Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Specialized Knowledge Of Feeding And Eating Best Practices, Katie Anne Deboer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The process of gradually developing from complete dependence to independent self-feeding for a child is critical in social, emotional, physical, and cultural maturation (Korth & Maune, 2020). Of all developing children in America, 25-50% have feeding, eating and/or swallowing difficulties, with the percentage even higher for children that are autistic, premature, and/or have other developmental delays (Gronski & Doherty, 2020). The purpose of this Doctoral Experiential Capstone is to complete a thorough needs assessment to find the current gaps in the literature, frequently used and effective evaluation methods, and research-based interventions in the area of feeding, eating, and swallowing …

Age-Related Development Of Bilateral Coordination Of The Upper Limbs In Children And Adolescents, Samuel Nemanich, Sheila M. Schindler-Ivens

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Bilateral coordination of the upper limbs (UL) is important for activities of daily living and physical activities. Motor coordination improves from childhood through adolescence. However, age-coordination trajectories for bilateral UL movements are not well-established, and it is unclear if bimanual coordination develops slower than unilateral coordination. In this study we examined age-related changes in UL coordination from childhood to late adolescence. Typically-developing children (N = 29, aged 7–17 years) performed unilateral and bilateral, antiphase cycling tasks with their ULs. Variations in cycling velocity and interlimb phase errors were computed as measures of coordination. Linear regression was used to examine …

Supporting Interoceptive Learning Across Environments: A Guide For Educators And Caregivers, Jamie M. Steinhoff

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Children aged four to six experience rapid brain development, advancing language skills, and understanding of the human body (Schaan et al., 2019). This developmental stage highlights the importance of educators and caregivers teaching interoception to improve preschool-aged children's occupational engagement and emotional regulation. Children lacking developed interoceptive skills may encounter difficulties regulating their emotions, impacting activities such as play, social participation, education, and health management (Arnold et al., 2019). This product was developed to offer caregivers and educators a comprehensive understanding of interoception through a handbook and training sessions containing strategies, exercises, tools, and activities to facilitate interoceptive development …

Increasing Success For Children With Sensory Processing Difficulties: Education And Support For Individuals Working With Children In Community Settings, Alyssia D. Pucel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Integration into community settings with limited ability to control one’s exposure to sensory stimuli is often challenging for children with sensory processing difficulties (Isamel et al., 2018). To self-regulate, children often exhibit behaviors that appear to others as abnormal or inappropriate to the expectations within the social environment but are out of the child’s control (Brown et al., 2019). Individuals who do not know about sensory processing may respond to the behavior in a way that is unsupportive to the child’s sensory needs and overall daily functioning. To advocate for children in natural community contexts, Success with Sensory provides individuals …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy To Support Engagement In Activities For Adults Throughout The Cancer Continuum, Alexis Brolsma

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: More than 18 million people currently living in the United States have received a cancer diagnosis sometime throughout their lives. Advancements in treatment for cancer are increasing the livelihood of those surviving cancer, but there are lasting challenges. More than 40% of individuals within the cancer continuum continue to experience performance challenges with their daily tasks. Occupational therapy can target these challenges, but this profession is underutilized within cancer care. The purpose of this project was to increase awareness of occupational therapy’s role in cancer care, educate providers, and create a resource to address the needs of the cancer …

Effectiveness Of Education-Based Programs And Preventative Strategies On Oral Health Outcomes For Older Adults In Rural Communities: A Critically Appraised Topic, Meagan Barnes Pearson, Abby Ellenberger, Becca Valdez

Critically Appraised Topics

Elderly adults in rural populations are facing difficulties with oral health due to accessibility difficulties, lower socioeconomic status, and decreased OHL. Limited research has been conducted on occupational therapy interventions within this specific occupational domain, or with this particular population. This CAT investigates the positive impacts oral health education programs that incorporate preventative strategies have on the oral health outcomes of the aging population living in rural locations when implemented by occupational therapists alongside an interdisciplinary team.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Transitioning & Community Integration, Payton Baumann, Madison Thomas, Anna Voegel

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper will concentrate on the most effective formatting of transition programs necessary to improve a sense of community belonging and overall quality of life (QOL). The main factors to consider in the scenario are accessibility to programs, funding for programs, social stigmas and attitudes, and mental health of individuals who are experiencing a transition. Populations experiencing a transition may include those transitioning from incarceration, experiencing homelessness, educational programs, employment opportunities, hospital care settings, active-duty status, and migration. To develop a sense of community belonging, social participation will be an important aspect to integrate into interventions, which …

Contexts Contributing To Burnout And Potential Coping Strategies To Support Work-Life Balance And Health Management Among Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Nora Duren, Kearyn Nelsen, Jada Welke

Critically Appraised Topics

The focus of this critically appraised topic paper is the aspects of burnout that occupational therapy (OT) practitioners face in a professional capacity, as well as environmental and personal contexts (AOTA, 2020) that have been shown to reduce the intensity of burnout within the profession. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), context can be described as the “broad context that encompasses environment and personal factors” (p. 36). “Environmental factors are aspects of the physical, social, and attitudinal surroundings in which people live and conduct their lives” (AOTA, 2020, p. 36). Additionally, the AOTA defines personal factors as the …

The Role Of Occupational Therapists Working With Adults With Substance Use Disorder In Rural Areas, Kyra M. Jessen, Jackie M. Middendorf

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper focused on the availability of occupation-based interventions for adults (18 years and older) faced with substance use disorders in rural areas. The main factors to consider in this scenario were the population of rural areas, substance use services in rural areas, and the role of occupational therapy. The U.S. Census Bureau did not directly define rural but instead considered rural to be any area that is not urban, while urban areas were considered to have more than 50,000 people and urban clusters were stated to have between 2,500 and 50,000 people (U.S. Department of Agriculture, …

Empowering Caregivers: A Training Manual For Supporting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alicia Buhnerkemper

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often require specialized support to navigate daily activities, yet respite and Community Living Support (CLS) workers frequently lack adequate training to address the sensory and behavioral challenges these children face. This project aimed to address these gaps by developing a comprehensive training manual grounded in evidence-based practices and occupational therapy (OT) principles, including the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model and Sensory Integration (SI) Theory. Surveys and interviews with families, respite workers, and CLS workers identified critical training needs, such as understanding sensory processing, managing challenging behaviors, and effective communication strategies. The manual includes practical modules, embedded …

Response To Intervention: The Effect Of Sensory Processing Tier 1 And Tier 2 Occupational Therapy Intervention, Workshops & Consultation On Kindergarten Students, Kieran Bolger, Cindy Zhang, Julia Dariychuk, Janine Yu, Zuriel Chester

Master's Projects

Sensory modulation is critical for self-regulation in learning environments where children may experience unexpected or atypical sensory stimuli leading to disruptive behaviors often misunderstood or misinterpreted by teachers (Mac Donald & Baist, 2021; Smith & Douglass, 2022). Teachers often lack understanding of sensory processing and evidence-based strategies to address the behavioral challenges related to sensory processing (Cahill et al., 2014; Gee & Nwora, 2011; Mac Donald & Baist, 2021). Occupational therapists practitioners (OTPs) are beneficial team members that are skilled in addressing sensory processing (Cahill, 2010) and can partner with teachers to increase their understanding and utilization of sensory processing …

Lifestyle Redesign: The Franciscan Sisters Of Little Falls, Mn, Seth Crocker

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners have a wide scope of practice due to the versatility of the profession. Some OT practitioners practice in traditional healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and schools, while other therapists find locations that are considered less conventional. The utilization of OT in nontraditional practices is an opportunity for practitioners to expand their scope of practice and benefit more people within the community. No matter the setting, OT practitioners provide services to promote patient health, independence, and quality of life. A specific factor that can negatively affect these areas is age progression. One way to combat this …

Highlighting The Importance Of Advocacy, Policy, And Legislation In Occupational Therapy, Victoria Maichel

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Transitional Support Programming For First-Year Occupational Therapy Graduate Students, Samantha Proctor

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Transitional Support Programming for First-Year Occupational Therapy Graduate Students

Background: The focus of the project represents the Scholarship of Application, which is the translation of existing research into practice. A student’s transition from undergraduate to graduate-level programs can be challenging due to the increased academic rigor inherent to graduate programs. This can lead to an imbalance in students' lives and an increase in stress, anxiety, and burnout. As the overall well-being of students decreases, the likelihood of students experiencing academic hardships increases. Students need diverse academic and professional skills to navigate graduate school successfully; however, many students lack those …

Addressing Psychosocial Factors In Upper Extremity Injuries To Improve Outcomes And Quality Of Life, Jace Allard

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Following upper extremity injuries, negative psychosocial factors such as anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression are found to be prevalent (Hardison et al., 2021; Maddison et al., 2023). Negative psychosocial symptoms such as these can negatively affect recovery outcomes and quality of life for individuals (Kinsley et al., 2020; Sposato et al., 2018). Typical treatment received in hand therapy for individuals with upper extremity injuries consists primarily of physical remediation through a biomedical frame of reference and less on addressing psychosocial factors (Chown et al., 2018; Kurrus et al., 2022; Robinson et al., 2016). Certified hand therapists report …

The Barriers To Adult Play In Graduate Students, Rosalind Nolde, Sabrina Solis, Catherine Salomon, T Monelli

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to expand the knowledge of barriers to play for graduate students. The research question asked, what are the barriers to play experienced by graduate students? Play is a complex term that is unique to the individual. Although subjective, existing literature gives suggestions as to what play can mean or feel like to the individual participating. Brown (2009), notes that the definition of play should be experienced rather than defined as it is distinctive to each individual. Van Vleet and Feeney (2015) describe play as being the purpose of amusement, fun or to have energetic, …

Mentorship Treasure Chest (Mtc): A Toolbox For Successful Mentoring, Lluvia Angel Gonzalez-Castro, Bridget Elizabeth Mccarron, Sarah Christine Donaldson, Austin Michel Muniz-Bottomley

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Student Research Posters

This poster delves into the pivotal role of mentorship in shaping the professional trajectory of occupational therapists, with a specific focus on the Dominican Occupational Therapy Alumni Mentoring Program (DOTAMP). Aligned with the mentorship definition posited by the American Occupational Therapy Association, this project aims to outline challenges encountered by recent graduates in transitioning to professional practice. This project aimed to enhance the effectiveness of DOTAMP by incorporating research-informed principles and refining its guidance approach.

The project development team proposed a solution that introduces the 'Mentorship Treasure Chest' (MTC) — a comprehensive toolbox shaped by validated sources that underscore the …

Addressing The Occupational Needs Of College Students, Amanda Lam, Ashley Keates, Marissa Heirich, Noreen Pervaiz, Albert Andrew Mendoza

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

The Dominican Occupational Therapy (OT) Coaching project was led by a team of five master's level OT students in collaboration with the Integrative Coaching (IC) team at Dominican University of California. Aligned with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 4th edition (2020), the project supported various aspects of student wellness, such as academics, healthy lifestyles, stress management, sleep hygiene, and time management. In the fall of 2022, the team conducted a comprehensive literature review and needs assessment of Dominican's Student Success Center (SSC), actively engaged in SSC and IC meetings, and delivered an educational presentation on OT to SSC staff. The …

Addressing The Occupational Needs Of College Students, Amanda Lam, Ashley Keates, Marissa Heirich, Noreen Pervaiz

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Student Research Posters

The Dominican Occupational Therapy (OT) Coaching project was led by a team of five master's level OT students in collaboration with the Integrative Coaching (IC) team at Dominican University of California. Aligned with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 4th edition (2020), the project supported various aspects of student wellness, such as academics, healthy lifestyles, stress management, sleep hygiene, and time management. In the fall of 2022, the team conducted a comprehensive literature review and needs assessment of Dominican's Student Success Center (SSC), actively engaged in SSC and IC meetings, and delivered an educational presentation on OT to SSC staff. The …

Enhancing Learning Experiences Of Neurodiversity And Implementing Sensory Strategies For Children In A Daycare Setting, Taylor Blackwell

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose and focus of this capstone project were to identify what tools and strategies were being utilized within Creative Beginnings Child Development Daycare Center that provided support for children with disabilities specifically Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. After completion of observations and evidence-based research the goal of the project was to create, educate and implement sensory tools and strategies into the daycare classrooms to improve inclusivity and increase support and participation throughout the day for the children and staff. Sensory tools and strategies were implemented within several daycare classrooms that provided support for atypical children by resulting …

When Virtual Reality Meets Occupational Therapy, Danielle Miracle

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Virtual reality (VR) has found to be beneficial to occupational therapy clients in the way it creates a safe and enjoyable way to address daily occupations and its ability to increase upper extremity function. The purpose of this ALE was to incorporate VR into interventions for outpatient brain injury patients. Goals for this intervention included successfully implementing VR into intervention plans, creating a handbook for VR use in the use, and adapting equipment to be more accessible. After reaching these goals, implications for practice suggest that VR, along with other technologies can be beneficial for occupational therapists with the proper …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Work And Industry: Manufacturing, Madeline Spears

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project focuses on the role of occupational therapy in a work and industry setting. I completed this capstone in collaboration with the manufacturing engineering program at EKU and leaders from Toyota Powertrain with the overarching goal being to increase accessibility and advocate for expansion of the manufacturing workforce to include workers with disabilities. Toyota provided assembly parts for their cam housing process with the objective to adapt the process to be accessible for wheelchair users. I completed a thorough task analysis followed by collaboration with engineering professionals to design and build a new manufacturing workstation that is wheelchair …

Sensory Training For School Based Professionals, Anna Rose

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose of this ALE presentation was to develop a sensory-based training for school system professionals in Floyd County Schools regarding the purpose of sensory-based interventions and sensory-based equipment to improve student outcomes and academic performance. Professionals were educated regarding the appropriate use of sensory equipment within their school’s sensory room and sensory supports to utilize within the classroom. All professionals were trained to ensure optimal outcomes for students utilizing the new and finalized sensory rooms in Floyd County. After the finalization of 8 sensory rooms, and over 10 sensory-based trainings, Floyd County professionals were assessed utilizing equipment with students, …

When Worlds Collide: The Intersection Of Horses & Rehabilitation, Rachel Carden

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

One niche practice area in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology practice is hippotherapy. This practice area involves equine movement as part of the therapeutic process. My capstone experience was completed at Transitions Physical Therapy, with Lisa Harris as my mentor. I completed 14 weeks of hands-on, patient directed learning with direct, supervised patient handling, equine handling, and observing how the therapeutic process can involve equine movement to benefit patient goals. In this experience, I created a 46-page resource guide to include five parent handouts, describing the nature of hippotherapy and OT/PT. This resource guide also included twelve …

Occupational Therapy Education: Teaching, Scholarship, And Service, Tyler Bush

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The past 14 weeks of this Capstone experience, I have had the pleasure of learning what it is like working in academia in a University setting. During this time, I quickly learned that teaching is just one piece of academia, where service and research are also included in three different components that make up academia. While teaching was the main area of focus I wanted to gain experience in, I was also able to learn more about research and service. At the end of my Capstone experience, I led a service community project by developing an educational learning module to …

What Are The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Canadian Injured Workers About The Provision Of Physiotherapy Services Using Telerehabilitation?, Anne Hudon, Maxi Miciak, Teri Slade, Stacey Lovo, Jackie L. Whittaker, Daniel Côté, Debbie E. Feldman, Dahlia Kairy, Marie Laberge, Beverley Mckeen, Lynn Cooper, Douglas P. Gross

Études primaires

Purpose

Despite evidence of efficacy, the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in real-world clinical settings is still largely unknown. Telerehabilitation requires a substantial transformation of the organization and delivery of traditional services. Considering that a virtual setting can create unique challenges for providing physiotherapy services and given the physical and potential hands-on nature of evidence-based assessments and interventions, it is important to investigate what injured workers think of receiving physiotherapy care via telerehabilitation and to examine if rehabilitation needs are adequately met.

Methods

A qualitative interpretive description study was conducted to explore the perspectives and experiences of 17 injured workers receiving physiotherapy …

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Occupational Balance In Graduate School: A Qualitative Study, Stephanie Bachman, Penelope Cleveland, Lucinda Dale, Laura Santurri

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The objective of this study was to explore occupational therapy (OT) students’ occupational balance and to examine how OT students' experiences in a graduate program promoted or inhibited occupational balance. Grounded theory methodology was used to develop a theory of the occupational balance of entry-level OT students. Twenty-six students were recruited using convenience and maximum variation sampling. Data analysis through constant comparison of transcripts, field notes, and memos consisted of open, axial, process, and selective coding. A storyline narrative with diagrams displayed relationships among concepts and supporting evidence for inductively derived theoretical propositional statements. Students in OT programs progressed through …

Current Education Offerings On Occupational Therapy: Addressing Feeding, Eating, And Swallowing Across The Lifespan, Thilini Abeywickrema, Kate G. Barlow, Janelle Hatlevig, Cuyler Romeo, Tatiana Barcelos Pontes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapists play a vital role in the care of individuals with feeding, eating, and swallowing (FES) disorders across the lifespan. Although there are certain standards created by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy (ACOTE) for understanding of assessment and management practices specific to FES, there are inconsistencies in how occupational therapy programs in the United States address FES disorders within their curriculum. This cross-sectional exploratory survey study received responses from 54 Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) programs and 63 entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) programs. Survey questions included quantitative and qualitative information on general information regarding FES content taught …

Evaluating Change In Skill Performance Over Time And Practice Context In Introductory Fieldwork Simulation, Kaitlin R. Sibbald, Diane E. Mackenzie

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Simulation has been recognized for its ability to develop competency-level skills and as a replacement for some introductory fieldwork (FW) hours. This study explored how occupational therapy competency-related skills developed over sequential in-person simulations across health practice contexts during Level 1 FW. Entry-to-practice occupational therapy students (N = 66) participated in six sequential, formative, Level 1 FW simulations. The first three sequential simulations (the same patient case evolves in each successive interaction) included a trained simulated patient in a community mental health context and the following three engaged a trained simulated inpatient in a physical health context. Evaluation rubric variables …

Occupational Therapy Educators’ Self-Efficacy To Teach In A Blended Curriculum, Inti A. Marazita, Amy Adcock, Mary Shotwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Educational trends have influenced occupational therapy education as evidenced by the adoption of new teaching methods such as blended learning. Blended learning is a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous learning that occurs online as well as portions of the learning occurring in a brick-and-mortar. As more occupational therapy programs design their curriculum to include blended learning, it is essential to understand occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy related to their skills and capabilities to teach in such an innovative format. Little is known regarding occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy to teach in a blended curriculum. This qualitative study aimed to examine the …