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Reliability And Generalizability Of An Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Assessment Tool In Japan, Keiko Takeuchi, Hirotaka Onishi Jan 2026

Reliability And Generalizability Of An Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Assessment Tool In Japan, Keiko Takeuchi, Hirotaka Onishi

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapists require high-quality clinical education to develop the skills needed for safe and effective practice. In Japan, the duration of occupational therapy education is shorter than in many other countries and the rapid expansion of training schools has created new challenges for assuring the quality of fieldwork. Assessment tools used in long-term clinical training must therefore provide sufficient reliability to support fair pass–fail decisions and meaningful feedback. This study examined the reliability of two conventional learner assessment tools used in one Japanese occupational therapy program: a 17-item supervisor rating form and a 10-item faculty rating form completed after debriefing …

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Advancing Interprofessional Communication: Preliminary Outcomes Of A Novel Collaboration Framework In A Student Head Injury Clinic, Natalia Noce, Kelly Ann Pena, Susan Paparella, Andrew Lynch, Erin Keller, Aaron Dallman, Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia Jan 2026

Advancing Interprofessional Communication: Preliminary Outcomes Of A Novel Collaboration Framework In A Student Head Injury Clinic, Natalia Noce, Kelly Ann Pena, Susan Paparella, Andrew Lynch, Erin Keller, Aaron Dallman, Pamela Rothpletz-Puglia

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

When healthcare providers practice interprofessional practice, care improves, and medical errors are reduced. Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) principles and the Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Patient Performance and Safety (TeamSTEPPS®) frameworks are utilized in healthcare education to develop interprofessional collaborative practice skills, but there is little understanding of how these skills change over time. We sought to evaluate the development of interprofessional collaborative practice skills by examining graduate occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students' first-hand reports of their experiences over time in an interprofessional head injury clinic. We employed an applied interpretive qualitative research approach longitudinally collecting …

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Student And Faculty Perspectives On Perceived Stress, Coping, And Educational Practice In A Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Kristen Morgus, Tiffany Karalis Noel, Christopher Stavisky Jan 2026

Student And Faculty Perspectives On Perceived Stress, Coping, And Educational Practice In A Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Kristen Morgus, Tiffany Karalis Noel, Christopher Stavisky

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This mixed methods study examined occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students' and faculty members' perceptions of supports and challenges influencing perceived stress, with the aim of generating actionable recommendations for OTA education. While existing literature offered information regarding stressors and coping mechanisms for occupational therapy and non-traditional students, the confluence of these two identities in this OTA student population, as well as faculty perspectives, presented an underexplored area of inquiry. Specifically, this study examined how the intersection of OTA student identity and non-traditional student status influenced perceived stress, an underrepresented focus in the existing occupational therapy education literature. Data were collected …

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Breathe Before The Exam: A Single-Session Yoga Intervention For Anxiety Reduction In Doctoral Ot Students, Bridget Hahn, Lamis Alnatafgi, Amanda Barbour, Samantha Benak, Leah Downey, Emily Servin Jan 2026

Breathe Before The Exam: A Single-Session Yoga Intervention For Anxiety Reduction In Doctoral Ot Students, Bridget Hahn, Lamis Alnatafgi, Amanda Barbour, Samantha Benak, Leah Downey, Emily Servin

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

First-year occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students face significant academic stress, yet accessible, evidence-based wellness interventions remain underutilized in graduate occupational therapy education. This study examined the effects of a single pre-exam yoga session on state anxiety and exam performance among first-year OTD students at a Midwestern university. Using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Form Y-1 (STAI-Y1), anxiety was assessed before and after a 60-minute yoga session held immediately prior to a first-term midterm exam. Midterm exam scores were compared to those of a historical control cohort from the preceding academic year; final exam scores were also compared to assess baseline cohort …

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Enhancing Occupational Therapy Students' Knowledge Of Menstrual Health: A Quantitative Pilot Study, Glynnis Jones, Skylar Edwards, Allison Bressette, Emilie Wright, Michelle Hiller Jan 2026

Enhancing Occupational Therapy Students' Knowledge Of Menstrual Health: A Quantitative Pilot Study, Glynnis Jones, Skylar Edwards, Allison Bressette, Emilie Wright, Michelle Hiller

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study examined preliminary effects of a targeted learning module on occupational therapy students’ knowledge and perceived understanding of the profession’s role in menstrual health. Although menstrual health is a universal biological process, it remains underrepresented in occupational therapy curricula. Guided by occupational justice theory, this project aimed to enhance awareness within professional education to promote equity. A quasi-experimental, pre-posttest design assessed changes following completion of a self-paced online module. Fourteen second-year students from accredited occupational therapy programs participated. Subjects completed pre- and post-intervention knowledge assessments and the Menstrual Health Understanding Questionnaire (MHUQ), a 5-point Likert scale measuring perceived understanding …

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Primitive Reflex Integration Training For Occupational Therapy Students In India, Nalini Sripall, Samuel K. Durairaj, Arun Kumar, Suja A. Chandrasekaran Jan 2026

Primitive Reflex Integration Training For Occupational Therapy Students In India, Nalini Sripall, Samuel K. Durairaj, Arun Kumar, Suja A. Chandrasekaran

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Primitive Reflex Integration (PRI) is an important intervention for occupational therapists for the treatment of neurological, motor, and sensory processing issues in children. The topic is clinically relevant, yet there is scarce formal education available on the subject for occupational therapists in India. A needs assessment survey was developed and implemented to better understand the knowledge related to PRI of 40 postgraduate occupational therapy students in India. The needs assessment showed that most of the students were aware of PRI but were not consistently using PRI techniques to treat retained primitive reflexes. The participants also noted barriers, such as a …

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Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy Doctorate And Doctor Of Osteopathic Medicine Students: Interprofessional Education In Fall Prevention, Linda Frasier, John V. Rider Jan 2026

Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy Doctorate And Doctor Of Osteopathic Medicine Students: Interprofessional Education In Fall Prevention, Linda Frasier, John V. Rider

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Falls among older adults are a pervasive public health concern that requires coordinated interprofessional strategies. Interprofessional education (IPE) can enhance collaboration and role clarity among students in health professions, particularly in geriatric care, where complex medical, functional, and environmental factors intersect. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an IPE event involving entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students focused on fall prevention in older adults. A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed to analyze written reflections from 125 students following their participation in a standardized patient IPE event. Small interprofessional …

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Factors Influencing The Access To Activity Resources Of Occupational Therapy Students During Work-Integrated Learning: A South African Perspective, Karin Van Niekerk, Mischa Viviers, Sunike Nel, Thandi Pelebese Takalo, Reitumetse Georgia Mofutsana, Yi-Fang Chen, Carla Faber Jan 2026

Factors Influencing The Access To Activity Resources Of Occupational Therapy Students During Work-Integrated Learning: A South African Perspective, Karin Van Niekerk, Mischa Viviers, Sunike Nel, Thandi Pelebese Takalo, Reitumetse Georgia Mofutsana, Yi-Fang Chen, Carla Faber

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Activities are the backbone of occupational therapy intervention. In order to effectively use activities during Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements, occupational therapy students require access to appropriate activity resources. This study explored the factors influencing the access to activity resources of South African occupational therapy students from the University of Pretoria during their undergraduate education and how this potentially affected student learning. A qualitative descriptive design was used. Fourteen participants with WIL experience were selected through purposive and quota sampling to ensure diversity in living situations and WIL experience. Data were collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews and were analyzed thematically. Six …

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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 Jan 2026

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 …

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What Motivates Occupational Therapy Students To Self-Study Anatomy, Samantha Williams, Athena Kirou-Mauro, Kelly Hennessy, Lexi Davidson, Emily S. Ho Jan 2026

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, …

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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 Jan 2026

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. …

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Exploring And Enhancing The Accommodations Process For Disabled Students In Occupational Therapy Education: An Action Research Study, Danbi Lee, Emma Gregg, Keri Degroot Jan 2026

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 …

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Disability Accommodation Implementation Within Occupational Therapy Academia: A National Descriptive Survey On Knowledge, Training, And Attitudes, Nicole Pawek, Julie Olson Rand, Rebecca Ozelie, Hannah Y. Oldenburg Jan 2026

Disability Accommodation Implementation Within Occupational Therapy Academia: A National Descriptive Survey On Knowledge, Training, And Attitudes, Nicole Pawek, Julie Olson Rand, Rebecca Ozelie, Hannah Y. Oldenburg

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs are accredited health professional programs that have, anecdotally, seen an increase in requested disability accommodations among students over the last decade. There is limited knowledge regarding faculty preparedness, available resources, and attitudes related to implementing accommodations in accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs located in the United States. Researchers aimed to describe faculty knowledge and experience with disability accommodation implementation, as well as identify available training and resources related to accommodation implementation and faculty attitudes toward the accommodation implementation process. Researchers used the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) …

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Teaching Crisis Co-Regulation In Occupational Therapy: A Pilot Study Of A Simulation-Based Role-Play, Carli Dimeo, Allen Keener, Elizabeth G. Hunter Jan 2026

Teaching Crisis Co-Regulation In Occupational Therapy: A Pilot Study Of A Simulation-Based Role-Play, Carli Dimeo, Allen Keener, Elizabeth G. Hunter

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Health professions educators have identified a need for tools to assess student competence in de-escalation and co-regulation. Despite the importance of proficiency with these clinical skills, there is little evidence examining effective approaches for teaching and assessing these skills in occupational therapy students. This pilot study utilized a simulation-based role-play experience to determine the feasibility of a teaching method for occupational therapy students to apply these skills in psychosocial scenarios. Activities were conducted as a required component of a Psychosocial and Community Practice course. Prior to the simulation, students completed instruction addressing emotional regulation and co-regulation. Students then practiced these …

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Interprofessional Simulation Improves Confidence For Fieldwork In Acute Care Settings, Valley Mccurry, Tara S. Pearce, Chris Eidson, Patricia Perez Jan 2026

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 …

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Evaluating A Global Occupational Therapy Telementoring Program: An 18-Month Pre–Post Analysis Of Ot Echo, Sarah Mckinnon, Kate Barlow, Kelsey Sullivan, John Wong Jan 2026

Evaluating A Global Occupational Therapy Telementoring Program: An 18-Month Pre–Post Analysis Of Ot Echo, Sarah Mckinnon, Kate Barlow, Kelsey Sullivan, John Wong

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Global inequities in access to mentorship and continuing professional development limit workforce growth and clinical capacity in occupational therapy. OT ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), an international telementoring and professional development program utilizing the Project ECHO model, was developed to provide accessible, case-based professional development to occupational therapists worldwide. This study employed a repeated-measures pre–post evaluation design across 18 monthly OT ECHO sessions conducted between December 2023 and June 2025. Each session included a brief didactic presentation, case-based discussion, and facilitated small-group breakout sessions. Participants completed pre- and post-session knowledge assessments consisting of three to four multiple-choice questions aligned …

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Boosting Visibility And Engagement: How Social Media Transforms Recruitment For A Doctorate-Level Occupational Therapy Program, Rebecca Ozelie, Ashley Hong, Rachel Lowenthal, Ava M. Robinson, Grace Steffen Jan 2026

Boosting Visibility And Engagement: How Social Media Transforms Recruitment For A Doctorate-Level Occupational Therapy Program, Rebecca Ozelie, Ashley Hong, Rachel Lowenthal, Ava M. Robinson, Grace Steffen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Social media use has become an essential strategy for university recruitment and admissions to attract prospective students and influence their graduate school acceptance decisions. Platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook play a significant role in shaping students’ perceptions and research about universities. While other allied health professions have benefited from increased social media use for recruitment, the impact on occupational therapy programs remains underexplored. Research indicates that social media advertising strategies can enhance program visibility and outreach, yet systemic barriers, financial challenges, and post-coronavirus disease enrollment declines continue to affect admissions. This study examines the influence of social media …

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Obesity Education For Occupational Therapy Students: A Missing Piece?, Laura Stocksborough, Shirley Masterson-Ng Jan 2026

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. …

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Maladaptive Mindsets In Occupational Therapy Education: A Scoping Review, Steven D. Taff, Lauren Werning, Kim L. Lipsey, Gregory O. Costas, Maribeth Clifton Jan 2026

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 …

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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 Jan 2026

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 …

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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 Jan 2026

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 …

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Preparing Clinician-Educators: Otd Students' Perceptions Of An Intraprofessional Teaching–Learning Experience, Dianna Lunsford, Anne M. Moscony, Blair Carsone Jan 2026

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 …

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Understanding Self-Directed Learning Development In Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Methods Approach, Adrianne Osmundson, Jenna Heffron Jan 2026

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 …

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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 Jan 2026

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 …

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Psychosocial And Behavioral Health Fieldwork: Impact On Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Stigma And Confidence, Tiffany L. Benaroya, Ann A. Murphy, Michelle Zechner, Meredith Cimmino, Margaret Swarbrick Jan 2026

Psychosocial And Behavioral Health Fieldwork: Impact On Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Stigma And Confidence, Tiffany L. Benaroya, Ann A. Murphy, Michelle Zechner, Meredith Cimmino, Margaret Swarbrick

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study examined the impact of psychosocial and behavioral health fieldwork experiences on occupational therapy assistant students’ attitudes toward individuals with serious mental illness and their confidence in working with this population. The study compared different fieldwork experiences among 30 occupational therapy assistant students from multiple cohorts to assess potential changes in stigmatizing attitudes and confidence across four different measures: the Attribution Questionnaire – 9, the Mental Illness Clinician’s Attitudes Scale v 4, the Knowledge Test of Mental Illness, and the Student Confidence Questionnaire. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a statistically significant reduction in stigma from pre- to post-placement (p=0.04) on …

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Occupational Therapy Assistant Students’ Perceptions Of Level I Fieldwork Instructional Methods: A Mixed Methods Study, Tiffany L. Benaroya, Susan M. Higgins Jan 2026

Occupational Therapy Assistant Students’ Perceptions Of Level I Fieldwork Instructional Methods: A Mixed Methods Study, Tiffany L. Benaroya, Susan M. Higgins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Level I fieldwork is a cornerstone of occupational therapy assistant (OTA) education. Placement shortages have prompted OTA programs to expand instructional methods beyond traditional methods to include standardized patients, faculty-led site visits, simulated and virtual environments, and non-traditional placements. Limited research has examined OTA student perceptions of these instructional methods. Therefore, this study explored OTA student preferences, recommendations for future use, and perceived strengths and challenges of Level I fieldwork instructional methods. Nineteen OTA students completed surveys in Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 in this retrospective mixed methods study. Students ranked instructional methods directly experienced in Level I fieldwork: traditional …

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Reimagining Level I Fieldwork: A Virtual Home-Based Observation Model In Occupational Therapy Education, Tara Mansour, Colleen Muse, Nicole Williams, Rachel Pittmann Jan 2026

Reimagining Level I Fieldwork: A Virtual Home-Based Observation Model In Occupational Therapy Education, Tara Mansour, Colleen Muse, Nicole Williams, Rachel Pittmann

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork is essential to occupational therapy education, yet placement demand and constraints on clinician capacity require programs to consider innovative approaches to practice-based learning. Home-based practice is especially difficult to offer as a traditional Level I placement because of travel and space constraints inherent to how services are delivered. This educational innovation describes and evaluates a structured virtual home-based Level I fieldwork model implemented through a partnership between an entry-level occupational therapy program and a national rehabilitation provider. Students completed five live virtual observations of services delivered in clients' living environments. The model, now in its fifth year, incorporated prebriefing, …

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Nbcot First-Time Pass Rates At A Hispanic-Serving Institution: The Role Of Academic Metrics And Primary Language, Timothy Tu Jan 2026

Nbcot First-Time Pass Rates At A Hispanic-Serving Institution: The Role Of Academic Metrics And Primary Language, Timothy Tu

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This retrospective study examined academic and demographic predictors of first-time success on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam among graduates (N = 82) from the classes of 2019 through 2022 at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Despite demographic growth, Hispanic and linguistically diverse practitioners remain underrepresented in the profession. Analyzed variables included self-reported primary language, undergraduate GPA (UGPA), prerequisite GPA (PGPA), Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and Occupational Therapy Knowledge Exam (OTKE) performance. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 31. Three factors significantly predicted first-time NBCOT pass status: UGPA (p = .010), OTKE scores …

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“Oh, You’Ve Come To Visit The Yard?”: Phenotypic Capital, Intragroup Marginalization, And The Gated Sanctuary In Black Lgbtq+ Communities, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Nicole Campbell, Laneshia Conner, Julian K. Glover, Janet K. Otachi, Dekeitra Griffin Jan 2026

“Oh, You’Ve Come To Visit The Yard?”: Phenotypic Capital, Intragroup Marginalization, And The Gated Sanctuary In Black Lgbtq+ Communities, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Nicole Campbell, Laneshia Conner, Julian K. Glover, Janet K. Otachi, Dekeitra Griffin

Social Work Faculty Publications

Identity-based communities that share common characteristics, beliefs, and experiences (e.g., Black LGBTQ+ communities) have historically been conceptualized as protective bubbles that buffer Black LGBTQ+ individuals against the deleterious effects of systemic racism and cisheterosexism. However, this monolithic narrative often masks the internal power dynamics that divide belonging. This study explores the exclusionary dynamics embedded within these safe spaces, examining how internal hierarchies of skin tone, socioeconomic status, and gender performance function as proximal stressors. Guided by a critical constructivist paradigm, this study utilized Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyze open-ended survey responses from 74 Black LGBTQ+ adults. Data were drawn from …

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Intergenerational Resilience: Exploring Whether Positive Childhood Experiences Buffer The Transmission Of Harsh And Neglectful Parenting, Patricia J. Dixon Jan 2026

Intergenerational Resilience: Exploring Whether Positive Childhood Experiences Buffer The Transmission Of Harsh And Neglectful Parenting, Patricia J. Dixon

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Childhood abuse and neglect are associated with lasting negative mental and physical health outcomes across the lifespan. In contrast, positive childhood experiences (PCEs) can promote long-term health and wellbeing and mitigate the harmful effects of childhood adversity. A primary risk factor for child maltreatment is parental experiences of maltreatment whereby history of childhood trauma increases the likelihood of utilizing harsh and/or neglectful parenting towards one’s children. This study employed secondary data analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to test whether cumulative PCEs confer protective effects against the generational transmission of harsh and neglectful parenting. Consistent …

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