Digital Commons Network^™

Talking About Suffering In The Intensive Care Unit, Brent M Kious, Judith B Vick, Peter A Ubel, Olivia Sutton, Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby, Christopher E Cox, Deepshikha Ashana

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Some have hypothesized that talk about suffering can be used by clinicians to motivate difficult decisions, especially to argue for reducing treatment at the end of life. We examined how talk about suffering is related to decision-making for critically ill patients, by evaluating transcripts of conversations between clinicians and patients' families.

Methods: We conducted a secondary qualitative content analysis of audio-recorded family meetings from a multicenter trial conducted in the adult intensive care units of five hospitals from 2012-2017 to look at how the term "suffering" and its variants were used. A coding guide was developed by consensus-oriented discussion …

Investigative Genetic Genealogy Practices Warranting Policy Attention: Results Of A Modified Policy Delphi, Christi J Guerrini, Louiza Kalokairinou, Jill O Robinson, Whitney Bash Brooks, Stephanie M Fullerton, Sara Huston, Jacklyn Dahlquist, Diana Madden, Norah Crossnohere, Nicola Campoamor, John F P Bridges, Amy L Mcguire

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

A technique known as investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) was first introduced to criminal investigations in 2018, and it has since been used by U.S. law enforcement to help identify hundreds of criminal perpetrators and unidentified human remains. As expertise in IGG grows, policymakers have shown interest in regulating it. To help inform these efforts and to promote coherence in IGG governance as it expands, we recruited experts representing a spectrum of IGG-relevant professions and perspectives to identify and prioritize IGG practices for policy attention and to develop policy options for addressing them. In two rounds of a modified policy Delphi, …

Different Responses Involving Tfh Cells Delay Parasite-Specific Antibody Production In Trypanosoma Cruzi Acute Experimental Models, Ana Carolina Leão, Maria Jose Villar, Rakesh Adhikari, Cristina Poveda, Leroy Versteeg, Gregório Almeida, Peter J Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Kathryn M Jones

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Introduction: Chagas disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects millions globally. Despite treatment options in the acute phase, most infections progress to a chronic indeterminate form or develop severe cardiac/gastrointestinal complications. Understanding the immune response is crucial for the development of vaccines and more efficient drugs for the disease control.

Methods: This work investigates the immune response to T. cruzi H1 K68 strain infection in female BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice to characterize differences in Tfh and B cell responses that may be involved in the poor parasite-specific antibody production during acute infection. For this, mice were euthanized …

On Minimizing Risk And Harm In The Use Of Psychedelics, Jules Evans, Marc Aixalà, Brian T Anderson, William Brennan, Rebecka Bremler, Joost J Breeksema, Lisa Burback, Abigail E Calder, Robin L Carhart-Harris, Katherine Cheung, Neşe Devenot, Ingmar Gorman, Jakub Greń, Peter S Hendricks, Brian Holoyda, Edward Jacobs, Joy Krecké, Daniel J Kruger, David Luke, Tomislav Majić, Amy L Mcguire, Nicky J Mehtani, David S Mathai, Kristin Nash, Tehseen Noorani, Roman Palitsky, Oliver C Robinson, Otto Simonsson, Elin Stahre, Michiel Van Elk, David B Yaden

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Objective: This article outlines recommendations from 30 psychedelic researchers on how to create a better psychedelic safety net.

Methods: A survey of 30 psychedelic researchers asked them to identify key critical research gaps around psychedelic harm and safety.

Results: The critical research gaps identified by the authors included defining the main types of psychedelic harm, the predictors of those harms, and the most effective way to treat those harms. They also call for better support for those experiencing post-psychedelic difficulties, including better online information, peer support groups, affordable therapy, and psychiatric consultation and medication. Finally, the authors call for better …

Examining Treatment Options In Youth With Major Depressive Disorder: Observations From The Tx-Ydsrn Registry Study, Emine Rabia Ayvaci, Karabi Nandy, Ryan Becker, Laura Stone, Abu Minhajuddin, Holli Slater, Lynnel C Goodman, Sarah M Wakefield, Eric A Storch, Joseph C Blader, Cesar A Soutullo, Graham J Emslie, Madhukar H Trivedi

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Objective: Treatment decisions for depression are a complex process, influenced by factors such as clinical characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and patient/caregiver preferences. This study examines the characteristics of treatment options during the first month of enrollment among depressed youth.

Methods: Data for 646 depressed youth were extracted from the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network study. Participants' treatments during the first month were categorized as no treatment (NT), psychotherapy only (THER), pharmacotherapy only (MED), or a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy (COMB). Sociodemographic and clinical features were compared across these treatment types.

Results: 7% were on NT, 5% on THER, …

Midterm Outcomes Of Pediatric Mitral Valvuloplasty For Moderate To Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation And Associated Risk Factors For Postoperative Deterioration, Hongyuan Fu, Aijun Liu, Ming Yang, Zeyu Liu, Junwu Su

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

BACKGROUND: Mitral valvuloplasty is considered the best treatment for pediatric mitral valve regurgitation. The objective of this analysis was to identify risk factors for postoperative mitral valve regurgitation progression and evaluate valvuloplasty effectiveness.

METHODS: This retrospective, single-center study investigated the clinical efficacy of mitral valvuloplasty and identified factors that affect prognosis. Pediatric patients with moderate or severe mitral valve regurgitation who had undergone mitral valvuloplasty between September 2016 and August 2023 were included. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess freedom from both mitral valve deterioration and cardiovascular death. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify potential …

Contributions Of Pathobiological And Translational Science To Understanding And Managing Ischemic Heart Disease: Progress, Impediments, And Future Directions, L Maximilian Buja

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Key pathobiological components of ischemic heart disease have been identified as follows: (1) In 1970 to 1973, myocardial infarct size was found to be the primary determinant of prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI); (2) in 1973 to 1989, vulnerable coronary artery plaques were found to predispose individuals to coronary plaque disruption and thrombosis, causing major AMI; (3) in 1972, timely coronary reperfusion was demonstrated to limit the size of evolving AMI but with risk of reperfusion injury; and (4) in 1986, myocardial conditioning was found to be a clinically significant modulator capable of delaying AMI progression. Promising cardioprotective strategies …

Early Structural Valve Deterioration And Cusp Tear Leading To Acute Heart Failure In A Second-Generation Trifecta Glide Technology Heart Valve, Akiyoshi Yamamoto, Kenji Kuwaki, Hidekazu Furuya, Yasunori Cho

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

This report highlights a case of early structural valve deterioration with a cusp tear in a second-generation Abbott Trifecta Glide Technology bioprosthetic heart valve. A 70-year-old man had undergone aortic valve replacement with a Trifecta Glide Technology valve 30 months earlier for severe bicuspid aortic valve stenosis. He suddenly developed acute heart failure with dyspnea resulting from severe aortic valve regurgitation, with a cusp tear in the Trifecta Glide Technology valve, as demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiography. The patient was successfully treated with urgent repeat aortic valve replacement.

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia And Patent Foramen Ovale In A Patient In The Setting Of Covid-19, Laura Sarmiento, Riyad Kherallah, Guilherme Vianna Silva

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare condition characterized by positional dyspnea and hypoxemia, with symptoms presenting in the upright position and improving when recumbent. Hypoxemia in platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is defined as a drop in Pao

Recurrent Carotid Paragangliomas In A Syndromic Patient With A Heterozygous Missense Variant In Dna Methyltransferase 3 Alpha, Ryan J German, Blake Vuocolo, Liesbeth Vossaert, Lisa Saba, Robin Fletcher, Matthew L Tedder, Bekim Sadikovic, Jennifer Kerkhof, Michael Wangler, Carlos A Bacino

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

We report a 40-year-old African American female with a novel variant in exon 8 of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A), (NM_022552.4: c.905G>C, p.G302A) who presented with a history of recurrent carotid paragangliomas, mediastinal mass, intellectual disability, dysarthria, cholelithiasis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dysmorphic features. We interpret this novel variant as likely pathogenic and causative for the patient's syndromic features of Heyn-Sproul-Jackson syndrome. Heyn-Sproul-Jackson syndrome is a condition caused by gain-of-function genetic changes in DNMT3A. Paragangliomas have also been observed in non-syndromic patients with genetic alterations in DNMT3A. We describe a patient with clinical features of Heyn-Sproul-Jackson syndrome such as …

Novel Loci For Triglyceride/Hdl-C Ratio Longitudinal Change Among Subjects Without T2d, Lihua Wang, Siyu Wang, Jason A Anema, Vaha A Moghaddam, Yanli Lu, Shiow Lin, E Warwick Daw, Allison L Kuipers, Iva Miljkovic, Michael Brent, Gary J Patti, Bharat Thygarajan, Joseph M Zmuda, Michael A Province, Ping An

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Triglyceride (TG)/HDL-C ratio (THR) is a surrogate predictor of hyperinsulinemia. To identify novel genetic loci for THR change over time (ΔTHR), we conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) and genome-wide linkage scan (GWLS) among nondiabetic Europeans from the Long Life Family Study (n = 1,384). Subjects with diabetes or on dyslipidemia medications were excluded. ΔTHR was derived using growth curve modeling and adjusted for age, sex, field centers, and principal components. GWAS used a linear mixed model accounting for familial relatedness. GWLS employed haplotype-based identity-by-descent estimation with 0.5 cM average spacing. Heritability of ΔTHR was moderate (46%). Our GWAS identified a …

Dfcp1 Is A Regulator Of Starvation-Driven Atgl-Mediated Lipid Droplet Lipolysis, Victoria A Ismail, Meg Schuetz, Zak N Baker, Jean A Castillo-Badillo, Teri V Naismith, David J Pagliarini, David J Kast

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Lipid droplets (LDs) are transient lipid storage organelles that can be readily tapped to resupply cells with energy or lipid building blocks, and therefore play a central role in cellular metabolism. Double FYVE Domain Containing Protein 1 (DFCP1/ZFYVE1) has emerged as a key regulator of LD metabolism, where the nucleotide-dependent accumulation of DFCP1 on LDs influences their size, number, and dynamics. Here we show that DFCP1 regulates lipid metabolism by directly modulating the activity of Adipose Triglyceride Lipase (ATGL/PNPLA2), the rate-limiting lipase driving the catabolism of LDs. We show through pharmacological inhibition of key enzymes associated with LD metabolism that …

Challenges Of The Opposition In Cameroon Multipartism, Chick Edmond, Nkenglefack Dessailly Forku

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The main goal of this study was to explore the challenges faced by Cameroon opposition political parties and how these challenges affect presidential electoral outcomes since 1990. We employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data for the study. The research design was the case study design, and the sampling technique was nonprobability sampling (precisely purposeful sampling). We employed the constructivist research philosophy to show that reality resides in the different views of people. Consequently, it finds out that the opposition in Cameroon lacks credibility and vision to achieve victory in presidential elections. They also face challenges of suppression, …

A Reproducible Method For Donor Site Computed Tomography Measurements In Abdominally Based Autologous Breast Reconstruction, Damini Tandon, Arthur Sletten, Austin Ha, Gary B. Skolnick, Paul Commean, Terence Myckatyn

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We present an approach for evaluating abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans that generates reproducible measures relevant to donor site morbidity after abdominally based breast reconstruction. Seventeen preoperative CT metrics were measured in 20 patients with software: interanterior superior iliac spine distance; abdominal wall protrusion; interrectus distance; rectus abdominis width, thickness, and width-to-thickness ratio; abdominal wall thickness; subcutaneous fat volume; visceral fat volume; right/left psoas volumes and densities; and right/left rectus abdominis volumes and densities. Two operators performed measures to determine interrater reliability (n = 10). Interclass coefficients (ICCs) were calculated, and Bland-Altman plots were fashioned. Intrarater reliability was excellent (ICC …

Sample Ascertainment And Recruitment Sources In The Accelerating Medicines Partnership Schizophrenia Program, Jean Addington, Daniel Mamah, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: This paper presents the recruitment sources of clinical high-risk (CHR) and community controls (CC) from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership Schizophrenia (AMP SCZ) program, which aims to study various clinical variables and biomarkers in 2040 CHR and 652 CC participants.

METHODS: A total of 1640 CHR and 514 CC had recruitment source data. The Positive Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria for the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States Harmonized with the SIPS was utilized to assess CHR criteria and severity of attenuated psychotic symptoms (APSs), and the Global Functioning: Social Scale was used for social functioning. Participants were recruited through various …

Baseline Clinical Characterization Of Participants In The Accelerating Medicines Partnership Schizophrenia Program, Jean Addington, Daniel Mamah, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: This paper focuses on the baseline clinical characterization of the participants in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership Schizophrenia (AMP SCZ) program. The AMP SCZ program is designed to investigate a wide array of clinical variables and biomarkers in a total of 2040 clinical high-risk (CHR) participants and 652 community control (CC) participants.

METHODS: The dataset analyzed includes 1642 individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and 519 CCs. Key measures include the Positive Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria for the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States Harmonized with the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes, which determined CHR criteria and the severity …

An Explainable Ai Approach For Mapping Multivariate Regional Brain Age And Clinical Severity Patterns In Alzheimer's Disease, Gauri Darekar, Taslim Murad, Hui-Yuan Miao, Deepa S Thakuri, Alzheimer’S Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Ganesh B Chand

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Age is a significant risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and identifying brain age patterns is critical for comprehending the normal aging and MCI/AD processes. Prior studies have widely established the univariate relationships between brain regions and age, while multivariate associations remain largely unexplored. Herein, various artificial intelligence (AI) models were used to perform brain age prediction using an MRI dataset (

Phase I Study Of Nt-I7, A Long-Acting Interleukin-7, In Severe Treatment-Related Lymphopenia Following Standard Radiation And Temozolomide For High-Grade Glioma, Jian L Campian, Milan G Chheda, John F Dipersio, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: High-grade gliomas (HGG) have a poor prognosis despite aggressive treatment. Severe, persistent lymphopenia occurring in HGG patients after concurrent chemoradiation is associated with worse survival. NT-I7, a long-acting interleukin-7 analog, has been shown to increase CD4 and CD8 counts in healthy, septic, and HIV-positive adults. This multi-institutional, NCI-funded dose-escalation trial is the first to evaluate NT-I7 safety and activity in HGG patients with severe treatment-related lymphopenia (TRL) and the effect of co-administered glucocorticoids.

METHODS: Eligible HGG patients had CD4 counts < 300 cells/mm

RESULTS: NT-I7 was well tolerated in all 12 patients (median age 64; median CD4 count 161 cells/mm³) before the …

What Is The Optimal Management Of Metastatic Spine Patients With Intermediate Spinal Instability Neoplastic Scores: To Operate Or Not To Operate?, William Chu Kwan, Matthew L Goodwin, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with extradural metastatic spine disease, we sought to systematically review the outcomes and complications of patients with intermediate Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) lesions undergoing radiation therapy, percutaneous interventions, minimally invasive surgeries, or open spinal surgeries.

METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials were queried for studies that reported on SINS intermediate patients who underwent: 1) radiotherapy, 2) percutaneous intervention, 3) minimally invasive, or 4) open surgery. Dates of publication were between 2013-22. Patients …

Liquid Biopsy For Spinal Tumors: On The Frontiers Of Clinical Application, Sze Kiat Tan, Matthew L Goodwin, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

STUDY DESIGN: Narrative review.

OBJECTIVES: This article aims to provide a narrative review of the current state of research for liquid biopsy in spinal tumors and to discuss the potential application of liquid biopsy in the clinical management of patients with spinal tumors.

METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases, and the review was limited to articles of English language. All the relevant articles which were identified to be related to liquid biomarker study in spinal tumors, were studied in full text.

RESULTS: Liquid biopsy has revolutionized the field …

Prevention And Management Of Posterior Wound Complications Following Oncologic Spine Surgery: Narrative Review Of Available Evidence And Proposed Clinical Decision-Making Algorithm, Owen P Leary, Matthew L Goodwin, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

STUDY DESIGN: Narrative Review.

OBJECTIVE: Contextualized by a narrative review of recent literature, we propose a wound complication prevention and management algorithm for spinal oncology patients. We highlight available strategies and motivate future research to identify optimal and individualized wound management for this population.

METHODS: We conducted a search of recent studies (2010-2022) using relevant keywords to identify primary literature in support of current strategies for wound complication prevention and management following spine tumor surgery. When primary literature specific to spine tumor cases was not available, data were extrapolated from studies of other spine surgery populations. Results were compiled into …

Patient Stratification By Genetic Risk In Alzheimer's Disease Is Only Effective In The Presence Of Phenotypic Heterogeneity, Jack Euesden, Muhammad Ali, Chloe Robins, Praveen Surendran, Padhraig Gormley, Alzheimer’S Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, David Pulford, Carlos Cruchaga

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Case-only designs in longitudinal cohorts are a valuable resource for identifying disease-relevant genes, pathways, and novel targets influencing disease progression. This is particularly relevant in Alzheimer's disease (AD), where longitudinal cohorts measure disease "progression," defined by rate of cognitive decline. Few of the identified drug targets for AD have been clinically tractable, and phenotypic heterogeneity is an obstacle to both clinical research and basic science. In four cohorts (n = 7241), we performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and Mendelian randomization (MR) to discover novel targets associated with progression and assess causal relationships. We tested opportunities for patient stratification by deriving …

Overview Of Molecular Prognostication For Common Solid Tumor Histologies - What The Surgeon Should Know, C Rory Goodwin, Matthew L Goodwin, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

STUDY DESIGN: Narrative Literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a general overview of important molecular markers and targeted therapies for the most common neoplasms (lung, breast, prostate and melanoma) that metastasize to the spine and offer guidance on how to best incorporate them in the clinical setting.

METHODS: A narrative review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline databases, as well as the histology-specific National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to identify relevant articles limited to the English language. Relevant articles were reviewed for commonly described molecular mutations or targeted therapeutics, as well as associated clinical outcomes, and surgery-related …

Menin Inhibition With Revumenib For Kmt2a-Rearranged Relapsed Or Refractory Acute Leukemia (Augment-101), Ghayas C Issa, John Dipersio, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Revumenib, an oral, small molecule inhibitor of the menin-lysine methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A) interaction, showed promising efficacy and safety in a phase I study of heavily pretreated patients with

METHODS: AUGMENT-101 is a phase I/II, open-label, dose-escalation and expansion study of revumenib conducted across 22 clinical sites in five countries (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04065399). We report results from the phase II, registration-enabling portion. Individuals age ≥30 days with R/R

RESULTS: From October 1, 2021, to July 24, 2023, N = 94 patients (median [range] age, 37 [1.3-75] years) were treated. Grade ≥3 adverse events included febrile neutropenia (37.2%), differentiation syndrome (16.0%), …

Measuring Stigma In Pediatric Oncology: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Three Global Sites, Lara E Counts, Sara M Malone, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Stigma contributes to fear and shame, resulting in delays in care-seeking behavior among individuals with cancer. As a social construct, stigma is affected by language, religion, culture, and local norms. This study explored pediatric cancer stigma at the time of diagnosis across diverse settings through the adaptation of two stigma measures.

METHODS: This study was conducted with adolescents and caregivers of children with osteosarcoma and retinoblastoma at three centers in Jordan, Guatemala, and Zimbabwe. The Stigma-related Social Problems (SSP) and the eight-item Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness (SSCI-8) measures were translated into Arabic, Spanish, and Shona and contextually adapted …

Enhancing Engagement In Hiv Care Among Adolescents And Young Adults: A Focus On Phone-Based Navigation And Relationship Building To Address Barriers In Hiv Care, Harriet Fridah Adhiambo, Dorothy Imbuka Mangale, Elvin Geng, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Structural, psychological, and clinical barriers to HIV care engagement among adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYAH) persist globally despite gains in HIV epidemic control. Phone-based peer navigation may provide critical peer support, increase delivery flexibility, and require fewer resources. Prior studies show that phone-based navigation and automated text messaging interventions improve HIV care engagement, adherence, and retention among AYAH. However, little is known about AYAH experiences utilizing electronic phone-based peer navigation and automated text messaging (E-NAV). We assessed the experiences of AYAH receiving phone-based peer navigation to address barriers to HIV care engagement and viral suppression. We purposefully …

Trauma-Informed Care In Occupational Therapy Education, Cristina H. Scionti, Mary Shotwell, Donnamarie Krause

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Students bring their life histories, including traumatic experiences, to their learning and education. Potentially up to 75% of the student body of occupational therapy programs may have experienced a traumatic event, which often leads to occupational disruption and challenges in academic performance. Thus, it is critical for occupational therapy educators to mitigate the impact of trauma by identifying the barriers and facilitators to occupational participation in education for occupational therapy students affected by trauma. Despite the high prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), research shows that few health professions education programs, such as occupational therapy, attend to ACEs or utilize …

Reimagining Education For Ot And Ota Intraprofessional Collaboration: A Virtual Pilot Program, Katelyn Brady, Heather Beth Johnson, Alexandra Stellmach

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Intraprofessional knowledge and skills are essential to the field of occupational therapy. Despite the importance, not all occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) educational programs provide collaborative intraprofessional experiences to students who are expected to collaborate effectively in practice. Therefore, increased intraprofessional experiences are needed to support entry-level OT practitioners. The purpose of this project was to create an intraprofessional pilot program that included three intraprofessional events to provide an opportunity for collaboration between OT and OTA students and enhance their understanding and confidence with intraprofessional collaboration prior to practice. The pilot program was implemented and evaluated using …

Exploring Student Experiences And Perceptions Of Digital Storytelling In Occupational Therapy Education: A Comprehensive Analysis And Evaluation, Alexis M. F. Morin, Justin R. Eck

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the need for digital transformation in higher education, emphasizing the importance of incorporating digital pedagogy. This study explored student experiences and perceptions of digital storytelling, a multimedia-based narrative technique, as an innovative assessment method in occupational therapy education. First-year, first-semester entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy students created digital stories on mental health topics and completed self-reflection papers. A retrospective qualitative descriptive method was employed, analyzing 14 consented self-reflection papers. Emerging qualitative themes revealed that digital storytelling enhanced students' understanding of occupational performance impacts, led to the development and utilization of transferrable skills for clinical practice, and …

Improving Self-Regulated Learning Among Occupational Therapy Students, Pola Ham

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Many occupational therapy students, particularly first-generation students, face significant academic and social challenges in higher education that affect their self-regulated learning (SRL). SRL involves goal setting, self-monitoring, strategy implementation, and reflection. The rigorous academic demands, combined with the unique challenges experienced by many first-generation students, exacerbate these difficulties, particularly in developing SRL skills, which are essential for academic and professional success. While first-generation students often lack these skills due to a variety of factors, many occupational therapy students also struggle to develop these skills, regardless of background. This narrative review examines the role of SRL in occupational therapy education and …