Digital Commons Network^™

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Supporting Persons With Cognitive And Communication Impairment In Acute Hospital Settings, Molly Bathje, Carole Schwartz, Carly Ebert, Allison Harvey

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

It is estimated that 10.9% of adults in the United States live with a cognitive disability and 10% experience communication disorders. When hospitalized, people who have co-occurring cognitive and communication impairments (CCI) experience more hospital-related complications, longer lengths of stay, and higher risks for readmission and mortality. Co-occurring CCI refers to people who are hospitalized for a primary condition who also have a pre-existing or hospital acquired CCI.

Occupational therapists make important contributions to interprofessional care teams for persons with disabilities in hospital settings. This article explores the complexity of individual- and system-level factors contributing to poorer health outcomes for …

Accessibility Status To Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services: Views From Health Care Providers At A Rehabilitation Hospital In Rwanda, Jean Claude Tuyishime, Lizahn Gracia Cloete, Jerome Peter Fredericks

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapy is a growing profession in Rwanda. Since the commencement of the occupational therapy training program at the University of Rwanda in 2014, accessibility to newly established occupational therapy services in Rwanda is unknown. This study aimed to explore health care providers’ views on access to pediatric occupational therapy services at a rehabilitation hospital in Rwanda.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative design with an interpretive descriptive approach was used. Purposive sampling was employed to select a sample of 10 health care providers working at an orthopedic and rehabilitation hospital in Rwanda. The semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, followed by verbatim …

Personal Narrative As Pedagogy: A Model For Socially Responsive Narrative-Based Education In Occupational Therapy, Johnna Belkiewitz, Sally Wasmuth

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The practice of occupational therapy relies on the collection and analysis of life narratives to provide responsive client-centered care. As developing holistic practitioners, occupational therapy students are taught to consider these shared stories within a larger context of historical and societal systems by acknowledging such factors as social determinants of health. Case studies are a frequently used tool to teach these skills; however, evidence supports that the identities of these educational stories’ authors can influence which perspectives are shared and, ultimately, impact developing occupational therapists’ perpetuation of or opposition to existing systems of oppression. Critical Race Theory and qualitative methodology …

Exploring The Relationship Between Preadmission Grade Point Average And Selected Occupational Therapy Program Outcomes, Robyn Wu, Jason Straub

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Grade point averages (GPAs) are often considered in admissions to occupational therapy programs, but the predictive value of GPAs has not been well-studied. The current study investigated if preadmission GPAs predicted whether students passed all occupational therapy program coursework and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam on the first attempt. We analyzed 419 records of students who had matriculated in a master’s or doctoral occupational therapy program between 2010 and 2019. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the effects of the independent variables science GPA and overall GPA on non-passing grades and on NBCOT …

Occupational Therapy’S Role For Gender-Affirming Genital Surgeries: Metoidioplasty And Phalloplasty, Adam Steuer, Kaysen Walker

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This article explores the new surgical population of gender-affirming surgery, specifically genital surgeries of phalloplasty and metoidioplasty for transgender and gender-diverse people. There are established perioperative rehabilitation guidelines for nearly all other surgeries. A growing population of people is seeking gender-affirming health care that includes genital surgery. This article reviews the guidelines set forth by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care, Version 8, explores the occupational needs of this population, as well as provides suggestions for future versions of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, version 4, to provide more inclusive language for the unique needs …

Examining Content Validity Of Home For Life Design Home Assessment For Home Safety And Accessibility, Debra K. Lindstrom, Jade Nguyen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Older adults aging in place face daily challenges in functional mobility and increased fall risk. Home environments lack accessibility and safety features that promote safety, independence, and longevity. Quality home assessments that are reliable, valid, and efficient are necessary to help determine the safety and accessibility of the built environment for persons aging in place.

Method: A mixed-method study was conducted to determine if the Home for Life Design (HfLD) Home Assessment is a valid assessment for measuring safety and accessibility in the home. Eight experienced occupational therapists completed a Content Validity Index (CVI) and qualitative interview …

Evaluation Of An Occupational Therapy Intervention In Prisons To Prepare Incarcerated Individuals For Successful Community Reentry, Dalenna Bellum, Sue Dahl-Popolizio, R. Curtis Bay, Angela Zhu, Jeremiah Fine, Bruce Kotter, Abbey Glenn, Rebecca L. Wolf

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Literature suggests that to reduce recidivism and facilitate successful community reintegration, incarcerated individuals need life skills training before release. This study evaluated the effectiveness of such an occupational therapy (OT) program.

Methods: We provided and evaluated a 12-session pilot OT program with incarcerated men providing life skills education for community reentry. We used forced-choice and open-ended questions with pre/post Employee Self-Assessment Tool (ESAT), assessing interpersonal, self-management, analytical skills, and skills used in an organization, and Life Skills Program Daily Surveys (LSDS) assessing participants’ perceptions of program effectiveness.

Results: Ninety-three of the residents participated; 69 completed …

Patient-Generated Graphs To Measure Pain And Fatigue In Persons With Neuralgic Amyotrophy, Renske Mj Janssen, Jos Ijspeert, Jan T. Groothuis, Nens Van Alfen, Alexander Ch Geurts, Maud Jl Graff, Tanya L. Packer, Edith Hc Cup

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Patients with neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) often experience limitations in daily activities because of pain and fatigue. Visual analogue graphs with a 24-hour x-axis can be used to rate pain and fatigue severity during a typical day. This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the visual analogue graphs in patients with NA.

Method: Eight patients completed pain and fatigue graphs on three moments to examine inter-rater and test-retest reliability using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs). Concurrent validity (n = 47) was tested by determining correlations between mean pain graph scores and numerical rating scale for pain (NRS-pain) and …

Influence Of A Disrupted Practice Context On Occupational Therapists' Clinical Reasoning: A Qualitative Study, Perrine Vermeulen, Joseph-Omer Dyer, Marie-Christine Hallé, Marjorie Gingras, Anne Mingant, Manon Parisien, Annie Rochette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Clinical reasoning in occupational therapy involves integrating client factors, professional knowledge, and practice context to guide decision-making. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health care contexts, potentially affecting therapists' reasoning. This study explored the factors that influenced occupational therapists' clinical reasoning during this crisis.

Method: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured remote interviews with 11 occupational therapists in Quebec, Canada. The 60-min interviews, realized in 2021 and 2022, were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed inductively to identify reasoning-related themes. Deductive analysis involved coding text segments based on the 14 domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. Transcripts were coded by …

A Survey-Based Quantification Of Imposter Phenomenon In Occupational Therapy, Dina Prisco, Siobhan Walsh

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Imposter phenomenon is a professional issue that negatively affects health professionals’ performance and well-being. This study examined imposter phenomenon’s prevalence in occupational therapy (OT). Researchers hypothesized that imposter phenomenon is prevalent in OT, more so in underrepresented groups. The rate of imposter phenomenon throughout OT was quantified and rates between demographic groups compared.

Method: This study used an exploratory, survey-based research design. Survey sections included informed consent, demographics, and the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). The CIPS measured rates of imposterism. Analyses of variances and independent group t-tests were performed to identify significant differences between groups. Inclusion criteria …

D.A.D.S. Club: Pilot Study Outcomes Of A 5-Week Parenting Program For Fathers In Recovery From Substance Use Disorder, Oaklee Rogers, Kristin Riordan, Elaina Corbin, Shannon Forman, Kara Grace Zahariades, Andrea Clemens, Keely Mcdowell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Over 44 million adults have a substance use disorder, with approximately two million children living with a parent with this disorder. Approximately 40% to 60% of men who receive treatment have a child under 18 years of age. However, most parenting programs are developed and implemented for mothers with addiction, leaving fathers without this fundamental knowledge and skills.

Method: A pilot study using a longitudinal interventional study was conducted to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of an occupational therapy-developed program for fathers in recovery. Pre and post surveys, including the Parenting Sense of Competence, were collected from the …

Sensory Processing And Sleep In Infants And Toddlers In Health Provider Shortage Areas - A Cohort Study, Bryan M. Gee, Nicki L. Aubuchon-Endsley

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study delves into the interplay between sleep quality and sensory processing in infants and toddlers in underserved rural areas in the U.S. Despite established links between these variables in typically developing children, limited research explores this relationship in communities facing elevated rates of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders.

Methods: We aimed to examine the connections between sensory processing at 10, 14, and 18 months postpartum and sleep quality at 18 months in a rural and medically underserved setting. A total of 44-53 participants completed the questionnaire and survey measures at the specified time points.

Results: Utilizing the Infant …

Perspectives Of School-Based Occupational Therapists, Hannah Smiles, Charlie Mechling, Steven D. Taff, Lauren E. Milton

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: In the United States, schools are the second largest employer of occupational therapists (AOTA, 2020a). While research on school-based topics exist, to date there is no comprehensive study on school-based occupational therapy (OT) practice. The purpose of this study was to describe current implementation of the school-based OT process and better understand perspectives of school-based occupational therapists.

Methods: This descriptive study consisted of a researcher-developed survey with open- and close-ended demographic and practical questions related to the school-based OT process. A convenience sample of school-based occupational therapists were recruited with a snowball recruitment strategy via email and …

Guidelines For Conducting Survey Research: Part 2 – Administration And Analysis, Rob Lyerla, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In the Fall 2024 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT), the letter from the editor discussed the background of survey research and introduced the readers to a guideline for conducting research with a focus on survey development and recruitment of participants (Dirette & Lyerla, 2024). In this issue, we are following up with Part 2, which focuses on administering a survey and analyzing the results. We hope you find these guidelines useful for conducting quality survey research.

Born To Be Tough: Traditional Masculinity Ideology And Help-Seeking Attitude In Chinese-Indonesian Men, Rachel Theophilia Chandra, Karel Karsten Himawan Dr.

Psychological Research on Urban Society

Despite growing mental health literacy, a gender gap remains in accessing professional assistance, with men often hesitating to seek assistance despite exhibiting poor mental health indicators. This quantitative study investigates the contribution of traditional masculinity ideology to professional help-seeking attitudes among Chinese–Indonesian men using hierarchical regression analysis. Data were collected from 115 Chinese–Indonesian men aged 18–25 years (M = 21.757; SD = 2.050) using the Masculine Role Norms Inventory-Short Form (MRNI-SF) and Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF). Results revealed that traditional masculinity ideology significantly predicts (11.4%) professional help-seeking attitudes among young Chinese–Indonesian men. This study suggests …

Reconstructing Faulkner: Project Digitizes Author's Personal Library, University Of Mississippi. Marketing And Communications

News About the Faulkner Library Project

The Department of Archives and Special Collections in the University of Mississippi Libraries is partnering with Rowan Oak to re-create Faulkner's extensive collection of books, encyclopedias and novels on a digital platform. The effort will make the noted author's inspiration available to researchers and avid readers alike.

The Psychological Effects Of Childhood Trauma On Adult Relationships, Anna B. Dunford

Student Works

This literature review explores the long-term psychological effects of childhood trauma on adult relationships. Drawing on empirical studies and theoretical frameworks such as attachment theory and the intergenerational transmission of trauma, the review uses findings from recent research on how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shape adult relationship dynamics. Through a mixed-methods approach, electronic searches were conducted using databases such as PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar to identify relevant literature on the psychological effects of childhood trauma on adult relationships. Specifically, the paper examines three interconnected domains: attachment styles, emotional regulation, and relationship satisfaction. The reviewed literature reveals a consistent association …

The Effects Of Studying Literary History On American College Students, Mia Hoetker

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

This study explores the effects that studying literary texts from diverse cultures around the world has on American college students. The goal of this study is to understand what benefits (and risks, if any) students experience when they become familiar with major texts from cultures that are different from their own. The students that chose to participate in this study are both past and present students from Literary History I and II courses at Boise State University. Data from past students was collected through an online survey including questions about their experiences studying texts from global literary history. This is …

Website Under Construction, Rebecca Lauck Cleary

Blog Posts

The University of Mississippi has implemented a new web content management system (CMS). The Center for the Study of Southern Culture is in the process of migrating our site to the new CMS platform, and the content on this site may not fully reflect the current status of programs, plans or resources.

Equity And Diversity Minutes 04/15/2025, Equity And Diversity Committee

Equity and Diversity Committee

No abstract provided.

Planning Minutes 04/15/2025, Planning Committee

Planning Committee

No abstract provided.

Oer Leadership Interview, Elle Dimopoulos, Adronisha Frazier

OER & Beyond - Blog Archive

Open educator leaders are informing students, faculty, instructional designers, and stakeholders about the many opportunities regarding OERs in an effort to positively impact education spaces globally, nationally, and at state levels. We sent a few questions to two leaders in open education to share their experiences with OERs, the pathway to supporting OERs in their respective states, and what they foresee in the near future in digital technology.

White Pupil Fibre-Fed Echelle Spectrograph Of The Russian-Turkish 1.5 M Telescope: Optical Design And Analysis, Cevdet Bayar, Nuri̇ Unal

Turkish Journal of Physics

This study presents optical designs of two fibre-fed èchelle spectrographs (FES), which differ from each other in terms of cross-dispersers, and optical analyses of the spectra (orders) obtained from the designs. Optical analyses of both designs were performed by interpreting the results obtained from the spot diagram, footprint diagram, and encircled energy diagram in the ZEMAX (OpticStudio) optical design program. In the first spectrograph design, prisms were used as the cross-disperser. Specifically, two symmetric N-F2 glass prisms with 42-degree apex angles were used as the cross-disperser. In the second design, a grism was used as the cross-disperser. This grism was …

Correlation Of American Board Of Surgery In-Training Exam Metrics In A Post-Percentile Reporting Era, Tyler Arscott, Christopher Pfeifer

2025 Henry Ford Jackson Hospital Research Symposium

Background: The American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam (ABSITE) is an annual exam for all surgical residents that functions as a formative assessment to guide learning. Historically, it has been used as summative tool to guide program directors to identify struggling learners at risk of failing the American Board of Surgery (ABS Qualifying Examination. Failure of the Qualifying Exam has been associated with ABSITE scores below the 30th percentile. Starting in 2025, the ABSITE score reports will eliminate percentile rankings by program year, providing only percent correct and a scaled standard score. This study aims to develop and validate predictive …

Snapshots Issue 20: Effort In Pisa: Insights From Recent Data, Lisa De Bortoli

Snapshots

This issue of Snapshots explores how student effort may vary depending on the perceived stakes of the assessment. We revisit the self-reported levels of effort that students invested in the PISA test and compare them with the effort they indicated they would have made if the results counted towards their school marks. Australia’s results are compared with 21 of the 81 comparison countries and economies that participated in PISA 2022,1 providing a context for understanding Australia’s position in the global education landscape. We then examine effort in PISA among different demographic groups within Australia, which can influence how students approach …

Uncovering Language Bias Towards Written Language Use Among Bilinguals And Individuals With Disabilities, Mu'nis Maen Nazzal

Linguistics ETDs

Language is a fundamental tool of social control. Linguistic bias plays a crucial role in social hierarchies and opportunities. While research has extensively documented linguistic bias in spoken language, less attention has been given to bias in written language. This study investigates students' evaluations of three instructors’ writings: a bilingual, an instructor with a disability, and a monolingual. The study employs a matched-guise technique to explore potential biases in students' perceptions of preference, leadership skills, expertise, and professionalism.

The Friedman Test revealed that while participants showed a preference for the instructor with a disability over the bilingual instructor and the …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda (4/15/2025), Csusb Faculty Senate

CSUSB Faculty Senate records

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Detailed Agenda (4/15/2025), Csusb Faculty Senate

CSUSB Faculty Senate records

No abstract provided.

Dental Board Of California, Isaiah Artis, Katie González

California Regulatory Law Reporter

No abstract provided.

Board Of Pharmacy, Ariana Hussing, Katie González

California Regulatory Law Reporter

No abstract provided.