Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Embracing And Enacting An ‘Occupational Imagination’: Occupational Science As Transformative, Debbie Rudman

Occupational Therapy Publications

This paper addresses the question of how occupational science can move forward in its development as a socially and politically engaged discipline. It is argued that a transformative approach to scholarship needs to be embraced, and that enacting such an approach requires a radical reconfiguration of the sensibility underpinning occupational science. After reviewing the key defining characteristics of a transformative paradigmatic approach, key insights regarding how to foster a radical sensibility in occupational science are drawn from C. Wright Mills (1959) conceptualization of ‘the sociological imagination’. Embracing an occupational imagination premised on these key insights would foster the transformative potential …

Utility Of An Occupational Therapy Driving Intervention For A Combat Veteran, Sherrilene Classen, Miriam Monahan, Maria Canonizado, Sandra Winter

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Many combat veterans are injured in motor vehicle crashes shortly after returning to civilian life, yet little evidence exists on effective driving interventions. In this single-subject design study, we compared clinical test results and driving errors in a returning combat veteran before and after an occupational therapy driving intervention. A certified driving rehabilitation specialist administered baseline clinical and simulated driving assessments; conducted three intervention sessions that discussed driving errors, retrained visual search skills, and invited commentary on driving; and administered a postintervention evaluation in conditions resembling those at baseline. Clinical test results were similar pre- and postintervention. Baseline versus postintervention …

Planning For The Future : A Grounded Theory Study Of Well Older Adults' Decision-Making Regarding Home Modifications, Kathleen Subasic

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this dissertation research was to understand the decision-making process that well older adults use when deciding whether to make a home modification. The researcher also sought to understand the views of well older adults concerning the use of home modification to prevent injury and declines in occupational performance. The researcher used the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model (Law et al., 1996) from occupational therapy and occupational science as the orienting framework.

A qualitative grounded theory approach based on that proposed by Strauss and Corbin (1998) was used to structure data collection and analysis. Participants were obtained using purposive and …

Measuring The Playfulness Of Children With Special Needs In Occupational Therapist Led, Caregiver-Included Community Playgroups, Sarah Fabrizi

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of community playgroups on the playfulness of children ages 15 months to 3 years with special needs. In addition to playfulness of the child, the sensitivity and responsiveness of the caregiver were examined. A quasi-experimental, pretest-and-posttest, repeated measures design was used to follow eight children and their caregivers receiving early intervention services and taking part in a community playgroup. The children and their caregivers were measured during a 4-week standard-of-care baseline, before and after an 8-week intervention period, and 4 week post-intervention. The Test of Playfulness (ToP) was utilized to …

Adapting The Resources For Enhancing Alzheimer’S Caregivers Health (Reach) Program For Use In A Nursing Home Setting, Edward Golden

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Adapting the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregivers Health (REACH) program for use in a nursing home setting

OCT 7003 Capstone Paper

Improving Occupational Performance Using Therapeutic Activities On A Geropsychiatric Unit, Brenda L. Cain

Online Theses and Dissertations

The following study was conducted on a Senior Behavioral Health Unit at Mercy Hospital Western Hills. The unit specialized in psychiatric services structured to meet the needs of patients 65 years of age and older. The purpose of the study was to measure the self-perceived improvement in occupational performance in five patients on a geropsychiactric unit who participated in therapeutic activities.

The literature review includes information related to various diagnoses most often seen on the behavioral unit. Additionally, literature about the assessment and screening tools utilized in the study was reviewed. Literature pertaining to therapeutic activities provided on the unit …

Experience Of Occupational Therapists Practicing In Rural Kenya, Picoty Cherotich Leitich

Online Theses and Dissertations

In Kenya, occupational therapy, which is slowly gaining attention, is still concentrated in the cities with a very small number working in rural areas. Occupational therapy practice in rural areas is impacted by various factors that are naturally occurring in rural settings such as poor infrastructure, cultural beliefs and values, language barriers, economic statuses, lack of resources, geographical barriers, lack of transportation and limited number of occupational therapists. In this study, three occupational therapists were interviewed as well as photographs of the resources used in these rural settings were collected in order to understand the nature of their work in …

The Occupational Participation Of A Family Of Children With Disabilities, Kim Steele

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to obtain an understanding of how one family of children with disabilities views their occupational participation. A qualitative case study was used to provide a holistic view of occupational participation from individual family members. Data were gathered through interviews with all members of the family, observations of the family engaging in typical occupations, and artwork collected from the children. Data collected during interviews and observations were analyzed using the a priori coding method, with the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) serving as the theoretical framework used to identify codes. Current findings indicate that an …

The Art Of Collaboration In Academic And Clinical Partnerships, Kelsey Spencer Bennett

Online Theses and Dissertations

Occupational therapists in various settings share a professional identity valuing occupation. Their socialization into a practice setting is context-dependent, in terms of the skills needed and roles to be enacted. Collaboration between occupational therapists in clinical and academic settings benefits each participant, along with presenting challenges given the systems where they work. The purpose of this project was to delve into understanding the culture of the settings (academic and clinical) influencing a community-based research partnership. Through a mini-ethnographic approach, similarities and differences of culture emerged describing the depth of components for the collaboration between research group members. This description may …

The Description Of Life Experiences Of A Person With Pediatric-Onset Tetraplegia During His Upper Teen And Young Adult Years, Kelsey M. Yarberry

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative case study was to understand how a young man with pediatric-onset tetraplegia described his life experiences during his upper teen and young adult years. Data was obtained through two individual semi-structured interviews and observations. Interviews were conducted, recorded and transcribed by the primary investigator at the home of the participant. The participant provided information about his life including his experiences with family, friends, and healthcare providers. Six themes that emerged from the data included I always have someone with me, I'm not easily broken, I'm stubborn, I've made it the best I can make it, …

How Not Being Able To Drive Can Affect Routines And Occupations Related To Transportation, Stedmon Deon Hopkins

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how individuals who have experienced a TBI described the effects not being able to drive has on their routines and occupations related to transportation. Two participants were interviewed, using a semi-structured interview protocol, about their participation in daily routines and occupations related to driving cessation after experiencing a TBI. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Data was analyzed by coding significant phrases, grouping the codes into categories, and generating descriptions of the participants' perceptions. Member checks were performed for trustworthiness. After analyzing the data, four themes emerged. The themes were; hoping to …

Farmers With Upper-Limb Amputations And Their Daily Routine, Emily Louise Fintel

Online Theses and Dissertations

For upper-limb amputees who are associated with the farming industry, the process of completing daily occupations may be challenging, especially for those who have not received guidance from occupational therapy. Currently, there is little research in the area of farmers with amputations and their daily routine. The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to explore the attitudes, beliefs, and needs related to the daily routines of upper-limb amputee who is currently working or has previously worked in the farming industry. Participant was asked to share his/her daily routine and how the amputation has affected her ability to perform everyday …

Examining The Sensory Characteristics Of Preschool Children With Retentive Fecal Incontinence, Isabelle Beaudry-Bellefeuille

Theses and Dissertations

Occupational therapists are concerned with individuals´ abilities to engage in daily occupations. When a daily activity such as bowel management is problematic, participation in key occupations can be limited. Retentive fecal incontinence is a common disorder in children. Behavior seems to be partly responsible for this condition. Occupational therapists have hypothesized that some behaviors could be related to sensory over-responsivity. This study investigated the relationship between retentive fecal incontinence and sensory over-responsivity and examined the Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire, a tool designed to screen for toileting difficulties. The study showed that a group of children (n=16) with retentive fecal incontinence …

Occupational Therapy And Health Sciences News, January 2014, Occupational Therapy Department

News, Magazines and Reports

2013, a year in review. In OT we have 2 new faculty members, Sharon McCloskey and Lola Halperin. The Health Sciences program is pleased to welcome Dr. Raja Staggers-Hakim. Student events. Faculty achievements.

Comparing Levels Of Supervision Across Occupational Therapy Intake And Discharge For Individuals Receiving Post-Acute Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Joseph Glenn Grubaugh

Community Based

In response to limited outcome-based research, this study aimed to determine how levels of supervision across OT intake and discharge for individuals receiving post-acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation compare to various participant demographic factors and OT treatment protocols. A retrospective pre-post research design and convenience sampling was utilized for observing quantitative data obtained from Origami Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center located in Mason, MI. Forty-two participants met inclusion criteria for various demographic factors and OT treatment protocols (explanatory variables). SPSS statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test for comparing levels of supervision (ordinal response variable) to dichotomous explanatory variables. …

Encouraging Occupation: A Systematic Review Of The Use Of Life Review And Reminiscence: Therapy For The Treatment Of Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults, Allison P. Zuiderveen, Caitlin M. Ivey, Sarah A. Dordan

Older Adult

Objective: The present systematic review attempts to investigate the efficacy of both life review and reminiscence therapy interventions in the treatment of depressive symptoms in older adults. This review also attempts to clearly define each intervention; thereby determining which type of therapy was actually performed in previous research studies.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using three databases: CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO. Six studies met the inclusion criteria and pertinent variables were extracted for data analysis.

Results: In all six articles, the reminiscence therapy or life review intervention was found to be effective in the treatment of …

Sensory Integration Interventions Used By Pediatric Occupational Therapists For Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review, Teddie Buchner, Jennifer Fortuna, Natalie Lindsay

Pediatrics

Objective: To identify sensory based interventions used by pediatric occupational therapists treating children diagnosed with ASD.

Design: Systematic Review

Methods: Researchers searched four scholarly databases to obtain articles identifying sensory integration interventions used by pediatric occupational therapists. The four key terms used to filter the resulting articles include: “occupational therapy,” “autism,” “sensory,” and “interventions.” Articles were eliminated based on inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Results: A total of 11 articles were chosen to identify sensory integration interventions used by pediatric occupational therapists treating children diagnosed with ASD.

Conclusions: The sensory based interventions most commonly used by pediatric occupational therapists treating children diagnosed with …

A Systematic Review: The Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapy Interventions For Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, Katherine Adkins, Alexis Moxley, Catherine Petkus

Systematic Reviews

Background: Individuals with multiple sclerosis experience a range of symptoms including blurred vision, poor coordination, tremors, numbness, fatigue, concentration and memory problems, and/or blindness. Given the range of symptoms and resulting limitations, individuals with MS will experience occupational challenges, which lead to referrals for occupational therapy. The goal of occupational therapy is to enable individuals to engage in activities that one wants to or needs to participate in. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions that are currently being provided to individuals with multiple sclerosis. Methods: Researchers searched four scholarly databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, PsychINFO, and OT Search. …

Perceptions Of Employers In Spokane County Regarding Employing Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Shannon White, Curtis Pearson, Amylynne Sargent, Jennifer Mcquillan, Molly Hobbs

2014 Symposium

There is limited research available addressing employment opportunities for adolescents or adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With the growing population of adults with ASD in the United States, there will likely be an increase in the demand for support to help them live independently. The purpose of this research is to obtain employers’ perceptions on employing individuals with ASD. Businesses in Spokane County were mailed invitations to participate in an on-line survey. Results will be analyzed and shared with local agencies for potential program development.

Interventions Used By Occupational Therapists And Allied Health Providers In Regards To Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Kara L. Maatz, Jared Q. Zimmerman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the most widely known disability in the American health care system (National Institute of Health [NIH], 2010). Chronic pain affects how individuals are able to engage in meaningful activities of daily life. Unrelieved pain can potentially result in longer hospital visits, emotional distress, and increased re-admission rates to hospitals (The American Academy of Pain Medicine, 2012). A review of research in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) database revealed that few clinically useful references were available for practitioners regarding interventions used with chronic musculoskeletal pain (AOTA, 2014). As a result, it was determined that effective …

Fostering Self-Identity In Adolescents Who Experience Spinal Cord Injuries, Lauren Schneibel, Terese Boeder

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to identify a need and to guide occupational therapists during the treatment of adolescents who have acquired a spinal cord injury. During the adolescence stage, an individual begins to develop a sense of self and sense of direction, as well as formulate values which all contribute to personal identity formation (Erickson, 1968). The manual will guide the occupational therapist to address identity formation through use of the chosen assessments and interventions. It is believed that focusing on aspects of identity formation as experienced in the midst of a traumatic spinal cord injury will …

A Study Examining The Effectiveness Of A Sensory-Based Feeding Group For Children With Problematic Eating Behaviors, Laura Notch, Brionna Simenson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

KEY WORDS: children, problematic eating behaviors, sensory, intervention

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze the process and outcomes of a routine sensory-based feeding group on a child’s problematic eating behaviors.

METHODS: An experimental pretest-posttest research design was used to gather and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on 4 children who demonstrated problematic eating behaviors. The children participated in a routine 8-week sensory-based feeding group, which utilized sensory activities to promote change. The Children’s Eating Behavior Inventory (CEBI) and the Feeding Intake Form (FIF) were completed through parental report prior to and upon completion of the intervention. …

Retained Primitive Reflexes And Adhd: Examining Atypical Symptomology In The School-Aged Population, Quincey Adams, Jamie Craft

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Typical development begins in-utero and progresses throughout the lifespan. Jean Piaget authored a theory that encompasses core aspects of the lifespan stages related to typical development of sensory and motor systems. Piaget outlined the developmental stages as: sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage. Within these stages, the typically developing child learns to adapt and respond effectively to his or her environment (Cole & Tufano, 2008). Dr. Jean Ayres described a similar developmental process, termed Sensory Integration. This process is defined as the coordination of the sensory systems in order for an individual to effectively …

Weight Management For The Elderly Population Who Have Sustained A Lower Limb Amputation: Resource Manuals For Clinicians, Lauren Battles, Maia Sobolik

Occupational Therapy Capstones

It is becoming more common for individuals to sustain a lower limb amputation, thus impacting their ability to participate in functional tasks of daily living such as ambulation, balance, dressing, driving, and toileting. Approximately two million people within the United States are living with an amputation, most commonly in the lower extremity (Amputation Coalition, 2013). According to Resnik and Borgia (2011), by the year 2050, the number of lower limb amputations will increase significantly due to the aging population who encounter a variety of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), dysvascular, and/or heart diseases. Weight management is …

Reducing Recidivism For Youth Through An Integrated Residential And Community-Based Program, Alexandra Berdal, Megan Meyer, Nicolet Sadlowski

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Reportedly, 95% of youth in the juvenile justice system have had prior involvement with the juvenile justice system, suggesting that intervention does not adequately address the needs of these youth (Sedlack & Bruce, 2010; OJJDP, 2003). The purpose of this project was to address the problem of recidivism with an emphasis on preparing for transition from residential placements to community engagement.

Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted in order to understand the occupational performance deficits that youth in the juvenile justice system face in transitioning to their community. The information obtained from the literature review was then analyzed …

Adherence To Home Programs In Patients With Acute Orthopedic Injuries Of The Upper Extremity, Brien J. Buckentine, Justin L. Fredrickson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to explore the relationship between occupational therapy home program of clients with acute upper extremity injuries, client factors, and performance patterns that are influential in clients’ adherence to their prescribed home programs. A secondary purpose was to develop an instrument intended to measure adherence in patients with an orthopedic injury of the upper extremity.

Using the Occupational Adaptation Model and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Practice as guiding foundations, a thorough literature review of client home program adherence was completed. This led to the development of a prospective, online survey designed to capture …

Assisting Occupational Therapists In North Dakota: An Agricultural Resource Guide, Teresa Bunn, Caitlin Layden

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Within the state of North Dakota, agriculture and farming are of the most essential and influential factors within the state's economy (Rathge et. al 2012). Rural communities are among the medically under-served areas within the United States; establishing the dire need of healthcare services (Hagglund et al., 1998; Schweitzer et al., 2011). A study conducted by Meyer and Fetsch (2006) deduced the four prominent disabilities affecting farmer's engagement in occupations as arthritis, spinal cord injury, amputation, and back injuries. Farmers, and their family members, are also at higher risk for work related stressors which may result in severely disabling conditions; …

Increasing Collaborative Communication Regarding Proper Positioning: A Photographic Guide, Kyle Donner, Rachel Newman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Approximately 98,000 people die annually in the United States due to medical errors (Institute of medicine, 2013). These medical errors are most often due to miscommunication between healthcare providers (Sutcliffe, Lewton, & Rosenthal, 2004). Impaired positioning is one type of medical error, which leads to severe complications such as contractures, pressure ulcers, and occupational deficits (Amidei, 2012; de Jong, Nieuwboer, & Aufdemkampe, 2006; Gordon, Gottschlich, Helvig, Marvin, & Richard, 2004). The purpose of this scholarly project is to provide a communication tool that will increase interprofessional communication and collaboration in regards to client positioning needs in healthcare settings. A literature …

Promoting Social Participation, Leisure And Community Integration For Adults With Developmental Disabilities: An Intervention Guide, Joelle Evenson, Rebekah Miesbauer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Upon an initial review of literature, it was found that life expectancy of individuals with developmental disabilities has been increasing which is leading to a greater number of adults with developmental disabilities living in the community. Because these individuals are living longer, it puts an extended burden on caregivers and the adults with developmental disabilities are being placed in group homes. Adults with developmental disabilities have limited access to activities outside of group homes (Mansell, Elliott, Beadle-Brown, Ashman, & Macdonald, 2002; Abbott & McConkey, 2006). They are spending most of their time engaged in more passive activities and have little …

Integration Of Sexuality Content Into An Occupational Therapy Curriculum, Brittany L. Larson, Sarah R. Stutz

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Sexuality is a broad term that can be used to encompass other terms such as sexual expression and sexual functioning, and can be defined as a holistic concept of the individual that is more than just physical sexual behavior but also relates to thoughts and feelings of everyday life (Couldrick, 1998a). Sexuality and sexual functioning are considered an activity of daily living (ADL) by the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (2008); however, it is a topic that is not being routinely addressed with clients by occupational therapists or other healthcare professionals (Hattjar, 2012). Studies show there is a …