Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

State Of The Journal: Moving Forward, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy Programming Facilitates Goal Attainment In A Community Work Rehabilitation Setting, Tina M. Deangelis, Kimberly Mollo, Carolyn Giordano, Michaela Scotten, Brianna Fecondo

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

An occupational therapy program for participants with mental health challenges, a history of serious mental illness, recovering from substance use disorders, on parole/probation, and/or experiencing homelessness was implemented in a community work rehabilitation setting. The impact of occupational therapy interventions focused on stress and anger management, sleep hygiene, anxiety and depression management, relapse prevention for addiction, vocational and academic skill building, money management, healthy eating, and relationship and leisure skill development. Participant satisfaction and performance scores regarding individual goal setting and attainment was collected and analyzed via retrospective review of pre/post outcome scores (n = 44) obtained through the Canadian …

“We Don’T Like Talking About Toileting Issues In Front Of Everyone”: Parents’ Reflections On Family-Centered Care, Holli Ruiz

OT Student Capstones

Objective. The objective of this study was to describe how pediatric occupational therapist enacted family-centered care in the outpatient clinic and the resulting perception families had of this care. Method. The use of an open-ended, six question survey was administered to parents of children who were receiving occupational therapy services in an outpatient pediatric clinic. Two researchers employed thematic coding to analyze the results. Results. Five themes emerged including: styles of communication, transfer to home, environment, focusing on the child, and involving the family in goals and focus. Conclusion. There were many positives associated with family-centered care to include satisfaction …

Exploring The Refugee Occupational Experience Across The Socioecological Model, Cyrena Crockett Connolly

OT Student Capstones

The aim of this Doctoral Experiential Component was to explore the occupational experiences of refugees in engaging in cross-cultural occupations. This was done by using the person- environment-occupation model and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework as theoretical lenses to identify and map occupational barriers across the socioecological model. Identifying occupational barriers across multiple levels of prevention creates new ways to address specific occupational needs and allows for impactful change. This project explored the occupational barriers of 8 participants in Salt Lake City, UT. Participants were refugees from Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Syria, and United States-born to Sudanese …

Resiliency In School Experiences: A Dropout Prevention Initiative, Stephanie L. Smith

OT Student Capstones

The ramifications of high school dropout have significant adverse effects both for individuals and society. High school graduation is the social determinant that strongly predicts long-term health and success (American Public Health Association, n.d.). Unfortunately, more than 500,000 high school students dropout each year without the skills and credentials needed to become successful, productive members of society (Communities in Schools, 2009). The dropout numbers for ethnic minorities are disproportionately high. In 2009, the proportions of 16 to 24- year-old high school dropouts were 10.7% for African Americans, 15.9% for American Indians, and 17.9% for Hispanics (Center for Mental Health in …

Occupational Therapy In Community Corrections And Reentry: Program Implementation For Adult Males With Addiction, Cassandra E. Sankey

OT Student Capstones

The evolution of incarceration, or confinement, began in the 18th century with the Quakers, known as the Pennsylvania system, an isolation and penitence ideology (Penner, 1978). Later, the Auburn system was implemented in the 19th century, which embraced an approach of mental isolation (Penner, 1978). Today, citizens entrust the criminal justice system with the power to protect communities from individuals who commit crimes (Muñoz, Moreton, & Sitterly, 2016). Therefore, the United States criminal justice system diversified the supervision of lawbreakers based upon the severity of their crimes, such as jail, prison, probation, and parole. This has led to decades of …

Using The Backward Design Process To Integrate Interprofessional Education Utilizing Simulation In Ot And Pt Educational Curricula, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

Interprofessional simulation education (IPSE) has been integrated into the OT and PT curriculum. Having a dedicated simulation center on-site allows for continued use of IPSE for regular monitoring and assessment of student achievement in interprofessional exchanges. Additional healthcare disciplines can also integrate IPSE including nursing, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, post-graduate professionals, athletic trainers, and speech and langue pathology. Inclusion of IPSE will augment the collaborative effort for increased interactions among various health care providers.

Community-Based Occupational Therapy Practice Among Older Adults: A Delphi Study, Kristin Domville

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This capstone project explores the socio-political environment of current and potential community-based occupational therapy (OT) services among community-dwelling older adults, including the current state of community-based OT practice and the current awareness of OT’s potential impact on health and wellness among community-dwelling older adults. The goal is to identify how to increase the presence of OT in community settings to decrease the occupational injustice among the older adult population. The research method used is the Delphi Method, an anonymous structured communication between experts in the field of community-based OT practice and the older adult population. Experts, provided real-world knowledge and …

Occupation-Based Practice In Occupational Therapy, Sarah Psillas

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: The positive impact of occupation and well-being has been documented throughout the literature, however, the direct link of using occupation-based practice (OBP) and improvement of client outcomes has not been well established. This research study considered what OBP is, what the constructs are that comprise it, and how facilitators and barriers impact its use. Results: Results of this grounded theory study included four main constructs of occupation-based practice (actual occupation, meaningful and purposeful value, therapeutic intent, and engaged participation) as well as the theory of OccupationalTherapist’s Dynamic Use of Occupation-Based Practice. This theory explains the dynamic process that a …

Creating Confident And Connected Families: A Program To Improve Parental Self-Efficacy In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Kelly Simpson

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) require life sustaining intervention for weeks to months after birth. This intervention is remarkably stressful for both the infant, who is ill-equipped to handle life outside the womb, and for the parents who are filled with fear and stress due to the illness of their son or daughter. The experience of hospitalization can lead to stress, shame, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder for families of NICU infants. Knowledge about the unique stressors, challenges, and needs for support of preterm infants has proven helpful to boost confidence and feelings of wellbeing within …

Interrater Reliability Of The Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale In Children With Spina Bifida, Elizabeth Ardolino, Megan Flores, Germaine Ferreira, Susan Jeantete, Kathleen Manella

Physical Therapy Collection

Purpose: There is a paucity of outcome measures to assess the quality of functional mobility in children with spina bifida¹. The Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (Peds NRS) is a valid and reliable outcome measure that was developed to assess the motor capacity of children with spinal cord injury^2-6. The purpose of this study was to examine the interrater reliability of the Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (Peds NRS) to classify motor capacity in children with myelomeningocele (MMC) form of spina bifida.

Subjects: Twenty-one children with MMC (1.4- 10 years of age; mean age of 5.3 …

Integrating Interprofessional Education With Simulation Experiences Within Ot And Pt Curricula: A Look At The Backwards Design Process, Nicole Rodriguez, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

Interprofessional education has become a significant focus across healthcare disciplines noting the benefits that can be achieved through improving patient outcomes, increasing awareness for potential referral to other providers, and fostering collaboration.

The integration of simulation into established OT and PT curriculum was a less daunting task by using the backward design process. Continued growth and the addition of Speech Therapy, Nursing, and Physician’s Assistant programs will further necessitate use of backward design to integrate meaningful multidisciplinary activities for students.

A Website Designed To Equip Occupational Therapists With Information And Strategies For Holistically Addressing Sexual Activity With The Geriatric Population, Amber Fernandez, Ashleigh Mora

Occupational Therapy Capstones

As individuals age, they are likely to experience occupational deprivation. Occupational deprivation occurs in many forms. Many older adults experience occupational deprivation relating to the activity of daily living, sexual activity. Older adults experience many age-related changes, which impacts their ability to engage in sexual activity. Health care professionals have a responsibility to ensure older adults are able to engage in safe sexual practices. Yet, healthcare professionals, including occupational therapists, are not addressing this need with their clients in a routine manner. A literature review was conducted in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of all the barriers older adults …

Creating A Sensory Inclusive Classroom: A Guide For Teachers, Bobbie Bertsch, Kylie Browen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A school classroom is the place where students are expected to complete the majority of their learning. Many classrooms have a large amount of distracting sensory stimuli such as bright lights, visual stimuli on the walls, noises from individuals within the room, and sensory rich learning experiences. The physical environment can affect children's learning and attention (Miller-Kuhaneck & Kelleher, 2015). Based on an in-depth literature review, it has been found that certain components of the classroom can be altered to create an environment more inclusive for all children, regardless of abilities. In light of the push to keep children in …

Life History Of Margo B. Holm, Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Abda, Emma Chafin, Jessica Lambert

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project, Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy: A Life History Of Dr. Michael Iwama, Phd, Msc, Bscot, Bschp, Sarah Lovelace, Annabelle Tarnowski

Oral History Posters

A life history interview with a qualitative approach was conducted with Michael Iwama, PhD, MSc, BScOT, BScHP by two student researchers and an advisor from the University of North Dakota Department of Occupational Therapy. The purpose of this study is to provide occupational therapists with a view of history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from inception to current practice through the life history of Michael Iwama. The research was guided by the Kawa model to shape the interview schedule, and the view of the individual and their context (Iwama, Thomson, & Macdonald, 2009). The two-hour interview was recorded, …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Joan Rogers, Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Michelle Arnhalt, Ivy Steiger

Oral History Posters

Objective: This qualitative study was to examine the evolution of occupational therapy practice throughout the life history and career of Joan Rogers. The purpose of the study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond.

Method: The Kawa Model guided Semi-structured interview questions. Throughout the interview process, the researchers gained information regarding Joan Roger’s experiences related to gaining her occupational therapy …

What Stops Some Occupational Therapy Practitoners From Providing Fieldwork Education?, Jacqueline S. Schafer-Clay

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

A critical fieldwork shortage exists for the profession of occupational therapy and an evidence gap was found; literature with practitioners who do not provide fieldwork education was missing. The purpose of this capstone project was to identify the barriers that stop some occupational therapy practitioners from providing fieldwork education and what benefits and supports may motivate these same individuals to become fieldwork educators. A quantitative descriptive and correlational study with an online survey design, with 25 closed ended questions was distributed through snowball sampling across the United States. Responses were received from 42 states plus the District of Columbia. There …

Incorporating Meaningful Occupations Of Students With Moderate To Severe Intellectual Disabilities Into Structured Learning Experiences With Transition Planning At A Public School System, Catherine Gardner

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to learn from stakeholders how to identify meaningful occupations of students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and how to incorporate them into their structured learning experiences in school to help them prepare for adult life upon graduation at 21 years old. The project also sought to explore how to involve the students and their families in the process of identifying meaningful occupations.

The Impact Of An Occupation Based Parkinson Caregiver Program On Caregiver's Quality Of Life, Jennifer L. Labonte

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The goal of the study was to enhance the PD patient’s caregiver’s ability to provide quality care to meet the ever changing needs of a neurodegenerative medical condition along with enhancing quality of life indicators of the caregiver. The community based program covered 7 topics over 4 consecutive weeks. The project design was an experimental one group pre and posttest design. The outcome measurement tool was the Parkinson Caregiver QOL Index. Data was analyzed utilizing a paired t-test for individual questions and the total score on the Parkinson Caregiver QOL Scale. No statistical significance was found between pretest and posttest …

Parental Self-Efficacy Of The “Unexpected Parent”, Cinthia L. Arbogast

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Research focused on the “unexpected parent” is limited. This population of parent is increasing in frequency.

Purpose: The purpose of this capstone study was to provide support to unexpected parents. The study focused on the area of establishing and maintaining routines and consistency as a means to decrease negative behavior in order to improve parental selfefficacy. With improved skills and perceived improved abilities, the aim of this study was to improve this performance of this group of parents during their participation in the occupation of parenting.

Theoretical Framework. The theory driving this research is the occupation-based model called the …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Karen Jacobs Edd, Otr/L, Cpe, Faota, Katelyn Jennings, Abby Wendel

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project,Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather …

The Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Susan Haiman, Mps, Ot/L, Faota, Jacey Savage, Meaghan Wolfgram

Oral History Posters

Objective: This life history is one of 30 life history interviews, which are part of a larger project, Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of this qualitative study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history of occupational therapy and how the practice has evolved from the beginning to its current practice through the life history stories of accomplished occupational therapists.

Method: An in-depth, semi-structured, 120-minute interview was conducted with Susan Haiman via telephone from the University of North …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Patricia Scott Phd, Mph, Ot, Faota, Bethany Easthouse, Samantha Plutko

Oral History Posters

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather this information.

Methods: Data was collected from one semi-structured interview with Dr. Scott. The interview was conducted via teleconference through the program Zoom and lasted approximately two hours. The questions asked during …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Mary Hager, Allison Moran, Grace Spanos

Oral History Posters

Objective: The purpose of this qualitative study using a life history approach is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond.

Method: A semi-structured phone interview was conducted between the student researchers and Mary Hager, a retired occupational therapist. The interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim prior to data analysis. Codes, categories, and themes were synthesized from the interview to comprehend a …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Lela Llorens, Ph.D., Otr/Ret, Faota., Rylee Skyberg, Rachel Grubb

Oral History Posters

Objective: The objective of the overall study was to gain insight into Dr. Lela Llorens’s life experiences and leadership throughout her time of work in the profession of occupational therapy.

Method: This was a qualitative study done using a life history approach. The participant was selected from a list compiled through purposive sampling by the project directors. Data was gathered through a two-hour, semi-structured interview with Dr. Llorens via Zoom, and through her curriculum vitae. The two-hour interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Member checking was not used for the triangulation of the data. The data collapsed into …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Ivelisse Lazzarini, Otd, Ashley Timm, Aspen Pitcher

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project,Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Kathlyn L. Reed, Ph.D., Otr, Faota, Mlis, Tristen Smith, Audrya Tarango

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project, Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of the study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Julie D Bass, Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Michaela Zins, Taylor Beatty

Oral History Posters

Objective: The purpose of the life history of Julie Bass, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is to gain an insight into her life, her leadership experiences, and her years of work in the occupational therapy (OT) profession to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of how occupational therapy practice has evolved over time.

Method: An in-depth, semi-structured interview was guided by an interview schedule prepared by the project directors. The interview took place via Zoom conference at the University of North Dakota and lasted two hours. The interview was transcribed verbatim and coded with 22 codes. The codes …

Occupational Therapy And Veterans’ Resiliency Post-Amputation: Addressing Psychosocial Needs, Alexandra K. Broussard

OT Student Capstones

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project is to identify: (a) the unmet needs of veterans’ post-amputation, (b) gaps in successful promotion of resilience, recovery, and reintegration, (c) role of occupational therapy in promoting resilience, recovery, and reintegration. METHODS: Needs assessment to identify the unmet needs to address psychosocial adjustment post-amputation from the perspectives of veterans and healthcare providers. RESULTS: This project revealed several themes from the experiences of veterans’ post- amputation and healthcare providers who treated veterans’ post-amputation. DISCUSSION: There is limited research incorporating mental health occupational therapy to improve resiliency for veterans’ post-amputation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This supports the …