Digital Commons Network^™

Ot For Acquired Physical Disabilities, Olivia Rousseau, Stephanie Tudela, Jacqueline Needle, Joanne Barnhart, Thuy Do

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Sexuality is often overlooked in the rehabilitation process for adults with newly acquired physical disabilities, and adequate resources are not provided to clients experiencing difficulty with sexual function. This review explored research on the impacts of Occupation-Based Interventions (OBI) on the ability of adults with acquired physical disabilities to engage in sexual activities. Articles were assessed using PRISMA guidelines to review data quality, validity, and risk of bias. Six peer-reviewed articles were examined regarding occupation-based approaches in sexual rehabilitation for adults with spinal cord injuries, amputations, multiple sclerosis, and strokes. Data was analyzed to identify recurring themes and intervention outcomes. …

Medical Providers' Understanding Of The Role Of Ot, Zachery Edwards

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The purpose of this scoping review was to gather information on medical providers’ current understanding of occupational therapy’s (OT) scope of practice and how their understanding impacts OT referrals. The question that guided this review was: does an increase of education on occupational therapies (OT) scope of practice for medical providers increase their understanding of OTs role? Current research highlights an inaccurate understanding of OT’s role by medical providers, which leads to decreased referrals. Further research is needed to determine medical providers’ motivation to receive education on OT’s scope of practice, what education methods are most beneficial, and if that …

Benefits Of Aquatic Therapy In Older Adults, Matile Kaplan

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Aquatic Therapy (AT) helps with physical, mental, and psychosocial components of recovery. Substantial evidence shows that traditional (on-land) therapy has a positive impact on quality of life and occupational performance. However, limited research exists on the impact of combining traditional and aquatic therapies on rehabilitation outcomes and occupational engagement. Aquatic therapy has been a therapeutic modality since 2400 B.C. and is not fully exploited despite having strong evidence of its benefits (B.E. Kauffman & B.W. Kauffman, 2014; Chesapeake Bay Aquatic and Physical Therapy, 2024). There is a large gap in the literature about the benefits of combining aquatic and on-land …

Si & Processing On Student Occupational Engagement, Kyla Campbell

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Sensory Integration (SI) is defined as the brain's ability to organize and respond to information within the body and environment. School-aged children begin school with varying difficulties in SI and processing, which affects their social and academic performances. The field of occupational therapy (OT) promotes engagement in meaningful activities, in which going to school and participating in activities is vital to a child's development and wellbeing. The school setting is the second-largest employer of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in the United States. Children with SI and processing difficulties have decreased participation in the classroom compared to their peers with typical …

Disability, Mental Health & Substance Use In Sgms, Haylee Canadas

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) have higher rates of disability and chronic illness compared to the general population, and current literature suggests that both groups face higher rates of substance misuse and poor mental health outcomes. Despite this, little research has investigated the intersection of these identities. From February to March 2022, data was collected from 1,316 SGM adults living in the US. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between disability status and mental health and substance misuse outcomes while controlling for demographics. After adjusting for covariates, SGMs with a disability had significantly increased odds of anxiety …

Syncope And Fainting Detection Device, Aaliyah Couto

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Syncope and fainting episodes present significant challenges in healthcare, often complicating diagnosis and delaying timely interventions due to the lack of real-time data. These episodes, frequently linked to underlying cardiovascular, neurological, or autonomic dysfunctions, are difficult to diagnose accurately, relying on subjective or incomplete patient-reported symptoms. To address this gap, the proposed solution is a wearable device designed to continuously monitor vital signs during postural changes, providing real-time data to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. The prototype tracks key physiological parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and stress levels, focusing on changes during postural shifts, …

Insurance And Colorectal Cancer Outcomes, Cierra Bradford

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Insurance status plays a pivotal role in CRC outcomes by influencing early detection, access to effective care, and overall survival. This review examined the current research on the relationship between insurance coverage and CRC outcomes between the years 2010-2021, highlighting health disparities and inequities. Findings reveal that those who are uninsured or underinsured face delayed diagnoses, limited access to treatment, and have poorer survival rates compared to those with comprehensive insurance coverage.

Medicaid Expansion And Black Maternal Mortality, Michaela Siver

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Maternal mortality is a national health crisis, disproportionately affecting Black women. The Medicaid expansion program, an optional program at the state level, is responsible for providing coverage for nearly half of all live births in the United States. This research addressed if Medicaid expansion has reduced maternal mortality rates, especially for Black women, when compared to non-expansion states. Multiple literature searches yielded a set of peer-reviewed journal articles and government reports that were used to answer this question. Medicaid expansion has resulted in a significant decline in maternal deaths, with 7.01 fewer casualties per 100,000 births in expansion states as …

Lsvt Big Vs. Boxing: Community Engagement In Pd, Amber Brown, Grace Carolonza, Shannon Fogarty, Alexis Labelle

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive disease that can impair an individual’s ability to engage fully in community activities. This systematic review aimed to compare the effects of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG (LSVT BIG) and non-contact boxing (NCB) on community engagement among individuals with PD. A comprehensive search was conducted across four academic databases—CINHAL, EBSCO Academic Complete, PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, this review assessed risk of bias and levels of evidence using established, industry-standard tools. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed, published between September 2019 and September 2024, focused on either LSVT BIG or NCB, …

Adaptive Skiing And Complex Communication Needs, Jordan Chizmadia

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Participation in adaptive sports, those modified to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, empower athletes by fostering self-determination, helping them recognize their potential, and build confidence (Hajjar et al., 2018; Labbé et al., 2019). Communication is a critical aspect of adaptive sports, enabling athletes to express their needs and understanding of the sport (Hajjar et al., 2016; Hajjar & McCarthy, 2022a). For individuals with complex communication needs (CCN), or those with barriers using natural speech for everyday communication; adaptive skiing can present unique challenges due to communication barriers. Occupational therapists can develop client-centered strategies to adapt communication, incorporating both …

Self-Directed Goals For Forensic Patients, Chapin Graham

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Patients within a forensic setting experience occupational deprivation. This impacts their mental health outcomes, aggressive tendencies, and overall wellness. The purpose of this study was to explore how the setting and achieving of self-directed goals impact forensic patients’ occupational deprivation. The study was a single-group, pre- and post-test pilot study. Participants completed the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) before and after a 10-week treatment period. Treatment included an educational group therapy session one time a week aimed at goal setting and a one-to-one session once per week aimed at setting goals and achieving them. Observation notes were completed after every …

Exposure To Gun Violence In Childhood, Lilly Oliveira

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Gun violence is a growing public health crisis, with firearm-related fatalities rising to 62.5% from 2012 to 2022. Disparities exist with Black and Hispanic individuals, particularly with males and adolescents facing heightened risks. The 2024 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey recruited 1,008 young adults aged 18-25 years who lived in Rhode Island. Exposure to gun violence is disproportionately high among sexual and/or gender minorities (43.9%) and Hispanic youth (44.2%). Exposure to gun violence in childhood is associated with poor mental health outcomes and substance use disorders in adulthood. Those who were exposed to gun violence in childhood had higher odds …

Accessibility In Hospitality, Marina Kearns, Reese Middendorf, Seonwoo Yoo, Kamran Ahmad, Matthew Olszewski, Krista Grant

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Accessibility in hospitality venues can present significant challenges for individuals with both visible and invisible limitations. Individuals may benefit from a range of physical and/or cognitive accommodations. At Johnson & Wales University, the Spring Tiefel Scholars have conducted in-depth research on different aspects of accessibility, including mobility, neurodiversity, sensory impairments, respiratory limitations, religious and cultural considerations, and access for the unhoused. Their goal is to help make Rhode Island’s hospitality venues some of the most accessible in the United States. To achieve this, the Tiefel Fellows collaborated with the College of Health & Wellness and other experts to develop a …

Sensory Intervention For Bereaved Children, Eleanor Gemma

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Bereaved children have unique sensory needs due to unregulated bodily experiences impacting one’s sensory modulation. There is a lack of evidence-based sensory strategies used with children receiving bereavement services in Rhode Island, and little understanding of how sensory strategies can impact client's regulation. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the sensory interventions currently being applied with children who are experiencing bereavement.

Restrictive Masculinity And Depression, Abigail Nosal

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Restrictive masculinity contains rigid traditional norms that reinforce emotional suppression, dominance, and self-reliance, contributing to poor mental health outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine if belief in restrictive masculinity norms was associated with depressive symptoms in young adults. A survey of n=1008 young adults (18-25 years old) living in Rhode Island was completed. Restrictive masculinity was measured using a 12-item questionnaire, and depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item CES-D10. Logistic regression models, stratified by sexual/gender status, were used to estimate the main effects, after adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, and relative social status. Overall, 45.4% of …

Newport Health Equity Zone Development, Kaitlyn Grant

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Newport, Rhode Island, the home of many affluent Rhode Islanders, is not immune to extreme health disparities that plague the rest of the state. The Ocean State’s records report that 15% of all Rhode Island children lived in poverty between 2020 and 2024, of which 76% were children of color. The report also found that 280 families with 559 children stayed in a homeless or emergency shelter last year. To address the unique needs of communities in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Health has established Health Equity Zones. The Health Equity Zone model is a public health initiative …

Building Adolescent Wellness Through Fitness, Serena Mora

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Neurodivergent (ND) adolescents are less physically active than their typically developing (TD) peers. Challenges associated with ND include low self-confidence, high anxiety, impaired social skills, or unwillingness to try new things, which can impact engagement. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to reduce many of these difficulties, having a positive impact on TD peers. (Soga et al., 2015). Current programs available for adolescents that focus on PA are competitive and can increase anxiety. The prevalence of ND conditions continues to rise, so it is crucial to support the social-emotional wellness of ND adolescents. Use of PA can improve independence and …

Does Poverty Increase Crime?, John Weeks

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This study examined whether a correlation exists among crime statistics between communities based on median income, funding levels, and number of police officers. The data was collected from research on 12 communities throughout New Jersey, a state with varying average incomes. The communities were chosen at random. Four communities had an average household annual income of more than $100,000. Four other communities had an average household income between $99,999 and the poverty line. The last four had an average household income below the poverty line. Recognizing possible correlations among these variables can lead to efforts identifying appropriate funding levels, better …

The Genetic Role Of Pcsk 1, Lisbeth Aquino

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 1 (PCSK 1) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder associated with severe digestive issues, delayed puberty, and obesity. The cause of this genetic mutation occurs when a person inherits two copies of an autosomal recessive gene. Recessive traits are more common in families who marry close relatives. When the PCSK 1 gene is negatively impacted, it can impair the enzyme function, worsening the disease. As the gene is being mutated, it can create other mutations such as N309K, RCV001374497-rs143209024, and c.1095 + 1G > A. The N309K gene affects the active site of an enzyme that causes …

Post-Acute Functional Interventions Impact: Sci, Caitlyn Nicholson

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project was a retrospective approach using mixed methods to determine what occupations are being addressed during the residential programs of Empower for those with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and the impact they have on engagement and quality of life (QOL) rating.

Empower is a community-based program that takes place for a few weeks over the summer in different parts of the U.S., with the vision, “A world in which all people living with spinal cord injuries have the freedom to thrive.” As a population, individuals with an SCI experience a life changing event, impacting their function and participation …

Eating Disorders & Restrictive Masculinity, Madalyn Lyons, Jadyn Torres

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Eating disorders, which affect individuals globally, specifically young women, are driven by genetic, environmental and social factors, leading to mental and physical health consequences. In a sample of n=724 young adult cisgender females, a multivariable logistic regression model was conducted for eating disorder on restrictive masculinity scale while controlling for sexual and gender identity, race/ethnicity, age, social status, student status, and employment status. 39.8% of females screened positive for an eating disorder. Adjusting for all else, there was a 2% (95%CI: 1%, 4%) increased odds of eating disorder with each additional unit in the restrictive masculinity scale. Cisgender females with …

Discrimination And Its Effect On Sleep Quality, Kaitlyn Maggiore

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Work-to-family conflict (WFC) is described as the incompatible demands of one’s career and home life. This study sought to understand the impact of perceptions of race, gender and age discrimination on correctional employees’ experience of WFC and sleep quality. It is hypothesized that discrimination in the workplace contributes to poor sleep quality through the mediated effect of WFC. Diversification in the corrections workforce has increased discrimination against women, BIPOC and older adults. This has an impact on WFC and can be linked to negative health outcomes such as poor sleep quality. A cross-sectional survey, contextualized to the corrections workforce was …

Multi-Modal Education And Pediatric Power Mobility, Nicole La Rochelle

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Caregivers of children with mobility impairments desire quick and efficient ways to access educational materials. There is a lack of research surrounding receptivity to the provision of pediatric power mobility educational materials despite evidence of its benefits. This qualitative research study aimed to capture the perspectives of caregivers who are provided education regarding their child’s mobility options. Participants involved in the study are caregivers of children experiencing mobility impairments. They participated in semi-structured interviews to help the investigator understand the lived experience of mobility options for children ages 12-36 months. Periodic unstructured interviews to collect information on the lived experiences …

Feeding The Incarcerated, Morgan Hoopes, Anyka Recio, Natalie Quinilla

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The project is a basic outline of how the mental health of prisoners and the nutritional value of prison food is impacted by budget constraints. Nutritional value and quality of the food provided to incarcerated individuals impacts them physically and mentally. Research shows that budget constraints impact the quality and nutritional value of the food. This project focused on necessary improvements to the food quality while keeping the budget low and cost-effective. The outcome of this project is to make a difference with the nutrition and budget of the food being supplied for incarcerated individuals.

A Path To Wellness & Connection For Adolescents, Shauna Bienvenue

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Adolescents face unique emotional and social challenges that increase their susceptibility to social anxiety. Traditional talk therapy often fails to engage them, highlighting the need for alternative approaches suited to their developmental stage. Creative expression—through drawing, painting, and digital art—provide a safe, nonverbal outlet for self-exploration, allowing adolescents to externalize fears and self-conscious thoughts. This process promotes emotional regulation, enhanced coping skills, boosted self-confidence, and reduces social anxiety symptoms.

This presentation summarized research on the effectiveness of creative expression in adolescent mental health counseling. It highlighted how expressive arts enhanced self-expression, reduced anxiety, and strengthened interpersonal connections, demonstrating their value …

Restrictive Masculinity And Health Checks, Madison Morais

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

General health checks aid in detection and prevention of long-term illness for the individual and their community. Men inadequately seek healthcare compared to women, a scenario further influenced by possessing views of restrictive masculinity. Stratified by sex, multivariable logistic regressions of not meeting annual checkup guidelines and restrictive masculinity scale were computed controlling for sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, age, social status, student status, employment, and insurance status. Adjusting for all else, with each additional unit in restrictive masculinity scale, females had 1.05 (95%CI 1.02, 1.08) and males had 1.05 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.09) times the odds of not meeting annual checkup guidelines. …

Asexuality And Anxiety, Andrea Avila

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Current literature suggests that asexual individuals have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental poor mental health outcomes compared to allosexuals, regardless of sexual and/or gender minority (SGM) identity. However, few studies exist that examine the experiences of asexual individuals. SGM adults were recruited via Reddit to participate in a digital survey hosted on Qualtrics between February-March 2022. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the relationship between anxiety and gender minority status, sex assigned at birth, and being asexual, adjusting demographic variables. In fully adjusted models, gender minorities had significantly increased odds of having anxiety (OR[95% CI] = 1.44 [1.13, 1.84]) …

Neighborhood Safety In Childhood And Anxiety In Adulthood, Ava Rose Esposito, Jenna Mcneil, Chris Botolino, Jonah Phang

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Childhood brain development can be disturbed by traumatic events. A crucial factor in one’s childhood is their surroundings, which includes the neighborhood in which they grew up. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a correlation between feeling safe in neighborhoods as a child and adulthood anxiety. The Rhode Island Young Adult Survey, a digital cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted in 2022 and used to evaluate the behavior and mental health of 18–25-year-olds that have lived in RI for at least part of the year. The sample size of this survey is 1,022 participants. The hypothesis …

Association Of Copd And Depression In Veterans, Zachary Gabbert

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Many veterans are exposed to combat and other forms of trauma. There is research to suggest an association between trauma and chronic disease. Research also indicates an association between veterans’ mental health diagnoses and various physical health domains including pulmonary diseases such as COPD. The study was an analysis of the association between depressive disorders and COPD prevalence between veterans and non-veterans using syndemic theory. Analysis was conducted on data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a national database that collects cross sectional survey data concerning health risk factors, chronic health conditions, access to healthcare, and preventive service.

Living Environment And Mental Health, Jaqueline Daponte, Jacqueline Campuzano, Marissa Grenier, Molly Herold, Amalia Pereira

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The research topic aimed to find the association between living situations and mental health. The sample included young adults in Rhode Island aged 18 to 25 who identified if they were living with roommates, family members, parents, or alone. The importance of researching this topic is to have a deeper understanding of the impact that living situations can have on one's mental health. It is also crucial for guiding individuals in creating better living conditions and providing support for those in need. The research used a digital cross-sectional quantitative survey that was conducted in 2020, 2022, and 2024 that surveyed …