Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Occupational Therapy And Animal Assisted Interventions: Professionalizing The Field, Annie Hudson

OTD Capstone Projects

This poster represents a capstone experience focusing on occupational therapy and the inclusion of animal assisted interventions (AAI). Working with Pet Partners, two organizational publications were created in hopes of professionalizing the field while also allowing the use of AAI to be a simpler and smoother process. Domain mapping was completed to explore the education and resources available to professionals seeking to use AAI in practice. A wide range of qualitative interviews were completed in order to best represent the professional's perspective.

Occupational Therapy Service And Clinic Development Within Student-Run, Pro-Bono Outpatient Rehab Clinic, Nicole Versace

OTD Capstone Projects

This poster details my capstone project that I completed as a degree requirement for my Doctorate of Occupational Therapy through Belmont University. For this project I partnered with Tennessee State University’s Tiger Community Rehab Clinic. This is a student-run, pro-bono clinic that strives to provide free OT and PT services to those with limited healthcare access. After an initial audit of the clinic, I determined the clinic needed help in developing the OT portion of the clinic as well as help to grow the foundation of the clinic through community and financial partners. You can see my specific goals here. …

Social Communication In Learners Using Transactional Supports, Brittany Clark

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Illuminate Academy, a tutorial program for children aged 3-18 with Autism and developmental disabilities. The primary focus of this project was to create and implement materials and transactional supports to facilitate the subject-verb-noun communication method commonly associated with the SCERTS Model. These materials created include packets created for teachers, packets created and customized for students, digital templates and copies of all materials, and instruction binder with samples to help teachers create more packets as needed.

Illuminate Academy Interoception Curriculum & Resources, Paige Poole

OTD Capstone Projects

The main focus of my project is on implementing and expanding upon the Interoception curriculum at Illuminate Academy. My project goals included researching best practice for the Interoception curriculum, implementing and expanding upon the Interoception curriculum, building rapport and collaborating with staff and students at Illuminate Academy, collecting data to measure occupational engagement and completing management tasks, and researching best practice to develop sensory strategies to facilitate participation and success of learners.

Creating An Occupational Therapy Supported Wellness Program: Nurture Your Postpartum Body, Lincoln Elliott

OTD Capstone Projects

The focus of this capstone was to create a 3-week postpartum program for Nurture Nashville, a local yoga and wellness studio focused on promoting wellness and creating community for pregnant and postpartum people throughout their journey in motherhood. The program, Nurture your Postpartum Body, consisted of weekly restorative exercise classes and women’s support sessions to promote holistic wellness in the postpartum period.

Life Repurposed: Finding A New Calling Through Meaningful Occupation, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Kelly Allen, an occupational therapist and artist based in Grand Rapids, MI, provided the cover art for the Spring 2021 edition of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Follow” is a 16” x 20” painting made from oil on panel. The painting, which features a coati from Central America, is from Kelly’s Animal Totem series. After more than 2 decades as a fine artist and educator, she began searching for a career change. Kelly’s background in fine art and her desire to help others prepared her for a career in occupational therapy. Certain events in Kelly’s life aligned not …

Regenerative Rehabilitation And Genomics: Implications For Occupational Therapy, John V. Rider

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The completion of the human genome project has paved the way for health care practitioners to use genetic and environmental information to tailor medical treatment. This innovative approach to health care is rapidly evolving, and occupational therapists need to be aware of the impact it will have on future practice. Regenerative rehabilitation is a product of knowledge and techniques from the fields of rehabilitation and regenerative medicine with the common goal to restore function. Occupational therapists have the potential to play a significant role in regenerative rehabilitation research and implementation. The purpose of this article is to (a) increase understanding …

Occupational Therapy And Health Promotion For Families Experiencing Homelessness: A Community-Wide Approach, Aster Gallus, Laura Schmelzer

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Families experiencing homelessness often face poor mental and physical health outcomes. Some scholars and service providers partially attribute family health outcomes to the negative impact of the social determinants of health. The social determinants of health emerge from a variety of factors in the socioecological model, a tiered model outlining the hierarchy of public health systems, making the social determinants difficult to address. To explore occupational therapy’s potential contribution to addressing these poor health outcomes, the authors centered a doctoral capstone around the question of what occupational therapy’s role would be in addressing the needs of families experiencing homelessness. A …

Functional Cognition In Critically Ill Children: Asserting The Role Of Occupational Therapy, Christina M. Dumas, Lenin Grajo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In this Opinions in the Profession article, we aim to highlight the distinct importance of functional cognition as an assessment and intervention priority in children. In this paper, we use the population of critically-ill children as a specific case example. Functional cognition is the ability of individuals to use and integrate their thinking and processing skills to accomplish desired tasks in their everyday lives in meaningful contexts. We propose three themes through which occupational therapists can assume a more active role in understanding and addressing functional cognition and its impact on occupational performance in critically ill children. Supported by literature, …

Impacting Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Knowledge About Occupation And Occupation-Based Practice, Allen S. Keener, Cynthia L. Hayden, Dana M. Howell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

It is important for occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs to teach about occupation and occupation-based practice (OBP). Few have published on this topic in relation to OTA education. This study focuses on determining if an educational module covering occupation and OBP would increase student knowledge of occupation and occupation-based practice. In this mixed-methods parallel convergent study, OTA students were immersed in an author-designed educational module to increase their knowledge of occupation, OBP, and the selection of occupation-based interventions. The students engaged in pretesting activities, prior to the module, consisting of short-answer essay and intervention selection tasks. At the conclusion of …

Understanding Therapists’ Perceptions Of Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Using The Model Of Human Occupation Screening Tool, Jaimie K. Estreet, Christine Privott

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The need for a more community-based occupational therapy approach to clients’ addiction recovery is supported by Killeen et al. (2015), who concluded that U.S. health care reform will require the delivery of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment by providers who specifically address addiction as a comorbidity. Stoffel (2013) argued this a few years earlier with a call to action for occupational therapists in behavioral health treatment and recovery. For this study, the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST) was used to explore therapists’ perceptions of competence working with patients diagnosed with co-occurring SUDs. Prior research supports concepts …

Occupational Therapy And Therapeutic Horticulture For Women With Cancer And Chronic Pain: A Pilot Study, Yuko Mori, Julie Kugel, Dragana Krpalek, Heather Javaherian-Dysinger, Lida Gharibvand

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Chronic pain among individuals with cancer can adversely affect quality of life (QOL) and physical, social, and emotional functioning. Therapeutic horticulture has been shown to be effective for treating various medical conditions; however, the focus on cancer survivors with chronic pain is marginal. This study evaluated the effectiveness of therapeutic horticulture for women with cancer living with chronic pain.

Method: A mixed methods experimental design was used to examine the impact of a 6-week therapeutic horticulture program with seven females with cancer who presented with chronic pain for longer than 3 months. Perception of pain, QOL, and …

Postsecondary Education Students With Disabilities’ Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy-Led Coaching, Erin E. Harrington, Gabriella O. Santos, Marie-Christine Potvin

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Students with disabilities attending postsecondary education (PSE) institutions have poor degree progression, retention, and graduation rates. PSE institutions are addressing these challenges in various ways, including the delivery of occupational therapy (OT)-led coaching. There is emerging evidence that coaching increases academic success and self-determination in PSE. The students’ perspectives about the benefits of OT-led coaching intervention has yet to be explored.

Method: A phenomenological study was conducted using transcribed semi-structured interviews with 18 college students with disabilities. Qualitative data analysis was conducted through an immersive inter-coder process that included independent coding, comparison of codes, discrepancy resolution to …

The Feasibility Of Taekwondo For Addressing Social Interaction And Social Participation In Children, Mariel Calinog, Julie D. Kugel, Dragana Krpalek, Arezou Salamat

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience physical, social, and emotional barriers that impact participation in extracurricular activities, such as taekwondo. Engaging in taekwondo may provide opportunities for advancing social abilities as well as developing health-promoting behaviors and routines. Therefore, the purpose of this feasibility study was to explore the effectiveness of using a form of martial arts, taekwondo, as an intervention to promote social participation in everyday life.

Method: A mixed-methods design was used. Three children between 7 and 8 years of age who met the ASD criteria participated in a 7-week taekwondo program. The …

Home Use Of An Upper Extremity Exoskeleton In Children With Sma: A Pilot Study, Tracy M. Shank, Tariq Rahman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often have arm weakness resulting in restricted independence and challenges with activities of daily living. An upper extremity (UE) orthosis, the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX), which augments arm movement by providing gravity assistance, was provided to a small cohort of subjects for 1 year. Resulting changes in the subjects’ performance were assessed.

Method: Five subjects with SMA were asked to use the WREX system for 1 year. Data were collected at baseline and at 6-month intervals. Evaluation tools used were UE range of motion (ROM), the Box and Block Test, the …

Clinical Utility Of The Adapted Biopsychosocial Model: An Initial Validation Through Peer Review, Keith K. Gentry Jr., Karen Snyder, Jennifer Jordan Utley

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The World Health Organization has called on health care providers to adopt a biopsychosocial approach to improve health and well-being and reduce disability. While a variety of holistic models exist in occupational therapy, none are explicitly biopsychosocial and use language consistent with both the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. Following the recent introduction of the Adapted Biopsychosocial Model (A-BPSM), this study served as an initial step toward validation of this model for use in occupational therapy.

Method: A qualitative descriptive design was implemented with a maximum variation …

Assessment Of Modified Patient Education Materials For People With Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Jennifer Fortuna, Anne Riddering, Linda Shuster, Cassie Lopez-Jeng

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Existing research on health literacy identifies a disconnect between the readability of patient education materials (PEMs) and the reading abilities of American adults. For people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), central vision loss creates an additional barrier to health literacy. This study explored how evidence-based guidelines for creating easy-to-understand written materials influenced the usability of PEMs in people with AMD.

Methods: Evidence-based guidelines were applied to modify one PEM. Standardized tools quantified differences in readability and suitability between the original and modified PEM. Twelve people with AMD rated the comprehensibility (design quality) and shared personal preferences during semi-structured interviews. …

A Qualitative Study Investigating Stroke Survivors’ Perceptions Of Their Psychosocial Needs Being Met During Rehabilitation, Robin A. Wenzel, Emily A. Zgoda, Mia C. St. Clair, Lisa J. Knecht-Sabres

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Depression and anxiety can negatively impact one’s recovery, outcomes, and quality of life. Even though therapists consider the mental health needs of their clients to be a priority, they are dissatisfied with their ability to completely address these needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the client’s perspective regarding the extent to which health care professionals addressed their psychosocial needs after a stroke.

Method: A phenomenological research design was used to collect data from six participants. Interviews and focus group were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Member checks, peer-review, multiple coders, triangulation, and expert …

Occam’S Razor Applied To Occupational Therapy Language, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

An Ipa Analysis Examining Transportation, Community Engagement, And Healthcare Access Of Elderly Adults In A Rural Border Community, Madison Rowlinson, Angela Blackwell, Karen Aranha

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Introduction: There is a lack of understanding about the accessibility needs of elderly borderland residents, and the barriers that they face when they try to maintain their health and well-being.

Objectives: To analyze transportation and community engagement in a rural community on the US-Mexico border. To analyze the findings of transportation and community engagement in a rural community on the US-Mexico border.

Methodology: A triangulated study using the Place Standard Assessment, Semi-Structured Interviews, and a walking survey with the theoretical framework of the Person, Occupation, Environment, Performance (N=3). Data analysis consisted of comparing means generated by the PSA on 14 …

Interdisciplinary Practice For Occupational Therapy And Low Vision Rehabilitation, Priscilla Gim, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to advocate occupational therapy in low vision rehabilitation for improved access to low vision rehabilitation (LVR) for the adult population. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, this capstone project shifted to a research study assessing limiting factors for occupational therapy collaboration with low vision services and exploring eye physician’s perception on low vision occupational therapy.

A mixed-methods survey was conducted to explore 54 eye physicians including Doctor of Medicine (MD) specialized in ophthalmology and Doctor of Optometry (OD)’s perception on the role of low vision occupational therapy, benefit of low vision occupational therapy, current …

Exploring Integration Of Occupational Therapy Services For The Refugee Population, Khalil Mrabe, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Stanley Paul, Tom Kowalski, Derek Corley

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

As a result of many global conflicts and environmental instabilities, the refugee population is increasing in numbers throughout the world including North America. Refugees experience a distinct susceptibility to systemic barriers (Matlin, Depoux, Flahault, Saso, & Schütte 2018). As such, refugees suffer from a higher rate of physical and mental stress as a result of extreme suffering from the accumulative effects of physical and mental trauma, geological and cultural displacement (Hameed, S., Sadiq, A., & Din, A. U., 2019; Jamil et al., 2007). This unique and often neglected segment of the population can benefit from occupational therapy services to meet …

Understanding Successful Aging For Well-Elderly Adults Through Leisure And Social Participation, May Rose Lazarte, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported by the year 2050, about 26% of the population would be 60 years of age or older (CDC, 2020). As Baby Boomers (individuals born between 1946-1964) enter the Third Age, defined by lifestyle choice, consumption, and preservation of youthfulness, more and more individuals are given the opportunity to age in place and participate in new/refined lifestyles (Hostetler, 2011). Although, research has proven older adults, who are now in their later years in life, are prone to experience social isolation, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and social stressors (Valtorta et al., 2018). Older adults …

The Benefits Of An Educational Resource For Swim Instructors To Promote Inclusive Swimming, Ailien Nguyenly, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park, Becki Cohill

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a training program for swim instructors to better interact with individuals with disabilities before, during, and after swim lessons. However, due to the current pandemic, an online educational resource was created instead.

The educational resource utilized an occupational therapy approach to meet swim instructors' identified needs to work with individuals with disabilities. The e-book was intended to lay a foundation of basic knowledge of conditions, resources, tools, adaptations and provide support to shape swim lessons around individual needs.

A qualitative research study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and usefulness of …

Burnout In Occupational Therapy Practice: An Investigation Of Contributing Factors Among Practitioners In Different Practice Settings Within The United States, Zsienne Antonette Isidro, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Burnout is a syndrome that can impact physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing (Cooper & Campbell Quick, 2017). It occurs in job-specific contexts and can materialize in any work setting where stress is unmanaged (Cooper & Campbell Quick, 2017). Burnout stems from an imbalance of work demands and resource availability, and it often results in poor personal and professional outcomes (Donovan et al., 2010; Glicken & Robinson, 2013; Maslach, 1998). Occupational therapists (OTs) are not exempt from experiencing burnout. The work of OTs can be psychologically and emotionally demanding, which places them at a higher risk for depersonalization and burnout (Lopez …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Long-Term Telerehabilitation For Stroke Survivors, Alexandra N. Murguido, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Strokes are the second leading cause of death and leading cause of long-term disability worldwide and incidence is on the rise (Katan & Luft, 2018). In the past 25 years, the burden of disability from neurological disorders, including strokes, have increased exponentially due to the increase in the aging population and decrease in mortality rates (Raghavan, 2019). Out of the 795,000 new victims of stroke annually, 26% remain disabled during activities of daily living (ADLs) and 50% experience a reduction in mobility due to hemiparesis (Katan & Luft, 2018). Although stroke survivors do receive rehabilitation services after the onset of …

Exploring Occupational Therapy’S Role In Equine-Assisted Therapy With Veterans, Collin Cooper, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) is a treatment that incorporates activities with a horse and the equine environment to reach rehabilitative goals specific to the client's needs and the medical professional's standards of practice (Meregillano, 2004; Path Int, 2021). There are many methods of using a horse in treatment. Therapeutic riding is a component of EAT, as well as horsemanship, groundwork, horse care, and stable management. Hippotherapy is a healthcare professional (OT, PT, SLP) treatment tool that occupational therapists (OT) use the horse's movement to facilitate change (Meregillano, 2004). Some research has demonstrated veterans who work with horses show improvement in quality …

Gigi's Playhouse Program Development, Tatianna Balis

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed through a partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse in Nashville, Tennessee. GiGi’s Playhouse is a Down syndrome achievement center that offers free programming for individuals of all ages with Down syndrome. The focus of this project was the development of programming for adults and children with Down syndrome. One of the programs developed was GiGi Prep, a program for adults focused on communication skills, money management, fitness, and healthy cooking skills. The other program developed was GiGi Fit Kids, a fitness program for children ages 7-12. Both programs were modified to fit the local population and additional …

Exploring The Benefits Of Adaptive Baseball From The Parent Perspective / Exploring The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Athletes, Kristen Yee, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Sports can be an integral part of a child and adolescent’s life; however, those with disabilities, regardless of severity, are less likely to participate in organized sports compared to their peers. Adaptive sports accommodate the varying ability levels of individuals through environmental modifications or the use of specialized equipment.

The purpose of this project was to understand the benefits of participation in adaptive baseball from the parent perspective to increase awareness of the sport and better inform the role occupational therapy has in helping individuals engage in meaningful occupations that promote health and well-being, social participation, and a sense of …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Supporting The Enculturation And Acculturation Process For Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Immigrants, Sherry A. Manoly, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park, Becki Cohill

Spring 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Objectives: The Egyptian Coptic Orthodox population in America has grown exponentially due to religious intolerance in Egypt. Many Copts move to the U.S. and experience feelings of helplessness because of the stark difference in American culture compared to the culture they had left behind. Occupational therapy (OT) is a profession that can impact the Copts due to the focus on gaining independence in life through participation in meaningful occupations. This qualitative study sought to answer the research question, “what is the current state of occupational engagement for recently immigrated Coptic Christian immigrants, and how can occupational therapy support immigrant populations?” …