Digital Commons Network^™

A Scholarly Exploration Of Teaching Strategies For Learning About Pediatric Sleep, Laura J. Carpenter, Amanda M. Buono

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The occupation of sleep is an area of occupational therapy practice for which many practitioners report a lack of confidence and/or knowledge to properly address. The current study addresses this concern by studying the effects of a learning module on students’ confidence and knowledge to address pediatric sleep. The study used a pre-test, post-test non-experimental design and collected survey responses from 48 entry-level occupational therapy students in three different programs. The lecture portion of the module included content about both assessing and intervening, while the case study emphasized intervention-planning only. Results indicated significant gains in knowledge overall (z = …

Structuring Role-Emergent Level Ii Fieldwork Placements For Success: A Framework Grounded In Collaboration, Accountability, Supervision, And Site Integration (The Cass Framework), Lisa A. Fyffe, Amy Van Camp

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

We propose a framework for implementing role-emergent fieldwork grounded in four structural principles identified in the literature and refined through professional reflection: collaboration, accountability, supervision, and site integration. Occupational therapy students report positive experiences with role-emergent fieldwork placements, citing benefits such as professional development, increased autonomy, and opportunities for innovation. However, studies have found that role-emergent placements often lack the structure students need to develop traditional documentation skills, manage complex practice dynamics, and implement occupational therapy programs in a novel setting. Consequently, occupational therapy students describe challenges with role-emergent placements in defining their professional role, managing high levels of responsibility, …

Using Video Analysis To Support Development Of Therapeutic Use Of Self In Occupational Therapy Education, Cynthia L. Selim, Katharine A. Ricks

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite recognition of the importance of therapeutic use of self, there remains limited research on effective, evidence-informed approaches within occupational therapy education. Video analysis has emerged as a method to enhance students’ critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and observation skills, however, its direct impact on therapeutic use of self has not been examined. This study evaluated the effectiveness of structured video analysis assignments in improving occupational therapy students’ self‑efficacy for therapeutic use of self and explored student perceptions of the learning experience. Two cohorts of first-year occupational therapy students (n=62) participated in a 10-week course based on the Intentional Relationship Model …

What Motivates Occupational Therapy Students To Self-Study Anatomy, Samantha Williams, Athena Kirou-Mauro, Kelly Hennessy, Lexi Davidson, Emily S. Ho

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Informed by self-determination theory, this study examined the motivations and preferred learning styles of entry-level occupational therapy students and explored how their perceived anatomy competency related to their academic performance. To investigate this, ninety-seven occupational therapy students completed a reflective assignment through which they set anatomy self-study learning goals. Self-study learning approaches were categorized, and the relationship between student perceived anatomy competency and academic outcomes (i.e., anatomy quizzes, term grades) was analyzed. When examining self-study learning approaches, students favored computer assisted instructional tools (n = 75, 77%) and integrated clinical application with their learning goals (n = 52, …

Assessment Of Level Ii Fieldwork Performance (Alf): Development And Refinement Of A Level Ii Assessment Tool For Use In Occupational Therapy Curricula, Suzanne Marasco, Karen Weis, Zachary A. Myers

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The Assessment of Level II Fieldwork Performance (ALF) is a new tool developed for use in occupational therapy programs to evaluate students’ performance during Level II fieldwork. The present study reports on the development of the ALF and revisions of the tool based on two rounds of expert review utilizing a modified Delphi methodology. An expert panel of sixteen occupational therapists who had previously utilized the tool while serving as fieldwork educators was recruited to review the ALF and complete online surveys related to the tool’s content, pragmatics, and clinical value. Based on expert consensus, the ALF was modified and …

Predictors Of Academic Success, Fieldwork Performance, And Licensure Examination Outcomes In Occupational Therapy Students: A Scoping Review, Sabina Khan, Leila Gojraty, Karen Park, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Rayya Ibrahim-Muzaffarr, Sade Harris, Janay Jones, Llonique Jackson, Christianah Edema

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Declining first-attempt National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy pass rates and concerns regarding student retention underscore the need to identify factors associated with occupational therapy student success. This scoping review aimed to map the current evidence on predictors of academic success, fieldwork performance, and licensure examination outcomes in occupational therapy programs. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and OTSeeker were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2016 and January 2026. Empirical studies examining predictors of occupational therapy student outcomes were included. Predictors were mapped using Astin’s Input-Environment-Output model and grouped into subthemes. Of 3,402 records, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. …

Predictors Of First-Attempt Nbcot Success: A Multivariable Analysis Of Occupational Therapy Graduates, Kristina Hartsook, Sean Brim, Arlenys Loffredo

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

First-time pass rates on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination have declined in recent years, highlighting the need to better understand factors associated with licensure readiness. This study examined academic, internal, and external predictors of first-attempt NBCOT success among occupational therapy graduates. A retrospective, cross-sectional survey design was used with a sample of 40 graduates from a single institution. Participants completed a post-examination survey assessing academic performance (graduate grade point average [GPA]), self-management skills (time management), external demands (workload, stress, support), study behaviors, and engagement with preparation resources, including the Occupational Therapy Knowledge Examination (OTKE). Descriptive, …

Exploring And Enhancing The Accommodations Process For Disabled Students In Occupational Therapy Education: An Action Research Study, Danbi Lee, Emma Gregg, Keri Degroot

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The study aimed to explore barriers and supports to the accommodations process for disabled occupational therapy students from the perspectives of disability resource professionals, faculty, and students; identify actionable recommendations; and implement actions to better support students with disabilities. This action research study, guided by the Look-Think-Act Action model, recruited students, faculty, and staff from one Master of Occupational Therapy program. Focus groups, individual interviews, and a priority survey were conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Action steps were discussed in the action planning group and the research team implemented feasible recommendations. Twenty-four students, disability resources professionals, and faculty …

Interprofessional Simulation Improves Confidence For Fieldwork In Acute Care Settings, Valley Mccurry, Tara S. Pearce, Chris Eidson, Patricia Perez

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Preparing occupational therapy students for fieldwork in acute care settings presents logistical and educational challenges, and students often report limited confidence in their readiness for this environment. Simulation-based learning is a safe, structured approach for developing clinical reasoning, communication, and teamwork skills prior to Level II fieldwork. This study examined the impact of an extended time, multiple patient interprofessional acute care simulation. Students rotated through a series of increasingly complex patient cases across multiple units in a simulated acute care hospital, interacting with authentic and simulated hospital equipment, a simulated electronic health record, and structured debriefing. Three independent cohorts of …

From Admission Criterion To Early Alert Tool: A Case Study Of Using Writing Samples In Occupational Therapy Education, Robyn Wu, Diane Tom, Chi-Kwan Shea, Nandini Dasgupta

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Writing samples are commonly used for admission to occupational therapy programs. However, there is limited evidence supporting the predictive validity of writing samples for academic performance. This case study chronicles the use of writing samples, initially as an admission criterion and later as a post-admission early alert tool, at one institution. A post-admission writing sample designed to assess readability and coherence of writing was collected from a cohort of 47 master’s and doctoral occupational therapy students during the first week of the program. Recommendations for writing support services were then provided to students based on their writing sample scores. An …

Symmetry, Presumptions, And The Judges Design, Murat C. Mungan

Faculty Scholarship

An instrumental variables approach called ‘the judges design’ used frequently in social sciences relies on an assumption called ‘average monotonicity’. This assumption pertains to how different judges’ (or other classifiers’) decision making processes relate to each other. Violations of it are hard to detect, which raises the importance of it being supported by a plausible theory. Decisions of judges who solve Bayesian decision problems violate average monotonicity as long as the signals they process are symmetric and they do not possess strong presumptions. This result is extended to cases where judge presumptions are symmetrically distributed and may include strong presumptions. …

Obesity Education For Occupational Therapy Students: A Missing Piece?, Laura Stocksborough, Shirley Masterson-Ng

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

People with obesity experience discrimination and stigma at the hands of healthcare workers who often fail to address associated complexities. There is an association between obesity and reduced occupational engagement; however, occupational therapists are underutilized in the field of obesity. Previous research suggests this could be due to occupational therapists receiving a lack of education in obesity. The current study aimed to determine if occupational therapy pre-registration students in the United Kingdom were receiving education in obesity, and what factors influenced whether they received education in obesity. Fifty-nine occupational therapy lecturers from across the United Kingdom completed an online survey. …

Information Law Pluralism, Hannah Bloch-Wehba

Faculty Scholarship

Information-intensive activities are reshaping political, social, and economic institutions. As they respond to these shifts, legislators and regulators are embracing information as a regulatory device for tech. Far from limiting themselves to public disclosure, consumer notice, and other traditional mechanisms of fostering transparency and information flows, however, legislators are using other, more nuanced tools to incentivize regulated entities to obtain, generate, and share information.

This Article maps the landscape of the emerging information-based regimes for regulating tech and assesses their conceptual and practical implications. It canvasses an extensive set of recently enacted laws regulating the information economy and shows that, …

Preparing Clinician-Educators: Otd Students' Perceptions Of An Intraprofessional Teaching–Learning Experience, Dianna Lunsford, Anne M. Moscony, Blair Carsone

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Professional communication and the educator role are essential entry-level competencies in occupational therapy. To date, and to the authors' knowledge, no published study has used an inductive qualitative approach to examine how entry-level occupational therapy doctoral students describe and make meaning of a structured teaching-learning assignment that pairs them with occupational therapy assistant students and casts them in the role of teacher and evaluator. This retrospective qualitative study examined occupational therapy doctoral students' perceptions of a structured peer teaching–learning assignment grounded in the Learning by Teaching framework. Participants included entry-level occupational therapy doctoral students in their final year of study …

Equal Justice & Generative Ai, Milan R. Markovic

Faculty Scholarship

The United States has long suffered from unequal access to justice, with countless low-and middle-income Americans forced to navigate the legal system alone. Recently, prominent judges, lawyers, and scholars have seized on generative AI as a potential corrective. These techno-optimists maintain that ChatGPT and other large language models can demystify the law and address unmet legal needs. Chief Justice John Roberts has proclaimed that AI-based tools "have the welcome potential to smooth out any mismatch between available resources and urgent needs in our court system."

Although AI will be an increasingly important source of legal assistance for underserved populations, the …

Artificial Intelligence: Current Uses In Occupational Therapy Education, Breanna Chycinski, Rebecca Tauber, Brina Crown, Caitlin Noble, Meredith Murphy

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Although artificial intelligence (AI) may be an advantageous tool to enhance learning, its societal impacts are still widely unexplored. This study examined how AI is utilized in occupational therapy master’s and doctoral educational programs by faculty and students, while also investigating how such programs are preparing students to employ AI in ethical and beneficial ways. Through the lens of the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model, this paper examined relationships among occupational therapy students, faculty, their educational environments, and AI. An online survey was distributed to faculty at accredited occupational therapy programs across the United States. Questions included topics such as classroom practices, …

Maladaptive Mindsets In Occupational Therapy Education: A Scoping Review, Steven D. Taff, Lauren Werning, Kim L. Lipsey, Gregory O. Costas, Maribeth Clifton

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

In educational settings, maladaptive mindsets refer to negative and counterproductive thoughts or beliefs that can adversely impact one’s ability to learn, engage, and respond to challenges. This scoping review aimed to examine how maladaptive mindsets are represented in occupational therapy education literature and their reported impacts on student learning, mental health, and well-being. Following PRISMA-ScR and established scoping review methodologies, a comprehensive search of six databases yielded 497 unique articles from the last two decades. Only four of the articles met inclusion criteria after screening and full text review. Data was extracted from the four selected articles and analyzed using …

Playfulness, Leisure Motivation, And Coping Skills As Contributors To Graduate Health‑Professions Academic Performance, Amiya Waldman-Levi, Ruth Peer, Noah Frydman, Piermiline Datilus, Suzan Khavkin, Anita Bundy

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Poor mental health affects graduate allied health students’ academic performance. Playfulness, leisure motivation, coping skills, and engagement in leisure activities may contribute to coping with academic stressors. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of leisure participation, playfulness, coping strategies, and anxiety on academic performance of entry-level graduate health professions students. We used a mixed method, exploratory, correlational cross-sectional design to study the relationships between anxiety, playfulness, leisure motivation, coping skills, and academic performance (grade point average) among 108 entry-level occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students. Measures included the Intrinsic Leisure Motivation Scale, Adult Playfulness …

Students’ Perceptions Of The Value And Challenges Of Oral Assessment In An Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Programme, Alexa M. Andrew, Rachel Sayers, Kristy Richards

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Oral assessments are used in undergraduate occupational therapy programs to facilitate students’ ability to articulate their professional reasoning in relation to a case scenario. Oral assessments are seen by assessors/lecturers as crucial preparation for fieldwork placement. Oral assessments are known to provoke anxiety among students. The aim of this research was to explore students’ perspectives of the value and challenges of the oral assessment. The method was qualitative and focus groups and individual interviews were used to collect data. Thematic analysis of the transcripts was conducted using a semantic approach. Four themes emerged as a result of the data analysis: …

Understanding Self-Directed Learning Development In Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Methods Approach, Adrianne Osmundson, Jenna Heffron

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy students enter graduate school at different stages of self-directed learning (SDL) readiness, and SDL skills must be explicitly taught. However, limited consensus exists on how SDL skill development should be incorporated into educational experiences. A retrospective parallel convergent mixed methods study was conducted to elicit an understanding of SDL development in a single cohort of master’s level occupational therapy students (n = 29) who participated in weekly SDL labs during their graduate education. The SDL labs were designed using Knowles’ (1975) seminal definition of SDL related to individuals taking the initiative to determine their needs, goals, strategies, and …

Professional Identity Building Scale (Pibs) Development: Measuring Self-Authorship And Dimensions Of Professional Identity In Graduate Students, Anne M. Haskins, Sarah Nielsen, Nicole C. Harris, Adrienne M. Salentiny, Marilyn G. Klug

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Grounded professional identity is needed for individuals to function successfully within their professions. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a new instrument intended to measure the professional identity of graduate students. Within a recursive methodological design, we developed a 71-item Professional Identity Building Scale (PIBS) based on a new conceptualized combination of Baxter Magolda’s Epistemological Reflection Model phases and Villanueava and Nadelson’s dimensions of professional identity. We pilot tested 129 occupational therapy graduate students at two sites in two states, adjusted the instrument and then retested the PIBS with data from 347 respondents in the same …

Recalibrating Readiness: Pandemic Impact On Ot Admissions, Bridget J. Hahn, Kajol Patel, Jacquelyn A. Siegel, Jessica Rappaport, Michelle Mcfall-Johnsen, Kia A. Burks

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study explored shifts in occupational therapy applicant characteristics across two distinct time periods: pre- and post-COVID-19, while also describing admissions policy changes implemented by an urban Midwestern Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program. Retrospective data from admissions records from 917 applicants (2017 – 2024) were grouped into pre-COVID (2017 – 2020) and post-COVID (2021 – 2024). Academic, pre-professional, interview, and underrepresented minority (URM) status was compared using independent t-tests and chi-square analyses. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) and research experience increased post-pandemic, while pre-professional experience and interview performance declined. The proportion of URM applicants rose significantly from 8.1% pre-COVID to …

Comparing Pre-Occupational Therapy Student Intercultural Competence Through Local And Global Service Learning, Leah S. Dunn, Diane Ceo-Difrancesco

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study examined undergraduate pre-occupational therapy student intercultural competence (ICC) development through a local or global service-learning experience. Using a mixed-method approach, responses to the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence among Healthcare Professions-Student Version (IAPCC-SV) were compared as well as a content analysis of student essays before and after the service-learning experience to determine ICC growth. Both groups demonstrated ICC growth, but global participants continued their development past the experience. Student essays revealed themes of dissonance, reflection, transformation, and advocacy, with local students focusing on clients and global students adopting broader advocacy goals. Immersive experiences in occupational …

A Rasch Analysis Of The Self-Assessment Scale Of Clinical Reasoning In Occupational Therapy (Sa-Crot) For Continuing Professional Development, Sho Maruyama, Reiko Miyamoto, Takuya Hirose, Takao Kaneko, Peter Bontje

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to establish structural validity, internal reliability, and concurrent validity of the Self-Assessment scale of Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy (SA-CROT) when used in continuing professional development. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 513 occupational therapists with ≤5 years of experience. Rasch analysis was applied to assess structural validity (rating scale functioning, monotonicity, dimensionality, item/person fit) and reliability (item/person reliability, strata). Additionally, concurrent validity was examined by Spearman’s correlation with clinical experience. The Rasch rating scale analysis supported the structural validity of the SA-CROT. Categories showed ordered thresholds with outfit mean-square (MnSq) values ranging from …

Perceived Impacts Of Confucianism On Placement Experiences Of Hong Kong Pre-Registration Occupational Therapy Students In The United Kingdom, Hin Yuet Li, Sarah Louise Mcginley, Rachel Dadswell, Rachel Houweling

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study explored the views of Hong Kong pre-registration occupational therapy (OT) students in the United Kingdom (UK) about how Chinese culture influenced their practice placement experiences. Students from diverse cultural backgrounds may encounter various challenges during OT placements, but little is known about how OT students from Hong Kong—where Confucianism traditionally shapes workplace expectations and the hierarchical teacher‑student relationship—experience placements in the UK. Two online focus groups to collect qualitative data were conducted in November 2022 with four participants who were UK-based OT students from Hong Kong (N=8 in total), two facilitators (OT students from Hong Kong, based in …

From Classroom To Care: A Pilot Level I Fieldwork Experience Building Acute Care Self-Efficacy, Hannah Y. Oldenburg, Jennifer Bergstrom, Traci Kruse, Tamra Trenary, Corey Mcgee

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Level I fieldwork provides an opportunity for occupational therapy students to be exposed to the occupational therapy framework and process across various practice settings. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding introductory fieldwork experiences for occupational therapy students in complex medical settings, specifically acute care. Researchers implemented a seven-week Level I fieldwork experience at two Midwest trauma centers, utilizing a mixed-methods, two-cohort design with 12 students and 16 practitioners. The program featured a blended Level I fieldwork supervision model, combining faculty-led and traditional on-site supervision. Over the seven-week period, students showed significant improvement in their perceived self-efficacy regarding …

Examining The Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Knowledge And Fieldwork Performance Among Canadian Student Occupational Therapists, Madelyn Walther, Viansa Guiotto, Rhona Anderson, Emily S. Ho

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

To evaluate the physical aspects of occupational performance, occupational therapists must understand the anatomical structure and function of the body. As such, occupational therapy academic programs must provide sufficient foundational musculoskeletal (MSK) education to prepare student occupational therapists for successful clinical practice. There is a paucity of research on MSK educational needs, and the relationship between student occupational therapists’ MSK academic outcomes and fieldwork performance. This study examined the relationship between MSK anatomy course academic grades and fieldwork performance indicators on the Competency-Based Fieldwork Evaluation for Occupational Therapists (CBFE-OT) of student occupational therapists. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was conducted …

Effectiveness Of The Aota Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Participants, Susan M. Higgins, Tiffany Benaroya

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork educators are essential in educating future occupational therapy practitioners, yet they are often not formally trained for this role. Fieldwork educator preparation programs may help strengthen educator effectiveness; however, limited research has examined the impact of these programs. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Fieldwork Educator Certificate Program (FWECP) is a two-day professional development course designed to enhance the supervisory and teaching competencies of fieldwork educators. This study examined the effectiveness of the FWECP from the perspective of participants who completed the program between June 2019 and June 2024. An anonymous retrospective survey was distributed to past participants, yielding …

Development Of A Comprehensive Practical Exam (Cope) Assessment Process For Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students, Robert E. Larson, Cynthia Tiongco, Sandra M. Whisner, Laurie D. Stelter, Laura Alexander, Megan R. Taylor, Molly Setliff, Paula Perkins, Belinda D. Alexander, James Matthew D. Geddie

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Measures are needed to ensure students are adequately prepared for clinical experiences. A Comprehensive Practical Exam (CoPE) was developed based on high fidelity simulation and an Observed Structured Clinical Examination format to assess readiness for Level II fieldwork. Teams of faculty developed multiple case simulations with consistent components across the cases for first- and second-year student cohorts. Rubrics were developed for grading student performance on the simulations with categories required for Level I fieldwork completion as well as other components required for success on Level II fieldwork. The CoPE included three components: chart review/preparation, client interaction, and documentation. The first-year …

Hands-On: Integrating Active Learning Into An Upper Extremity Occupational Therapy Elective, Jennifer Radziak, Katie Jones, Kelsey Picha

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

In an effort to provide students with advanced clinical practice skills, several occupational therapy elective courses were developed. The current article describes an educational innovation that involved an in-person elective course for graduate second year Master of Science in Occupational Therapy students that focused on the upper extremity. The course was team-taught, promoted active learning, and used unique activities to engage students in the learning process. Relevant evidence-based practice literature and clinical guidelines were incorporated into the course to teach students about the treatment of upper extremity conditions. The active learning strategies implemented in the course included fresh donor dissection, …