Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Living With Fragile X Syndrome: Occupations As An Outcome Measure In A Clinical Trial, Theresa Chase, Ty Duong, Ana Baldinger, Kaylee Gothelf

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of semi-structured interviews as an outcome measure in a clinical trial for children with fragile X syndrome (FXS). A qualitative approach was used to analyze twenty-five parent interviews with children with FXS who participated in a double-blind medication trial. Each participant received either sertraline or a placebo. The aim of this research was to assess differences in occupational functioning in the sertraline group and placebo group, that may not have been detected with the use quantitative outcome measures alone. Results showed greater improvements in the sertraline group in areas of …

Older Adults’ Perspective: Exploring The Experience Of Owning A Guide Dog, Jeffrey Kou, Yvonne Lam, Patricia Lyons, Susan Nguyen

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Guide dogs have been shown to be an effective assistive device that can help older adults with low vision navigate their community and improve overall well-being. Despite vast research conducted on pet therapy and dog companionship, limited research exists on the facilitators and barriers of owning a dog guide among older adults with low vision. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the facilitators and barriers of owning a guide dog as experienced by older adults with low vision participating in Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) organization. Data were gathered among seven participants using semi-structured phone …

Partnering For Success! Occupational Therapy, Industrial Design, & Medicine: Creating Innovative Solutions, Brenna Jacko, Ots, Megan Vesey, Ots, Nuriya Neumann, Ots, Mikael Avery, Ms, Otr/L, M. Arch, Kim Mollo, Otd, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Ot In Pediatric Primary Care, Anne H. Zachry, J. Flick

Faculty Presentations

This session described a program where licensed occupational therapists and master’s level OT students provide free developmental screenings to infants and young children in local pediatric medical practice. Strategies for strategies for developing relationships and bridging communication between occupational therapists, primary practice physicians, and families were reviewed.

Reflecting The Communities That We Serve: Embracing Diversity And Inclusion Initiatives In Occupational Therapy Education, Jonette Ishmael, Ots, Nuriya Neumann, Ots, Tracey Vause-Earland, Otr/L, Phd

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Background

• There is a current lack of diversity seen in OT classrooms across the country.
• It is paramount we create a diverse occupational therapy student body in order to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.
• Students, educators, and therapists, need to develop cultural reflexivity, humility and safety when serving patients of various background (Taff & Blash, 2017).
• Through establishing diversity and inclusion initiatives within OT education we can increase awareness and provide education that will radically shape the OT workforce in coming years.
• Efforts to diversify OT programs is key to progressing as a profession, and reflecting …

Facilitating Emotional Regulation In Adults With Developmental Disabilities Through Person-Centered Play Therapy, Otis Kemutambah

Honors Theses

Adults with developmental disabilities may employ maladaptive behaviors that stem from limited opportunities to interact with their community and non-nurturing interactions within their environment. This literature review explores the effects of play on maladaptive behaviors and provides a rationale that supports the use of PCPT to improve this population’s emotional regulation skills. More specifically, the sources indicate that activities containing exercise and games, improves the emotional regulation skills of this population. Based on the presented information, created cost effective activities will potentially improve these skills amongst adults with developmental disabilities. These activities that adhere to PCPT are basketball, water basketball, …

Measuring The Outcomes Of Therapeutic Listening® In Children With Learning And Developmental Disabilities, Donielle Hair, Phoebe Taasan, Hannah Tashjian, Julia L. Wilbarger

Student Research Posters

A practice-based evidence (PBE) approach was used to explore the outcomes of the Therapeutic Listening® technique. PBE examines how effective clinical practice is within the actual clinical context. PBE capitalizes on using customary procedures and measures to establish clinical outcomes. (Horn & Gassaway, 2010; Swisher, 2010).

Therapeutic Listening® (TL®) is a sound-based intervention broadly used by pediatric OTs as a complement to sensory integration interventions for children with sensory processing disorders.

Veterans Health Awareness And Promotion, Emilio Villavicencio

Community Engagement Theme

No abstract provided.

Primary Care-Ot For Older African Americans With Diabetes And Mild Cognitive Impairment: Intervention Approaches And Case Stories, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Susan Santalucia, Ms, Otr/L, Michele Rifkin, Mhsed, Otr/L, Barry Rovner, Md, Robin Casten, Phd, Neva White, Np, Crnp, Cde

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Purpose:

To test the efficacy of a collaborative intervention to lower hemoglobin A1c levels (HbA1c) in older African Americans with Type 2 diabetes (DM), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and suboptimal medication adherence and glycemic control.

Aims:

1. To reduce HbA1c level by 0.5% at 6 and 12 months.
2. To increase MEMS-measured adherence to an oral DM medication at 6 and 12 months.

Hypotheses:

1. Fifty-five percent of intervention participants, compared to 25% of control participants, will have a reduction in HbA1c of 0.5% at 6 months (short term effect) and 12 months (maintenance effect).
2. The Primary Care-Occupational Therapy intervention will increase MEMS-measured …

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Tdcs) Improves Performance On Spelling And Word Detection Tasks, J. Kevin Wilson

Psychology ETDs

Deficits in written language involving spelling can have negative effects on a person’s education and occupation. Conventional spelling therapy is a time consuming and cost-prohibitive option, if even available, highlighting the need for improved methods for remediation. One possible way to address this need may be through the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This study sought to examine the effects of tDCS on performance during spelling, word detection, and facial recognition tasks. Active or sham tDCS was randomly assigned to typically functioning adults. The anode electrode was placed over Broca’s area (F7 in the 10/20 EEG system) and …

Shared Decision-Making As Experienced By Rehabilitation Students On An International Service-Learning Trip: A Phenomenological Investigation, Mary Zadnik, Suzanne Trotter, Thomas Werner

Occupational Therapy Collection

The value of service-learning has been well documented in medical and allied health education (Abedini, Gruppen, Kolars, & Kumagai, 2012; Ekelman, Dal Bello-Haas, Bazyk, & Bazyk, 2003; Pechak, Gonzalez, Summers, & Capshaw, 2013; Pechak & Thompson, 2009; Ryan-Krause, 2016). Several studies have been conducted looking at cultural experiences and clinical reasoning (Corbett & Fickert, 2009; Sheppard & Landry, 2015; Nouvet, Chan & Schwartz, 2016). What has not been well-examined though is the concept of shared decision-making by those engaged in service-learning. The purpose of this phenomenological investigation (i.e. study) was to identify how occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) …

The Effects Of An Occupation-Based Home Exercise Program For Stroke Survivors, Shannon King

MOT Student Capstones

Stroke survivors seldom regain their full functionality following hospital or inpatient rehabilitation, it is therefore pertinent to have an intervention that can aid their recovery back at home. Functional impairments often lead to other complications if not properly managed including decreased participation in activities of daily living, decreased social activities, and increased depression. This project introduces a consistent, daily exercise for their recovery that is essential, described as occupation-based home exercise program (HEP). The purpose of the study is to administer this occupation-based home exercise program to assist stroke survivors to continue recovery at home to improve their functional ability, …

Disart: Redefining The Construct Of Participation, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

DisArt, an arts and culture organization based in Grand Rapids, MI, provided the cover art for the Spring 2018 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The piece, a somatic sculpture by Petra Kuppers, was featured at the 2015 DisArt Festival in Grand Rapids. Kuppers is a disability culture activist and community performance artist who connects people, both disabled and nondisabled, in public spaces. DisArt’s mission is to increase the participation of disabled people in our communities through disability art exhibitions, cutting edge public events, and consultation. In a recent interview, DisArt co-founders and executive directors, Dr. Christopher …

Occupational Therapy Adjunct Faculty Self-Perceptions Of Readiness To Teach, Laronda Lockhart-Keene, Marie-Christine Potvin

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

To meet the demands of a growing profession, occupational therapy (OT) education programs rely on adjunct faculty to augment their faculty pool. Clinicians transitioning into faculty roles frequently do not have formal training in teaching and learning practices. This problem is compounded with adjunct faculty, as they are not using best teaching practices in OT education programs and do not have easy access to university resources. A qualitative study was conducted to describe the perceptions of new OT adjunct faculty on their degree of preparedness to teach, the supports needed to be successful in transitioning from clinician to academician, and …

Screens Or Mp4s: Acquiring Clinical Competencies Through The Use Of E-Ospes In Occupational Therapy, Lizahn Gracia Cloete, Lee-Ann Juliana Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi, Lana Van Niekerk

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The assessment of clinical competence of undergraduate students is a crucial part of higher education training in occupational therapy. The use of online objective standardized practical examinations (e-OSPEs) was piloted as a technological innovation to determine student learning needs. An action research framework with four phases was used. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency tables and percentages were used to report survey results. The students had multiple practice opportunities before uploading their best attempt. Thirty participants completed a 12-item survey. The results were analyzed using descriptive analysis and presented by means of statistical graphs. Peer assessment facilitated experiential learning. …

Exposure To, Knowledge Of, And Interest In Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy As Career Options, Prisca M. Collins, Cynthia Carr

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Lack of awareness and knowledge of the occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) professions has been cited as a barrier to consideration of these professions as career options. This study examined the types of exposure to, knowledge of, and career interest in OT and PT of students from underrepresented minority (URM) and non-Hispanic White and Asian American (NHW-AA) populations. A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 150 high school and undergraduate college students. Demographic data and student responses to questions regarding exposure to, knowledge of, and career interest in OT and PT were collected. Descriptive statistics and …

Pinch Testing Positions Among Certified Hand Therapists: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Sueann R. Woods, Christa Lilly

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Pinch strength is indicative of later functional hand use following injury to hand. However, we believe clinicians (and more specifically CHTs) currently do not use a consistent measurement of pinch grip, despite availability of a “gold standard” of current (2015) ASHT standards for measuring pinch grip.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey (N = 175, 35% response) was designed to determine whether CHTs adhere to the standardized testing position for palmar pinch strength as recommended by the ASHT.

Results: Results determined that only 5.7% (n = 10) of the CHTs surveyed complete the entire ASHT standardized testing …

Reliability Of The Bulb Dynamometer For Assessing Grip Strength, Colleen Maher, Seoyoung Yoon, Shannon Donovan, Rochelle J. Mendonca

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Hand function is an overall indicator of health and is often measured using grip strength. Hand-held dynamometry is the most common method of measuring grip strength. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater and test-retest reliability, the reliability of one trial versus three trials, and the preliminary norms for a young adult population using the Baseline^® Pneumatic Squeeze Bulb Dynamometer (30 psi).

Methods: This study used a one-group methodological design. One hundred and three healthy adults (30 males and 73 females) were recruited. Six measurements were collected for each hand per participant. The …

The Distinct Value Of Occupational Therapy In Supported Employment Of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Katie Coakley, Kimberly Bryze

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Supported employment provides individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) the support needed for community work. ID work is an integral occupation of adult life, facilitates social interaction, and fosters a sense of accomplishment and independence. The purpose of this study was to explore the unique contribution of occupational therapy to supported employment of adults with ID.

Methods: Case study methodology incorporating qualitative and quantitative data were used to examine two supported employees. Qualitative data were collected from interviews and administration of the Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA) and Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS). The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills …

Informal Leadership In The Clinical Setting: Occupational Therapist Perspectives, Clark Patrick Heard, Jared Scott, Tanisha Mcginn, Emily Van Der Kamp, Amjad Yahia

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Leadership is vital to clinical, organizational, and professional success. This has compelled a high volume of research primarily related to formal leadership concepts. However, as organizations flatten, eliminate departmental structures, or decentralize leadership structures the relevance of informal leaders has markedly enhanced.

Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological methodology consistent with interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study examines the impact of informal leadership in the clinical setting for occupational therapists. Data was collected through the completion of semi-structured interviews with 10 peer-identified informal occupational therapy leaders in Ontario, Canada. Collected data was transcribed verbatim and coded for themes by …

Psychometric Properties Of An Instrument Derived From The Intentional Relationship Model: The Self-Efficacy For Recognizing Clients’ Interpersonal Characteristics (N-Seric), Victoria C. Ritter, Farzaneh Yazdani, Tove Carstensen, Mikkel M. Thørrisen, Tore Bonsaksen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Intentional Relationship Model conceptualizes the therapeutic use of self in occupational therapy. To increase motivation for and success in establishing therapeutic relationships, therapists need self-efficacy for using the self in therapeutic practice. However, attempts to combine this model with self-efficacy theory are rare, and instruments by which to measure self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self are in a developing stage. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and internal consistency of the Norwegian Self-Efficacy for Recognizing Interpersonal Characteristics (N-SERIC).

Methods: Occupational therapy students (n = 100) from two education programs completed the instrument and …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Needs And Supports For Handwriting Instruction In Kindergarten, Jill A. Nye, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study was designed to explore the perceived needs of kindergarten teachers as well as the supports they require in preparing children for success in the area of handwriting.

Methods: A phenomenological research design was used and nine kindergarten teachers employed at four elementary schools in a school district in Illinois participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were completed to discuss the perceptions of teachers related to challenges they face and the supports they require in promoting the occupational task of handwriting among the children in their classrooms.

Results: The results from this pilot study revealed that overall …

A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Developmental Milestones And Parental Experiences In Ghana, Kate G. Barlow, Stacey Reynolds

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Ghana currently lacks a systematic method for identifying children with developmental delays, and there do not appear to be any culturally sensitive assessment tools available. The objectives of this mixed-methods research study were to explore normal developmental milestones and parental practices in the Ghanaian population. The study also aimed to identify and describe culturally specific factors that should be accounted for on assessments used in the Ghanaian culture.

Methods: Twenty-eight Ghanaian parents were interviewed and asked to participate in a developmental milestone picture-identification task. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were performed.

Results: The interviews revealed several cultural factors that …

Understanding Therapists’ Use Of Play With Children With Life-Threatening Conditions: A Qualitative Study, Rachel L. Bambrick, Carole W. Dennis, Kimberly Wilkinson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study examined how occupational therapists use play in their treatments when working with children with life-threatening conditions.

Methods: This narrative qualitative study used an interpretive phenomenological approach to data analysis. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with each therapist; interviews were designed to gather an understanding of how these occupational therapists work with children with life-threatening conditions and the ways in which they use play.

Results: Four major themes arose from the interviews along with two sub-themes. The four major themes were: play as a means, playful moments, condition-dependent limitations, and reimbursement. The two sub-themes were the importance of …

Normative Or Heavy Clouds? Early Indicators Of Nonverbal Learning Disability Based On Mothers’ Reports, Sara Rosenblum, Michal Piran, Sonya Meyer, Dalia Sachs

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD) are verbally competent and particularly weak in nonverbal, visuospatial, and social abilities. Most of the literature about NVLD discusses the all-around functioning and diagnosis process during school years. In this qualitative study, the perceptions of mothers of children with NVLD were explored in the context of their children’s daily functioning characteristics during their first 3 years. The aim was to identify early indicators and warning signs of NVLD during the developmental process.

Method: Five mothers participated in two in-depth, semi-structured retrospective interviews.

Results: Two main themes were identified: (a) “Everything …

The Clinical And Classroom Utility Of The Inventory Of Reading Occupations: An Assessment Tool Of Children’S Reading Participation, Lenin Grajo, Catherine Candler, Patricia Bowyer, Sally Schultz, Jenny Thomson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the initial clinical and classroom utility of the Inventory of Reading Occupations (IRO), a new tool to assess children’s reading participation.

Method: The study used phenomenological qualitative and descriptive methods. The participants included 38 occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, classroom teachers, and parents who completed or reviewed responses of children on the IRO. To provide triangulation, 20 of the children who completed the IRO were interviewed. Data were thematically analyzed and then categorized using a central Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats premise.

Results: The majority of the participants indicated favorable response to the …

The War On Words, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Riding And Psychological Health In Older Adults, Alyssa Pattison, Craig Ashford

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

This project explores the available quantitative and qualitative research to see if there is a link between therapeutic horseback riding and the reduction in symptoms of depression in older adults. Currently, there is a gap in evidence based research surrounding older populations with depression and therapeutic riding. However, research gathered on adolescents and adults suggest that therapeutic riding may alleviate depressive symptoms in persons over 65 years of age. Studies included in this project reveal groups of themes. The first is assessments, tools and evaluations. The second is animal assisted therapy, equine assisted therapy, therapeutic riding, and the barn environment. …

Discharge To The Community From An Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital: Factors To Consider, David Byerly, Jennifer Caswell, Erin Brooks

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Nationally, inpatient psychiatric settings average a 5% readmission rate for their patients, within one month of discharge. A search for articles published within the past 20 years, uncovered critical themes and led to recommendations for practice from 15 articles. Impacting an individual’s readmission are 1) length of stay at the facility, 2) employment opportunities and support after discharge, 3) social and family support, impacting feelings of exclusion/inclusion (stigma), 4) the extent to which the individual embraces the AA recovery philosophy, 5) the specific characteristics of the immediate geographical location of housing, 6) adherence to medical plans, and 7) the availability …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Empowering The Oldest Old Population, Lauren Conigliaro, Nicole Wingfield

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Question: Does occupational therapy promote occupational engagement and increase confidence in mobility in the oldest old population residing in assisted living facilities?