Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Incorporating Music Into Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Abby Kays

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Music in therapy research currently focuses on the role of music therapy in children with behaviors, mood, and social/communication difficulties. However, limited research exists on the role of music in occupational therapy. The purpose of the capstone project was to use music-focused occupation-based interventions with children to improve social/communication skills, mood, and behaviors at a pediatric outpatient clinic. A literature review was completed on the objectives listed above to determine the need of the project. The theoretical foundation of the project is the Ecology of Human Performance Model, focusing on the unique contexts of each child. Music was used in …

A Manualized Occupational Therapy Communication Skills Intervention For Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Kiara Ainsworth, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many individual's participation in daily activities. There is a lack of research in the area of occupational therapy (OT) treatment for veterans with PTSD. However, there has been an expressed need in the literature for a developed intervention for veterans with PTSD that includes communication skills as a component. To date, a manualized communication skills OT intervention for veterans with PTSD has not been created. The purpose of this paper was to develop a resource tool for occupational therapists to utilize as an intervention when treating veterans with PTSD using the framework of the Model …

The Parents' Perspective: Experiences In Parent-Mediated Pediatric Occupational Therapy For Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Allison Klowan, Mary Beth Kadlec, Stefanie Johnston

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Parent-mediated occupational therapy (OT) is a family-centered method of providing care for children and their families. This study aimed to understand and describe the parents’ perspectives of whether parent-mediated OT services improve child participation and parent-child social interactions in the home and community.

Method: This study was performed with a qualitative, phenomenological research design using focus groups. Eight participants were included in the study who were parents of children with at least one NDD, such as autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Results: Four major themes were developed: It’s a Family Affair, Sometimes it Just Takes …

Prison Or Paradise? Perceptions Of Communication Between Cohabitating Couples During Covid-19 Restrictions, Caroline Fenker, Olivia Fisher, Amy Hodel, Clayton Lange, Jory Swider, Jena Thompson

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Purpose: Due to the immediacy of the COVID-19 phenomenon, researchers recognized a need to examine the effects of restrictions on communication patterns between committed, cohabiting partners. Prior literature investigated factors contributing to communication satisfaction; however, a substantial gap remains within the occupational therapy (OT) literature. The study explored perceived satisfaction of quantity and quality of communication before and during COVID-19 restrictions between cohabitating, committed partners and its relation to occupation.

Methods: A questionnaire sent via e-mail recruited subjects from an occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program who self-identified as having quarantined with a committed partner during COVID-19 restrictions. A mixed-methods …

Oral History Service Learning: Veterans Studies And Sosa, Amanda S. Hansford

Veterans Studies Undergraduate Capstones

As professionals, it is important to promote interprofessional education and collaboration among disciplines. This project explores connections between Veterans Studies, Library Science, and Occupational Science / Therapy. An oral history protocol was developed between the student sponsored organization Student Occupational Science Association (SOSA) and the Eastern Kentucky University Veterans Studies academic program. The goal was to promote deeper learning and cultural competency about members of veteran and military communities. Participants also gain leadership and interviewing skills applicable in a variety of career settings.

The model of human occupation (MOHO) guided aspects of the project design is used to discover the …

Perspectives On The Professional Communication Profile And Needs Of Emerging Occupational Therapists Of The Millennial Generation: A Comparison Study, Ryan E. Whitney, Margaret L. Morris, Jessica Harney

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Millennials, born between 1982­ and 2000, became the largest share of the American workforce in 2015. As of 2014, 23.9% of American occupational therapists were under the age of 30. Positive traits ascribed to millennials include: highly educated, ambitious, confident, and optimistic. However, indicators of challenges for managing millennials emerge from media and anecdotal evidence, including stereotypes of disloyalty, entitlement, dependency, and casualness. Relevant for supporting professional development is a call to understand and enhance professional communication.

Method: This study analyzed how emerging millennial occupational therapists self-describe their professional communication profile and needs, compared to the perspective …

Fieldwork Educators’ Expectations Of Level Ii Occupational Therapy Students’ Professional And Technical Skills, Jessica Mason, Cynthia L. Hayden, Renee Causey-Upton

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Fieldwork educators are critical to the development of successful occupational therapy students, and the fieldwork experience is vital to the growth of each occupational therapy student in the profession. The purpose of this research was to explore perceptions held by Level II fieldwork educators of occupational therapy students’ professional and technical skills at the beginning of Level II fieldwork. This study used a convergent parallel mixed-method design and surveyed 54 fieldwork educators. The survey participants expected students to possess a variety of professional and technical skills in a multitude of areas. Fieldwork educators identified communication as the most essential professional …

Use Of Virtual Communication During Level Ii Fieldwork: A Personal Experience, Laronda Lockhart-Keene, Otd, Otr/L, Cla, Emily Spinelli, Cota/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

In fieldwork sites where no full time OTP is employed, a fieldwork student requires 8 hours a week of onsite supervision from an OTP. An onsite supervisor of another profession must be available while the OTP is offsite. The other professional is unable to answer questions related directly to occupational therapy (OT) practice. This poster describes virtual communication methods used during a level II fieldwork at a community based wellness program for older adults and how these methods translate to OT/OTA supervision in practice.

Use Of Intentional Play On Emotional Self-Regulation In Children With Trauma Histories, Erin Sullivan

OT Student Capstones

The purpose of this Capstone research project was to examine the impact of intentional play as a means to increase emotional self-regulation skills in children with traumatic histories and explore how Occupational therapists (OTs) can use such strategies while working with this population. The research was conducted at an emergency children’s shelter and consisted of an educational component for staff and direct contact with the children. Eight staff members participated, and data was gathered on 22 children (N=22) over a span of five weeks. An outcome measurement adapted from the Short Child Occupational Profile (citation needed) was used to obtain …

Qualitative Analysis Of Occupational Therapists’ Reflective Notes On Practicing Their Skills In Building And Maintaining Therapeutic Relationships, Farzaneh Yazdani, Amy Stringer, Laya Nobakht, Tore Bonsaksen, Kellie Tune

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Previous research has shown that occupational therapists have increased their self-efficacy for using self intentionally in therapeutic encounters. However, experiences related to such changes have not yet been explored. The authors developed a therapeutic use-of-self training workshop to support the confidence and competence of practicing occupational therapists in using the Intentional Relationship Model and possibly enhancing their self-efficacy for therapeutic use-of-self. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of practicing occupational therapists in transferring learning from a training workshop focused on the therapeutic use-of-self into real world practice. Thirteen occupational therapists participated in the workshop and subsequently …

They Said: International Occupational Therapy Perspectives On The Role Of Technology In Practice, Amy Wagenfeld

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Assistive Technology And The Impact Of Occupations, Chelsea Golding, Chantelle Bond, Vhernna Fernandez, Eizelle Barrientos

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Objective: The purpose of this research was to empirically examine the occupational impact of assistive technology - AT (with a specific focus on word prediction, text to speech and speech recognition) from the perspectives of the end user, family and school personnel (e.g. teachers, therapists & specialists) across various contexts (e.g. home, school, community).

Method: Qualitative data included semi-structured interviews, audio and video recordings, and records reviews. The data was coded and analyzed using a constant comparison method to identify themes pertaining to the occupational use of AT and thusly the impact to overall occupational performance.

Findings: Six themes were …

Impacts Of Schoolwide Social Skills Curricula On Elementary Students With Diverse Needs, Lauren Fong, Lindsey Lambert, Alyssa Ode

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Capstone Projects (2016-2021)

Julie Anderson, DrOT, OTR/L, an occupational therapist in a school district in Puyallup, Washington was seeking research to support the students in her district who require additional support for their social and emotional development. She requested occupational therapy graduate students from the University of Puget Sound to research the following question: “What is the current evidence for schoolwide social skills curricula that are implemented in an elementary school for children in kindergarten through sixth grade with diverse needs?” A systematic review of the literature resulted in 31 studies indicating a wide range of schoolwide social skills curricula that yield positive …

Assistive Technology And The Impact Of Occupations, Chelsea Golding, Chantelle Bond, Vhernna Fernandez, Eizelle Barrientos

Student Research Posters

Objective: The purpose of this research was to empirically examine the occupational impact of assistive technology - AT (with a specific focus on word prediction, text to speech and speech recognition) from the perspectives of the end user, family and school personnel (e.g. teachers, therapists & specialists) across various contexts (e.g. home, school, community).

Method: Qualitative data included semi-structured interviews, audio and video recordings, and records reviews. The data was coded and analyzed using a constant comparison method to identify themes pertaining to the occupational use of AT and thusly the impact to overall occupational performance.

Findings: Six themes were …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Marabeth Kopp, Cota/L, Kathryn Jensen, Rachael Gabrelcik

Oral History Posters

The life history of Marabeth Kopp was one of 30 life history interviews conducted as part of a larger project of Life Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) in North Dakota and Wyoming. The purpose of this project is to gather information about the history and evolution of occupational therapy (OT) practice in North Dakota and Wyoming through life histories of individuals who have been influential in developing OT in these two states. This study is intended to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a look at the history of OT practice …

Strategies To Improve Interdisciplinary Communication In An Acute Care Inpatient Pediatric Unit, Sarah Thompson, Haley Pelletier, Barbara Bush Children's Hospital-Inpatient, Maine Medical Center, Suneela Nayak, Ruth Hanselman, Stephen Tyzik

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Interdisciplinary patient rounding has been shown to improve patient and family satisfaction as well as reduce patient length of stay and readmission rates. In an acute care inpatient pediatric unit, baseline metrics demonstrated that 100% of the time, nursing was not included in these rounds thus resulting in sub optimal communication.

The goal of this performance improvement project was to attain increased nursing participation. Data collection demonstrated several reasons for lack of participation and corrective actions were instituted. After undertaking this KPI goal and utilizing operational excellence, 95% of the time, nurses were called to morning rounds with the medical …

Facilitating Effective Communication Between First Responders And Older Adults During Fall Incidents: An Educational Intervention, Krystin M. Beeman, Erica L. Berger, Isabel A. Cabezas, Nicole M. Mathews

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

PURPOSE. The purpose of this project was to provide first responders with communication strategies for older adults that may help when responding to fall- related calls. General information was also provided to First Responders on working with older adults with a focus on the aging process, fall risk factors, and communications strategies.

METHODS. A series of educational sessions to first responders at a local fire district were developed and presented by occupational therapy students. Materials were developed by presenters from evidence-based resources and tailored to the target population. Each presentation focused on statistics about older adults, the aging process, fall …

Self Regulation Through Art And Chocolate, Lydia Royeen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Josh Banks provided the cover art for the spring 2015 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy. The cover art is titled “Birthday Party” because the piece resembles images involved in a birthday party: multi-colored balloons, napkins, cakes, and icing. Josh created the piece using oil crayons on watercolor paper. Josh is sensory seeking and has difficulty using various types of materials, which include crayons, street chalk, and markers. After much experimentation, Josh is able to use nibs, a type of marker that does not have a cap. Josh is able to sit for 5-10 minute periods and …

Facilitating Effective Communication Between First Responders And Older Adults During Fall Incidents, Krystin M. Beeman, Erica L. Berger, Isabel A. Cabezas, Nicole M. Mathews

Student Research Posters

PURPOSE. The purpose of this project was to provide first responders with communication strategies for older adults that may help when responding to fall- related calls. General information was also provided to First Responders on working with older adults with a focus on the aging process, fall risk factors, and communications strategies.

METHODS. A series of educational sessions to first responders at a local fire district were developed and presented by occupational therapy students. Materials were developed by presenters from evidence-based resources and tailored to the target population. Each presentation focused on statistics about older adults, the aging process, fall …

Increasing Collaborative Communication Regarding Proper Positioning: A Photographic Guide, Kyle Donner, Rachel Newman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Approximately 98,000 people die annually in the United States due to medical errors (Institute of medicine, 2013). These medical errors are most often due to miscommunication between healthcare providers (Sutcliffe, Lewton, & Rosenthal, 2004). Impaired positioning is one type of medical error, which leads to severe complications such as contractures, pressure ulcers, and occupational deficits (Amidei, 2012; de Jong, Nieuwboer, & Aufdemkampe, 2006; Gordon, Gottschlich, Helvig, Marvin, & Richard, 2004). The purpose of this scholarly project is to provide a communication tool that will increase interprofessional communication and collaboration in regards to client positioning needs in healthcare settings. A literature …

How Do We Change Practice When We Have The Evidence?, Janice P Burke, Laura N. Gitlin

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Translating research findings into practice includes myriad pragmatic realities, including understanding the suitability of the data to a particular patient group, writing new guidelines for occupational therapy practitioners, facilitating adoption of the guidelines, and instituting new patterns of care for patients. The process is more than a matter of disseminating the information to practitioners and expecting immediate change in patient treatment. Indeed, the field of implementation science is devoted to the identification of the numerous barriers and supports that constrain or expedite practice change in response to research. Moving forward and adopting evidence-based findings will require a focused understanding of …

Sexuality: The Missing Activity Of Daily Living: A Pilot Study, Lindsay Farkas, Elizabeth Reynolds

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the comfort level of occupational therapists addressing sexuality with clients in physical disability clinical settings in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. A secondary intention of this study was to explore why or why not OTs are addressing sexual issues with their clients, and if therapists are addressing sexual issues, what resources are utilized.

Methods: A non-experimental design pilot study was conducted to explore the comfort level of occupational therapists addressing sexual issues with clients in physical disability settings. A mixed-methods, triangulation survey design was used to gather data …

What's Going On Here? Deconstructing The Interactive Encounter., Janice P Burke

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Eleanor Clarke Sagle Lecture

Breaking Barriers: Occupational Therapists Communicating With Adults Who Are Hearing Impaired, Valerie Mcclellan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

No abstract provided.

Moving Occupation Into Treatment: Clinical Interpretation Of "Legitimizing Occupational Therapy's Knowledge"., Janice P. Burke

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Is The Use Of Life History And Narrative In Clinical Practice Reimbursable? Is It Occupational Therapy?, Janice P. Burke, Stephen B. Kern

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.