Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Enhancing Quality Of Life Through Participant-Led Programming For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Hannah Bolton

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

There are currently over 6.5 million Americans living with an intellectual disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019). Research shows that individuals with intellectual disabilities are more likely to experience a lower quality of life (QOL) compared to those without disabilities (Hughes-McCormack et al., 2017). Eight core domains have been identified as essential to quality of life: emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, personal development, physical well-being, self-determination, social inclusion, and rights (Lachapelle et al., 2005). In response to these needs, this capstone project aimed to implement customized, supported, participant-led programming at a day program for adults with …

Implementing A Palliative Care Approach In Acute Care Occupational Therapy Practice, Gianina Concepcion

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and provide an educational resource for acute care occupational therapists to improve knowledge and confidence in treating patients with serious illnesses using a palliative care approach. Through the needs assessment taken by the rehabilitation team, it was discovered that occupational therapists overall were least familiar with palliative care, but at least one occupational therapist reported feeling confident in addressing functional mobility, feeding, mental health, functional abilities, leisure activities, cognition, and communication to improve quality of life. While palliative care is a sub-specialty, the principles and many practices should be employed …

Development Of A Mental Health Screening Protocol And Educational Materials For Cares Therapy Clinic, Darlene C. Horn

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

In the United States, 26% of individuals report living with mental illness each year. Those with a disability are 5 times more likely to report symptoms of mental distress. Additionally, underinsured individuals are at increased risk of going undiagnosed and untreated.

A student-run free clinic that provides occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy, and speech therapy services to underinsured individuals implemented a new initiative to screen patients using the Patient-Health-Questionnaire (PHQ) assessment due to the higher risk of undiagnosed mental illness. However, with no dedicated mental health providers on staff, there was a need to develop a standard protocol for students …

Educational Resource Development For College Students With Intellectual & Developmental Disability:A Focus On Adls And Mental Health, Regan Fosmire

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This Occupational Therapy (OT) Doctoral Capstone project was completed in a university-based Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) program serving enrolled students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These programs offer college students with IDD opportunities in academic learning, independent living, personal development, career training, and social participation. In response to a site needs analysis, this quality improvement project sought to develop educational resources to improve student confidence and preparedness for independent living and mental health education.

The project had two primary goals: (1) to create accessible, evidence-based educational materials to support students’ understanding of mental health and activities of daily living …

Sensory Processing And Intervention In The Pediatric Setting: Resources For Implementing Sensory Strategies In The Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, Community, And Among Different Diagnoses, Sophia Evatt

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Sensory Integration is such an important concept as sensory processing underlies all independent functioning (Miller et al., 2017), and it is particularly important for pediatric occupational therapists as sensory processing differences are especially common in pediatric populations (Ahn et al., 2004; Leekam et al., 2007).

The purpose of this capstone project is to facilitate occupational therapy clinician competence and confidence in implementing sensory strategies and techniques within an outpatient pediatric clinic that provides in-clinic and community-based services. Project goals include the creation of educational materials in order to improve confidence and to facilitate creativity when incorporating sensory strategies into treatment …

Expanding Health Literacy Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Developing And Delivering Educational Sessions, Mary H. Lambert

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Older adults face numerous challenges in maintaining their health and independence, often due to limited access to health information that supports aging in place. This capstone project was executed in a community-based setting catered to older adults and focused on increasing health literacy to promote independence and overall well-being. Through interactive educational sessions, the project aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of key health topics relevant to their daily lives.

The overarching goals of this project were to provide accessible, engaging, and practical health education to older adults, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health. Specifically, the sessions addressed …

Creating Caregiver Education Resources Forcaregivers Of Adults With Alzheimer’S And Dementia, Mary C. Upton

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This project addressed the significant issue of caregiver burden experienced by individuals caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop simplified and easy-to-understand educational resources for these caregivers, focusing on strategies for managing loved ones, community resources, and physical and emotional wellness. The project aimed to enhance the caregiving experience and reduce caregiver burden by increasing their knowledge of physical and cognitive changes, available resources, and self-care strategies.

The project involved caregivers and staff at a dementia-specific medical-model day memory care program. The primary deliverable was a four-part “Caring …

A Wellness And Social Engagement Program For Post-Lower Limb Amputees, Graciela Gonzalez, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

A wellness and social engagement program was developed and implemented to provide education relating to the mental health impacts, decrease in health management, and lack of social participation after a lower-limb amputation amongst adults, 18 years or older. The program provided a manual with educational information, external resources, and visual aids to enhance independence in activities of daily living (ADLs).

Interprofessional Education And Collaboration In The Philippines: Current Landscape, Gaps, And Propositions, Arvie Vitente, Michael Sy, Reeva Ann Sumulong, Anna Karerina Causapin, Jocel Regino

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a forward-looking strategy in healthcare education that unites students and professionals from various disciplines to enhance interprofessional collaboration (IPC). IPE is designed to prepare future health and social care professionals to navigate and address the complexities of modern healthcare systems. In the Philippines, despite being a developing country with a fragmented healthcare system, there have been efforts over the last 15 to 20 years to introduce and institutionalize IPE and IPC in both higher education and healthcare settings. However, significant challenges persist, including the dominance of medical professionals, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, and a lack of strong …

Physiotherapy In Community-Based Rehabilitation In Middle And Low-Income Countries: A Scoping Review, Er D. Petil Jr., Napoleon R. Caballero

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a widely recognized approach to address the rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Physical therapy (PT) plays a crucial role within CBR programs. This study aimed to synthesize the current state of literature regarding the integration of PT in CBR programs in LMICs across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, examining key characteristics, reported outcomes, and challenges to implementation.

Methods: A comprehensive review of literature was conducted, focusing on studies published in the past decade. Data were extracted and synthesized in matrix format to compare and contrast findings across the …

Traumatic Brain Injury And Substance Use Disorder: A Clinic Based Exploratory Study, Steven Daniel Wheeler, Amanda Acord-Vira, Cecelia Simons, Kaleigh Papez, Jeremy Dixon, Cortland Nesley

Graduate Student Scholarship

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and substance use disorders (SUD) are common co-occurring conditions that have been investigated in isolation over the past several decades. Research regarding the conditions in unison have yielded conflicting results; however, there is a clear correlation linking negative implications of one condition on the other.

Objectives: To explore factors contributing to SUD among persons screening positive for a history of TBI and to validate the importance of screening for TBI as part of the SUD treatment program intake process.

Setting: Outpatient SUD treatment programs across West Virginia.

Design: Exploratory Study.

Methods: Those who screened positive …

Bridging Resources For Occupational Therapists And Children At Mckenna Farms, Audrey S. Morris

OTD Capstone Projects

Mckenna Farms Therapy Services is a therapeutic riding center that offers hippotherapy and therapeutic riding services. They also offer therapy services such as: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy as well. This project focused on creating online occupational therapy resources (e.g., activities, worksheets, handouts). This project also included making a pamphlet that provided inclusive experiences in the Northwest Georgia area for children/families. The deliverables of this project are the online occupational therapy resource binder easily accessible in a google drive, and the physical pamphlet with information on inclusive experiences.

Operating Room Acquired Pressure Injury Prevention, Audrey E. Dillon, Lexi K. Johnston, Grace L. Johnston, Amy N. Cochran

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Our change project focuses on preventing pressure injuries in OR patients using an alternating pressure overlay and gel pad system during surgery and recovery. Pressure injuries cost the healthcare system upwards of $26 billion annually, and surgery patients are at high risk due to prolonged immobility, constant pressure on one area, hemodynamic changes, and excessive moisture. Nurses can play a critical role in reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes by utilizing proper training and outcome tracking. The estimated cost of implementing this system is $37,000, significantly lower than the long-term cost of pressure injuries. Key
stakeholders include nurse managers, …

Using The 5ms Framework To Advance Aging-Responsive Care For Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, Abigail Latimer, Debra K. Moser, Jia-Rong Wu, Kim K. Birtcher, Malachy J. Clancy, Jennifer D. Portz, Joanna Paladino, Daniel D. Matlock, Christopher E. Knoepke

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Complexity of care is the inevitable consequence of an aging population and is particularly true in instances where patients are managing chronic conditions such as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). HFrEF itself is complex, with an undulating course of illness, increased risk of sudden cardiac death, and myriad accompanying treatment considerations. Generalist management of HFrEF among older patients is further complicated by competing comorbidities, potential for financial toxicity, potential for mental health symptoms, and risk of care with does not align with goals and preferences. The 5Ms (multicomplexity, mind, mobility, medications, and matters most) is a holistic conceptualization …

Generative Artificial Intelligence In Education: Insights From Rehabilitation Sciences Students, Robert Dekerlegand, Alison Bell, Malachy Clancy, Erin Pletcher, Travis Pollen

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Little is known about how students in rehabilitation sciences accept and use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in their educational endeavors. We explored student perceptions, acceptance, and utilization of GenAI in school and their beliefs about its usefulness and ease of use. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted of adult students enrolled in rehabilitation sciences programs within a private urban academic university. The survey was based on the Technology Acceptance Model with questions specific to the use of GenAI in school. A total of 196 responses were included in the analysis (32.9% response rate), with responses received across all rehabilitation sciences …

Rethinking Systematic Review Assignment Design In Graduate Health Science Education: Librarians' Perspectives, Laura Lipke, Carrie Price Mls

Library Scholarship

Background: This article examines the problematic phenomenon of faculty assigning graduate health science students systematic reviews as semester-based assignments while expecting a health science librarian to be a willing support system for those students. Despite published conduct and reporting guidelines establishing that systematic reviews require a team, time, and methodological expertise, some faculty still turn to full systematic review assignments in the classroom. The authors propose applying cognitive load theory and chunking the systematic review process into manageable steps, allowing both faculty and students to better understand the required methodologies and to enhance educational outcomes.

Experience: The authors have often …

Using Ai-Generated Scenarios To Enhance Learning Of The Emergency Assessment Process, D Cobble, L Schroeder, J Vaughn, S Ford

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Rigorous accreditation standards require students to demonstrate competency in various clinical proficiencies through clinical practice or simulation-based educational activities. Therefore, simulation has become an integral component of athletic training education, as scenarios can provide realistic and reproducible experiences for all students. To that end, our study had two primary objectives: investigate the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate accurate and realistic athletic training simulation scenarios and evaluate AI's effectiveness in teaching and reinforcing the emergency assessment process through student-created scenarios. Methods: Phase one, AI developed three different scenarios for patients experiencing (1) an ovarian cyst, (2) a hypoglycemic …

Prevalence, Perceptions, And Attitudes Of Accommodation For Students With Disabilities In Athletic Training Education Programs, T J. Babcock, L E. Eberman

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Disability accommodation has been widely researched in healthcare education programs, including medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), and physical therapy (PT). However, little research has been conducted on classroom and clinical education accommodation in athletic training education. The purpose of this study was to explore these settings and gain an understanding of student experiences with accommodation in athletic training education programs. This project was deemed exempt by Indiana State University’s Institutional Review Board. Methods: A cross-sectional 24-question survey was developed and adapted from prior qualitative research on accommodation in physical therapy education. Emails containing a link to the …

Clinat: In Service To Athletic Training Scholarship, Lindsey Eberman, Matthew J. Rivera

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

To be of service to others means to help others without expecting anything in return. The ClinAT, or Clinical Practice in Athletic Training journal, is an online, open-access outlet for the dissemination of practice-based research in health care, and a donation of time, effort, and energy to the profession of athletic training. In 2018, when Indiana State University created its first issue of ClinAT, we were a faculty of 3 with 5 PhD students supporting the journal, one of whom was wholly dedicated to the effort. As the higher education landscape has changed, and the roles and responsibilities of our …

Barriers To The Implementation Of The Amsterdam 2022 Statement In The Secondary School Setting, L Torres, J L. Baldari, F A. Gardin, A M. Price

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The Amsterdam 2022 International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport provides a summary of contemporary best practice recommendations for healthcare providers who are involved in the care of athletes at risk of sport-related concussion (SRC). Given that athletic trainers (ATs) have a professional responsibility to continually educate themselves on topics of great importance to the population that they care for, such as SRC management, it is reasonable to expect them to evolve their concussion management protocols to better align themselves with the recommendations found this statement. The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers associated with the …

Exploring The Vitality Of Athletic Training: Insights Into Professional Identity, Commitment, And Retention, L E. Eberman, M J. Rivera, K E. Games, M J. Drescher, J P. Young, J Clifton-Gaw, K Condrey, H Mccarn, N Mondelli, X Yuan

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The confluence of fluctuating retention, fewer students entering professional programs, and the profession’s identity crisis (conflict between being a sports profession or a health profession) has created a serious question about the vitality of the athletic profession. However, research on the vitality of the profession has often focused on singular variables influencing professional identity, burnout, and commitment. The purpose of this project was to explore multiple factors influencing the vitality of the profession across professional identity and commitment in athletic training. Methods: We used a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, including surveys and interviews with athletic training students and athletic …

Escape From Diabetes, J E. Jochum, J Carmack, J Toon

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: In the past decade, interprofessional education (IPE) to promote interprofessional collaborative practice has become an integral component of pre-licensure education in the health professions. Research shows that IPE activities involving problem-solving in patient care that requires cooperation and communication among the professions is most effective. An effective activity to meet interprofessional competencies is the use of escape rooms. Escape rooms are team-based games where groups of individuals solve puzzles to accomplish a specific goal, typically in a limited amount of time. There are many benefits to using escape rooms in education, including promoting problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity, improving focus …

Athletic Trainer Compensation Characteristics, J P. Young, K Ef Mair, L E. Eberman

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Athletic trainers (ATs) are integral to healthcare yet face ongoing challenges that affect job satisfaction and retention. Factors such as long work hours, low pay, and work-family conflict contribute to dissatisfaction and a desire to leave the profession. Salary disparities and lack of administrative support are key factors impacting professional fulfillment and career longevity. Identifying how compensation influences job satisfaction is essential for improving retention and advancing the profession. Our study aimed to examine the compensation characteristics of ATs and determine the key factors that predict gross income. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted. The survey was validated …

Preceptor Development: Identifying The Best Modality For Building Clinical Educators, G W. Cohen, R M. Lopez, A J. Tritsch

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Preceptor training and development are not standardized within the athletic training profession. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) requires that Athletic Training Programs provide an ongoing education plan for preceptors to promote a constructive learning environment for students. However, with the rapid expansion of clinical education opportunities outside of institutions' immediate area, programs must identify how to reach all their preceptors and uphold their programmatic expectations for clinical educators. Methods: The investigators conducted a cohort pre-test-post-test design study. A preceptor development program (PDP) was created and grounded in the theory of gamified learning and adult learning …

The Financial Stresses That Affect Athletic Training Students: A Qualitative Investigation, C Kuehner-Boyer, E León Zaragoza

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: A recent survey examining barriers that affect athletic training students found that financial-related barriers created significant stress for students in professional athletic training programs. The need to work while attending a professional athletic training program was the highest reported barrier with 54.82% of respondents indicating that this was a barrier for them during their program. Beyond the overall reporting rate, the need to work while completing a professional athletic training program was indicated by athletic training students to be the barrier that they encountered the most frequently with respondents reporting that this was a stress for them between monthly …

Musculoskeletal Tumors Disguised As Orthopedic Injuries: A Case Report, A Summers

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: Musculoskeletal tumors are relatively rare, accounting for only 0.2 to 0.5% of all malignancies across all age groups. More specifically, Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis, a type of musculoskeletal tumor, has an incidence rate of 1.8 cases per one million people in a population. This benign, proliferative disease is a type of tenosynovial giant cell tumor that can affect the soft tissue lining of joints, bursae, and tendon sheaths. These joint-related tumors often present with an insidious onset and non-specific physical exam findings. Therefore, they are often mistaken for other, more common orthopedic injuries, making them difficult to diagnose. Patient Information: …

Enhancing Clinic Efficiency: A Quality Improvement Initiative For Postoperative Patient Care In An Outpatient Orthopedic Physician Practice Setting, D Stepan, T Jp Greffly, R M. Williams

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Following orthopedic surgery, patient post-operative (post-op) visits are deemed global surgical observations where day 00 to day 90 are appointments that cannot be billed. Patients are typically seen 3 times during this global period. Thus, the outpatient clinic needs to have non-billable time slots each day for these patients. The current scheduling model double books patients every 15 minutes, with the physician being the primary provider seeing patients for post-op visits. Therefore, the clinic has demonstrated inefficiencies with scheduling these patients while having sufficient appointments available for billable patients. This quality improvement initiative aimed to decrease post-op patient visits …

Adolescent Femoral Neck Fractures: A Case Study On Initial Surgical Intervention, Avascular Necrosis Development, And Subsequent Total Hip Arthroplasty, K A. Fisher

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: The patient sustained a femoral neck fracture at the age of 13 after slipping and falling in his home. He was seen in the Emergency Department the same day and underwent a closed reduction and percutaneous pinning procedure the following morning. Ten weeks after returning to full weightbearing, and 13.5 weeks after his initial fracture, he developed stress fractures of the medial distal femoral and proximal tibial metaphyses. He experienced gradual worsening of hip pain and difficulty with ambulation between 11 to 13 months post-closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). Avascular necrosis and collapse of the femoral head was …

Modification Of Ergonomics For A World-Class Brass Instrumentalist With A Congenital Limb Difference: Level 3 Case, O G. Newhouse

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: A drum and bugle corps is a musical marching organization that consists of approximately 160 brass, percussion, and color guard performers. There are currently twenty-one drum corps organizations at the world-class level that compete. Organizations learn their 8–10-minute show in the late spring and begin traveling the country performing and competing in the early summer until August. Rehearsal days can be up to 10 hours of practice including visual and music. It has been reported that the incidence of upper limb pain is higher in those who have longer practice times, in which is a symptom of overuse. These …

Title: Professional Socialization And Development Of Athletic Training Professional Program Directors, N A. Wilkins, K D. Pagnotta, L Kunkel, S David, A B. Thrasher

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The role of Program Directors (PD) has vastly expanded over the last decade to meet the evolving demands of athletic training education and higher education. While specific responsibilities such as programmatic planning and accreditation maintenance are directly outlined in accreditation standards, PDs often assume additional institutional and programmatic responsibilities that now include recruitment and retention efforts, mentorship of faculty and students, curriculum design and mapping, and other administrative tasks. Previous research demonstrates athletic training faculty have little formalized training in administrative roles, and Coordinators of Clinical Education (CCEs) desired more support and development for that role. Little research exists …