Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Examining The Validity Of The Preschool Kitchen Task Assessment, Christine Kim, Angelica Soltis

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Background and purpose. Executive function (EF) skills are necessary to set a strong foundation for play development, school readiness and social participation in young children. However, few ecologically valid assessments are available to detect potential executive function deficits in preschool aged children. The Preschool Kitchen Task Assessment (PKTA) is a new tool that measures EF in preschool aged children. The PKTA was adapted from the Kitchen Task Assessment and The Children Task Assessment by Christine Berg, Ph.D., OTR/L. This study aimed to validate the PKTA as an ecological assessment of EF in preschool aged children.

Subjects. Twenty-four typically developing children …

Investigating Student Approaches To Learning With Structured Or Unstructured Client Collaboration, Cara E. Masselink

Masters Theses

As a profession, occupational therapists pride themselves on providing client-centered treatment. It is hypothesized that increased structured client collaboration as well as incorporating reflective journaling in the fieldwork setting (to meet the students at their level of learning) will improve student's critical thinking skills, and encourage them to seek deeper learning techniques to ensure they are providing 'best practice' occupational therapy for the client and his/her family. In this pilot study, the learning approaches of students in two existing University-based clinic programs were measured over the course of one semester. The treatment group was required to participate in structured, intentional …

Occupational Needs Of Female Ex-Offenders During Community Reentry, Leah N. Sowers

MOT Student Capstones

Purpose: The objective of the capstone project was to identify the most significant areas of occupation in which female ex-offenders participate and to determine ways in which occupational therapy could benefit the participants of Transitional Options for Women (TOFW), a transitional housing program that provides a safe environment and eight-step life-skills program for ex-offenders. This objective reflected a need in assisting the staff of TOFW in understanding areas of occupation the participants utilize and rely on during their transition from prison or jail into the community. The project was completed through provision of a community resource manual reflecting identified areas …

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Post-Concussion Syndrome: An Analysis Of The Implications For Occupational Therapy, Ashley M. Pirolli

MOT Student Capstones

Executive Summary Background: Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) occur more than one million times a year in the United States. Approximately 15% of those injuries result in persistent side effects, known as postconcussion syndrome (PCS), which can last up to a year or longer. Common long-term effects include headache, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance, poor concentration, visual disturbances, memory difficulty, and intolerance of stress, emotion or alcohol. (Dean, O'Neill & Sterr, 2012; Legome, 2015) Project Purpose: This project aims to promote occupational therapy practitioner awareness of mTBI/PCS and the implications for occupational therapy treatment by writing an article that is …

Examining Patient-Centered Care Through The Eyes Of An Occupational Therapist, Molly R. Ray

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The concept of person-centered care is a major factor in the ongoing shift between a type of care that focuses on biological concepts ignoring psychological and emotional needs of a person, to a new type of care that considers the whole person, striving to meet not only their physical needs, but their spiritual and emotional needs, striving to involve the patient in every aspect of care. In this study, an adapted person-centered checklist was created as a possible future tool to encourage occupational therapists to implement person-centered care techniques in daily practice. Supporting research includes a literature review on person-centered …

Portrait Of An Ot Artist: Using Mindfulness To Find Life Balance, Lydia Royeen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Lynn Davies, a Canadian-based occupational therapist, understands the skill set and practice required to employ a balanced work/play/leisure routine, even for an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists can easily foster this balanced routine for clients; however, they may fall short of adopting this balanced routine in their own lives. Lynn uses art and mindfulness strategies to strive for a meaningful routine. Balancing her work as a therapist and her engagement in art is an ever-evolving orchestra, as she has a passion for both.

Assistive Technology Accessibility And Abandonment: Challenges For Occupational Therapists, Daniel Mc Cruz, Maria Luisa G. Emmel, Mariana G. Manzini, Paulo V. Braga Mendes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Outcomes Associated With A Leisure-Time Activity Program For Disadvantaged Youth, Juanita Bester, Maatje Kloppers

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The SLEAK (Skills, Learning and Educational Activities for Kids) program was established in 2008 as a joint partnership between a community leader and the Division of Occupational Therapy Stellenbosch University. The vision of the SLEAK program is to create a sustainable, non-profit, leisure-time activity program for the youth (10-13 years of age) of the community in order to curb drug and gangster-related activities and to foster healthy work-related skills in the youth to make them responsible and productive members of their community.

The SLEAK program was evaluated in its entirety and this article will focus on the results for the …

An Elective Course Exploring Occupational Justice Through Occupational Storytelling And Story Making, Julie A. Bednarski

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this study was to examine whether second-year Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) students who enroll in the elective course “Occupation in Long-Term Care (LTC)” would be able to apply concepts of occupational justice in the nursing home environment through engaging residents in occupational storytelling and story making in order to facilitate resident self-advocacy for participation in a valued occupation. The occupational therapy elective course was developed and implemented with students alternating between the classroom and the nursing home environments. Outcome evaluation measurements included analysis of student reflective journaling to obtain qualitative data. The researcher found that students …

Role Performance And Role Valuation Among Occupational Therapy Students In Norway, Tore Bonsaksen, Hildegunn Kvarsnes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Model of Human Occupation describes roles as providing the person with a framework around which to organize daily occupations. Role performance and role valuation in young adults may be related to gender, but there are few research studies to date to support this view.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional design using a sample of 87 occupational therapy students in Norway. We used the Role Checklist to assess the students’ performance and valuation of roles, and a variety of statistical procedures were employed in the analysis.

Results: Compared to the female participants, males performed roles in the community, …

Using Technology To Increase Physical Activity In Health Profession Students, Mary Ann Stark, Kelly Elrod, Sara Haller, Andrea Mahon

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Health profession students may need help establishing and maintaining positive health behaviors when they are in college. This study explored the effectiveness of text messaging as an innovative method for promoting an increase in daily physical activity. A convenience sample (N = 134) was recruited from students at a college of Health and Human Services in Michigan. The participants were randomized into an intervention or control group (n = 67 each). The intervention group received daily affective text messages encouraging more physical activity by taking more steps. The control group received only messages reminding them to report their number of …

Attitudes Of Occupational Therapists And Occupational Therapy Assistants Toward The Entry-Level Bachelor’S Degree For Otas, Randy P. Mccombie

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Discussions at the local, state, and national level often focus on the value of and prospect for a change from the current entry-level master’s degree to the doctorate degree as the required entrance degree for occupational therapists (OTs). While this debate is not without merit, what appears to be lacking is comparable attention to and consideration of the entry-level bachelor’s degree for occupational therapy assistants (OTAs). The present study examined the attitudes and opinions of OTs and OTAs in regard to the entry-level bachelor’s degree for OTAs. Responses from 144 OTs and 77 OTAs to a postal mailed survey found …

The Use Of Personal Projects Analysis To Enhance Occupational Therapy Goal Identification, Mary Egan, Lori Scott-Lowery, Cynthia De Serres Larose, Liane Gallant, Chantal Canada Jaillet

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Client-centered occupational therapy begins with the identification of personally-relevant patient goals. This study aimed to determine whether the elicitation module of Personal Projects Analysis (PPA) could help patients in an acquired brain injury day hospital program identify more meaningful goals than those identified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) alone.

Method: Ten patients completed the COPM. They rated the importance of each goal and their confidence that they could attain each goal. During the next session, using the elicitation module of PPA, they identified personal projects just prior to their brain injuries, current personal projects, and future desired …

A Phenomenological Study On The Perception Of Occupational Therapists Practicing In The Emergency Department, Gregory Chown, Theresa Soley, Susan Moczydlowski, Christine Chimento, Amy Smoyer

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of the study was to increase the scope of knowledge regarding the perception of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners working in the emergency department (ED). A literature review identified a gap in knowledge of OT practitioners working in the ED.

Methods: The 10 participants in this study were registered and licensed OT practitioners working at five acute-care settings with experience working in the ED in Pennsylvania hospitals. A qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted using semi-structured interviews of participants’ lived experiences.

Results: Using qualitative data analysis program Atlas.ti 7®, the central themes discovered were discharge recommendations that ensure …

State Of The Journal Year 3: Finding Our Balance, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Study Buddies: Peer-To-Peer Collaboration During An Online Otd Program, Rene' Wren

Occupational Therapy Collection

No abstract provided.

A Resource Manual To College And University Academic Return For Young Adults With A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Rachel Gromek, Emily Hermanson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Reportedly, in the United States 75% of traumatic brain injuries that occur each year are referred to as mild (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2010). Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of disability each year with the highest prevalence being between ages 15-24 years (Willmott, Ponsford, Downing, & Carty, 2014). The greatest deficits experienced by college or university students with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are cognitive, psychosocial, and physical (Kennedy, Krause, & O’Brien, 2014; Marschark, Richtsmeier, Richardson, Crovitz, & Henry, 2000). The purpose of this project was to address the limited resources available to individuals with …

Occupational Therapy Brochure, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy Curriculum, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy Tampa Overview, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy Clinical Doctorate Overview, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Examining The Lived Experiences Of Families Who Have Adopted Children And Received Occupational Therapy Services, David Simpson

Online Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative descriptive study focused on the experiences of families who have adopted children from different countries and placed them in occupational therapy services.

Method: Three different sets of parents were interviewed to gather data on the adoption process and on their experiences with receiving services from an OT. Each interview was conducted either with one or both parents present. Only one interview was conducted with each family.

Discussion: While families often have quality experiences working with an OT and observe improvements in their children, some families do not receive quality services. This is due to lack of communication …

An Occupation Based Practice Educational Program Model Implementing Online Learning, Kristina K. Elam

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Due to numerous changes in reimbursement, healthcare delivery and the field of occupational therapy in recent years, the health care arena is now driven by efforts to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of interventions. Therapists, specifically, are challenged by multiple factors, particularly cost-containment, that influences their ability to deliver occupational therapy services. However, in an attempt to promote best practice, occupational therapists must incorporate occupation-based interventions into daily treatment in all practice settings. Occupation-based activities are defined as activities that allow clients to engage in valued occupations in their own context (Rogers, 2007).

Purpose: This program development model …

Occupational Therapy Clinical Doctorate Curriculum, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

The Secret Ingredient For Improving Infant/Child Mental Health: Teaching Parents To Play, Geraldine Healy Marini

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Disorders in mental health are the highest of all disorders and results in the most common form of disability. Since 2011, mental health disorders have increased at alarming rates. It is estimated that 9.5 to 14.2% of children between the ages of 0 to 5 years have and emotional or behavioral problem. The mental health of parents or caregivers can affect and impact the development of young children (Nelson & Mann, 2011, Zero to Three, 2004).

The over arching goal of this research is to explore issues of mental health within parent-child interactions. Coaching parents during the co-occupation of play …

Implementation Of Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy In Upper Limb Stroke Rehabilitation In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital, Umana W. Udoeyop

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

This study will seek to demonstrate the efficacy of mCIT in upper extremity rehabilitation of patients with acute stroke resulting in hemiplegia in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital as a way to demonstrate its feasibility and applicability in this setting for this subset of stroke patients. It is expected that the study will provide a model for the implementation and application of mCIT in stroke rehabilitation in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and serve as a pilot program for an evidence-based approach to rehabilitation of patients with acute stroke in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.

“Activated, But Stuck”: Applying A Critical Occupational Lens To Examine The Negotiation Of Long-Term Unemployment In Contemporary Socio-Political Contexts, Debbie Rudman, Rebecca Aldrich

Occupational Therapy Publications

Solutions for the problem of long-term unemployment are increasingly shaped by neoliberally-informed logics of activation and austerity. Because the implications of these governing frameworks for everyday life are not well understood, this pilot study applied a critical occupational science perspective to understand how long-term unemployment is negotiated within contemporary North American socio-political contexts. This perspective highlights the implications of policy and employment service re-configurations for the range of activities that constitute everyday life. Methods: Using a collaborative ethnographic community-engaged research approach, we recruited eight people in Canada and the United States who self-identified as experiencing long-term unemployment. We analyzed interviews …

“Why Would I Want To Go Out?”: Age-Related Vision Loss And Social Participation, Debbie Rudman, Deborah Gold, Colleen Mcgrath, Biljana Zuvela, Marlee Spafford, Rebecca Renwick

Occupational Therapy Publications

Social participation, a key determinant of healthy aging, is often negatively impacted by age-related vision loss (ARVL). This grounded theory study aimed to understand social participation as a process negotiated in everyday life by older adults with ARVL. Interviews, audio diaries, and life-space maps were used to collect data with 21 older adults in two Ontario cities. Inductive data analysis resulted in a transactional model of the process of negotiating social participation in context. This model depicts how environmental features and resources, skills and abilities, and risks and vulnerabilities transacted with values and priorities to affect if and how social …

The Experiences Of The Parents Of Children Undergoing Occupational Therapy Intervention For The Occupation Of Feeding, Michael A. Coldiron

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Occupational therapy practitioners practice under the values of client-centered care and cultural sensitivity. This valuates the role of the occupational therapy practitioner in pediatric feeding intervention pertaining to diverse diets. The problem is that there is a lack of research into the experiences of individuals who consume a diverse diet as they undergo occupational therapy intervention for the occupations of feeding and eating. The purpose of this study was to enable individuals with diverse diets to self-report these experiences. Participants were questioned on the challenges they encountered and detailed questions regarding the types of experiences they face. The study was …

Impact Of An Occupation-Based Practice (Obp) Learning Module On Perceptions Of Obp And Selection Of Occupation-Based Interventions By Occupational Therapy Assistant Students, Allen S. Keener

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this Capstone project was to immerse OTA students in classroom experiences designed to increase their knowledge of key concepts of occupation, OBP, and ability to select occupation-based interventions. The hypothesis of the researcher was that engagement in the module would create an increase in OTA student knowledge in the areas of occupation and OBP, as well as the ability to select occupation-based interventions based on client scenarios.

Prior to engagement in module class sessions, students engaged in pretesting activities, consisting of demographic information, a short essay, and an intervention selection task. Once completed, students participated in a …