply it to their work. Occupational science is well-suited to generate research outside the medical model that can serve as a basic science foundation to inform practice. The purpose of this Opinions in the Profession paper is to suggest …

Teaching Occupational Adaptation Using Constructs Of The Model, Linda R. Struckmeyer, Anna B. Galloway

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. Quality, evidence-based health care practice and research is guided by theory; therefore, theory should be one of the first courses in health care professional curriculums. Signature andragogical methods of case-based learning, small and large group discussion, active learning, and self-reflection developed the teaching and learning activities to teach the occupational adaptation (OA) model in this study.

Methods. A mixed-methods design of qualitative open-ended questions and quantitative survey were used to measure student understanding and application of theoretical concepts. The lab assignment integrated andragogical methods, the use of the Relative Mastery Measurement Scale (RMMS) for individual and social adaptation, and …

Mapping The Way Forward: Prioritizing Education For Global Occupational Therapy Practice In Addressing Sexuality And Intimacy - A Delphi Approach, Beth Ann Walker, Jenn Soros, Abbie Alter, Bridget Downs, Courtney Cummings, Ireland G. Greenwell, Kayla Elstien, Kyli Luna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The World Health Organization identifies sexual functions and intimate relationships as a functioning domain in the Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation (WHO, 2023). Addressing sexual functions and intimate relationships is a key area of practice for occupational therapists (Walker et al., 2020), and it is important to ensure that occupational therapists are prepared to address this important domain. With the worldwide call to ensure the sexuality and intimacy needs of individuals receiving rehabilitation services are addressed, it is time to establish a new direction for education, practice, and research. This study used a Delphi approach to gather and analyze evidence, …

Incorporating Real-Time Simulated Patient And Instructor Feedback To Enhance Simulation Learning Experience For Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Lauren Woods, Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, Kuan Xing

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Health care simulation experiences should provide clear feedback that students can understand and incorporate into future practice. Based on the literature, more research is needed regarding how health professional students use various types of feedback to establish rapport with clients, increase critical thinking skills, and work collaboratively. Various types of feedback may be useful in regular simulation-based education, but there is limited research on how students integrate various feedback to enhance skill development. This study aimed to examine how occupational therapy (OT) students incorporate real-time Simulated Patient (SP) feedback, numerical feedback, and instructor-written feedback to enhance their learning from the …

Choosing Wisely® In Academia, Strategies For Clinical And Classroom Curricula, Jennifer Tokash, Glen Gillen, Virginia Koenig

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Incorporating evidence-based practice (EBP) into occupational therapy (OT) program curricula is best practice and mandated by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The Choosing Wisely® campaign, founded by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and adopted by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), provides 10 recommendations for evidence-based OT. This project focused on the Choosing Wisely® campaign's incorporation into OT program curricula. A 40-min educational program focusing on the history of Choosing Wisely®, its adoption by the AOTA as a specialty society partner, and strategies to bridge the campaign's evidence-based recommendations from classroom to clinical experience were …

Material Matters: A Comparative Analysis Of Hand Immobilization Orthoses Using 3d-Printed, Thermoplastic, And Fiberglass Cast, Shiori Domenighetti, Rebecca Ozelie

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Orthosis fabrication is a widely used technique in occupational therapy, and there is growing evidence supporting the use of 3D printing in the fabrication of cost-effective orthotics. Nevertheless, further research is needed to enable informed decision-making when selecting appropriate orthotic materials.

Method: A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the fabrication processes and final products of thumb immobilization orthosis made with three different materials from the fabricator’s perspective. Factors examined included the required equipment and materials, assessment of time and skills involved in the fabrication process, evaluation of ease of adjustment during fabrication, and objective measurements of …

"I Have A Story To Tell Them": Qualitative Analsysis Of Interviews With Formerly Homeless Adults, Rachel Lee, Laura H. Vanpuymbrouck

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Adults experiencing homelessness (AEH) make up an underserved community, especially in receipt of occupational therapy (OT) services. While there is growing knowledge on the occupational needs of this community, little is known of the occupational needs of AEH to successfully sustain housing long-term. The primary objective of this study is to describe the lived experiences of adults who have successfully transitioned to stable housing after a long period of homelessness. The secondary objective is to use findings to identify key areas for OT intervention with adults immediately following homelessness.

Method: The participants included five adults 25 years …

Continuing Professional Development Preferences Of Occupational Therapy Providers In Kenya, Rwanda, And Tanzania, Angela M. Cecil, Godrey S. Kimathy, Margie N. Koech, Epiphanie Murebwayire, Pierre Damien Turikumana

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study was conducted to explore the continuing professional development (CPD) preferences of occupational therapists in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania for identifying and developing CPD opportunities to meet professional licensure requirements that are new to these countries.

Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study design was conducted using a 28-item electronic survey that targeted occupational therapists in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were studied through content and thematic analysis.

Results: Seventy-eight (78) participants completed the study, and the majority were male (60.5%). Most of the participants were from Tanzania, and most participants …