Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Communication Barriers: Are You One Of Them?, Tara Luedtke, Keleah Goldammer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: "Many hospital administrators and clinicians are not aware there are laws and regulations that support the provision of language access service, both for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and those with limited English proficiency" (Wilson-Stronks, 2010, p. 14). "It is estimated that about 20 million people (one in 15) in the United States speak and understand little or no English" (U.S. News & World Report, 2007, ~4).The language inconsistency within the healthcare system is hindering the care given to these clients. According to Jay Feldstein, corporate chief medical officer for the Ameri1Health Mercy Family of Companies, …

Misuse Of Prescription Medication In The Elderly Population And The Impact It Has On Their Functional Occupations, Amber Larson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

One of Occupational Therapists' primary responsibilities is to assist clientele at becoming as independent as possible. In order to be successfully independent an individual needs to be able to perform ADLs and IADLs (functional occupations) and have a basic understanding of problematic issues that may affect their abilities to perform these functional occupations. Misusing prescription medication is one way is which functional occupations can be negatively impacted. Specifically, prescription medication misuse is one of the primary issues that may impact elderly individuals' abilities to function independently. Even though this is an issue that needs to be addressed, research into the …

Occupational Therapy Intervention For Patients With Spinal Cord Injury, Cheryl A. Nickerson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Spinal cord injuries are complex and debilitating, affecting every aspect of a patient's life. This causes a general reduction in personal independence and social participation (Pillastrini et al., 2008). In order to provide effective and appropriate care, the interdisciplinary team must have extensive knowledge of the diagnosis and potential problems that the spinal cord patient may encounter. The purpose of this study was to identify successful interventions for an effective occupational therapy approach and to develop an education manual for use in the rehabilitation setting in order for entry-level therapists to develop competency.

Based on information found in the literature …

A Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Protocol For Children With Acquired Brain Injuries, Amber Bath, Kortni Heckart

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Acquired brain injury (ABI) includes any non-traumatic brain injuries such as stroke, cerebral palsy, and brain diseases such as cancer (Book, 2005). A child who sustains an acquired brain injury may experience profound impairments in motor performance, and significant deficits in sensory awareness and responsiveness, secondary to hemiplegia. (Taub et al., 2007, Taub, Ramey, DeLuca & Echols, 2004). Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is a intervention developed by Dr. Edward Taub for the secondary condition of hemiplegia affecting the adult stroke population. This intervention has also produced positive results in studies conducted with children (Taub et al., 2007). An extensive …

An Occupational Therapy Community-Based Self-Esteem Program For Adolescents Who Have Experienced Burn Injuries, Karla Beck, Kathryn Miller

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Self-esteem is a problem that adolescent burn survivors deal with on a daily basis. Yet, there is limited research regarding adolescent burns and the psychosocial aspect within their daily occupations. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop and provide occupational therapists with interventions and outcome measures to utilize in a Self-Esteem Program for implementation in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This program focuses on helping adolescents to regain their self-esteem and confidence when returning back to their communities. Burns have an emotional and behavioral effect on children/adolescents, causing anxiety, pain, distorted self-image, and depression (Pardo, Garcia, Marrero, & …

A Research Study To Explore Casper College Undergraduate Education Majors' Perceptions Of Educational Curriculum Concerning Occupational Therapy's Role In The Public School System, Jenny Lok, Mike Seabeck

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge concerning OT roles in the school district setting that undergraduate education majors are receiving at Casper College.

Methodology: Data was collected from 57 participants through the use of a survey to identify pre-service teachers’ perception of occupational therapy and the education they have received in their coursework.

Results of this study indicate that undergraduate education majors at Casper College are receiving less than optimal instruction on the role of OT in school-based practice. Overall 91% of students polled indicated that they had not received education on OT …

Adolescents With Disabilities: The Development Of Life Skills Through Occupational Therapy, Diane Magnuson, Courtney Mohler

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a workshop for occupational therapists (OTs) who work with adolescents as they transition from high school to adulthood focusing on life skill development.

Methodology: An Internet search was completed to determine the current role of OT in the transition process and the needs of adolescents as they transition to adulthood. Information was obtained from the following databases: PubMed, PsychInfo, SCOPUS, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Resources included professional journals, scholarly text books, and government websites. The literature review also included information on the Ecology of …

The Role Of Occupational Therapists In The Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Sarah Mathieu, Gwendalyn Mollerud

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this research is to explore the role of occupational therapy (OT) within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). There has been limited research pertaining to the current overall role of OTs in the NICU. In order to explain/demonstrate the multifaceted role of OTs within the NICU, a survey was created and, using a stratified random sample, distributed to 90 NICUs in hospitals throughout the United States (U.S.).

A non-experimental exploratory survey research design was used to gather and analyze information from respondents. A survey was created by the researchers based on a thorough literature review of the topic …

A Study On The Effects Of Therapeutic Listening On The Social And Functional Behavior Of Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Robin Abbott

Theses and Dissertations

Auditory sensory differences and sensitivities are often mentioned by parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and in research involving children with ASD. Addressing these auditory processing differences is the goal of various auditory treatment techniques, but current research does not yield a body of evidence in support of auditory therapy as a treatment for children with ASD. This study is a single-subject study, repeated across two subjects, to investigate the effect of the Therapeutic Listening program on the social engagement and self-care skills of preschool-aged children with ASD. Both social engagement and self-care skills increased with for both …

Correlating The Developmental Test Of Visual Perception -2 (Dtvp And The Test Of Visual Perceptual Skills - Revised (Tvps-R) As Assesssment Tools For Learners With Learning Difficulties, Janet Richmond, K Holland

Research outputs 2011

Learners are often referred to occupational therapists to assess their visual perceptual functioning. It is, therefore, imperative that the occupational therapists use the best assessment tools to obtain accurate and reliable results that lead to effective intervention which will be noticeable in the classroom functioning of these learners. A study was therefore conducted which correlated the results of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception (second edition) (DTVP-2) and the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills Revised (TVPS-R) in a cohort of 173 learners from Grade 1 to Grade 4 (children aged 6 years to 11 years). The learners attend a remedial …

What's Going On Here? Deconstructing The Interactive Encounter., Janice P Burke

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Eleanor Clarke Sagle Lecture

A Qualitative Study Of Coping In Mothers Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Heather Miller Kuhaneck, Tajhma Burroughs, Jamie Wright, Theresa Lemanczyk, Amy Rowntree Darragh

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

A significant body of research exists that explores the stressors of raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are fewer studies, however, that examine specific effective coping strategies of mothers of children with an ASD. This qualitative study explored mothers’ perceptions of effective coping strategies for their parenting stressors. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 mothers to inquire about their personal coping methods. Interviews were coded and emergent themes identified which included coping strategies such as “me time,” “planning,” “knowledge is power,” “sharing the load,” “lifting the restraints of labels,” and “recognizing the joys.” The information from …

Occupational Science: A Data-Based American Perspective, Doris Pierce, Karen Atler, Julie Baltisberger, Elaine Fehringer, Elizabeth Hunter, Somaya Malkawi, Twilla Parr

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Faculty and Staff Research

The purpose of this research was to provide a data-based picture of the discipline of occupational science by identifying patterns of research in the first 5 years of presentations at the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA (SSO:USA). A grounded theory approach was used to examine 184 peer-reviewed presentation abstracts, from 2002 to 2006. Among the 108 data-based presentations, adults were the most studied group, with 46% of the data-based abstracts focused on participants with a disability or clear disadvantage. Presenters’ research foci related to 4 themes: the personal experience of occupation, the context surrounding or impacting occupation, changes …

Identifying Strategies Early Intervention Occupational Therapists Use To Teach Caregivers., Jessica L. Colyvas, L Brook Sawyer, Philippa H. Campbell

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

This study investigated early intervention occupational therapists' use of strategies to teach caregivers. A sample of 40 videotapes made by early intervention occupational therapists was randomly selected from an archival videotape data set of provider home visits. The sample included 20 videotapes illustrating traditional services and 20 videotapes illustrating therapists providing participation-based services. Videotapes were rated using the Teaching Caregivers Scale, which rates three variables on 30-s intervals: (1) routine, (2) provider role, and (3) strategies used to teach caregivers during early intervention home visits. Regardless of the model of service, explicit teaching strategies were rarely used during home visits.

Positioning Techniques To Reduce The Occurrence Of Dequervain’S Tendonitis In Nursing Mothers, Alison Virzi

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

DeQuervain's tendonitis is an inflammation of two tendons: the extensor pollicis brevis and the abductor pollicis longus as they cross in the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. Symptoms include pain, swelling along the radial aspect of the wrist, and a decrease in thumb motion. A positive Finkelstein's test at examination is seen. Frequently it is caused by repetitively gripping, lifting, and positioning the wrist in flexion, ulnar deviation with thumb extension. It is a common diagnosis in women, referred to as "washerwoman's syndrome". It is also common for new mothers to experience due to the demands their wrists are …

The Importance Of Mentoring For The Professional Involvement Of Therapists Specializing In Ayres Sensory Integration®, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Mentoring, a term that originated with Greek literature, has been defined as a reciprocal, enabling relationship that promotes growth and development of the mentee (Milner & Bossers, 2005; Rose, 2005; Scheerer, 2007; Schemm & Bross, 1995). Generally, this relationship focuses specifically on development of the career of the mentee. The mentoring relationship serves multiple functions and may occur in many forms, providing role modeling, support and encouragement, socialization to the culture, advocacy, and perhaps even protection. Mentors also provide training, advice, and guidance. Mentoring may occur formally or informally, and the culture of the organization in which the relationship occurs …

Evolution Of The Sensory Integration Frame Of Reference., Roseann C. Schaaf, Patricia L. Davies

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Examining The Neuroscience Evidence For Sensory-Driven Neuroplasticity: Implications For Sensory-Based Occupational Therapy For Children And Adolescents., Shelly J. Lane, Roseann C. Schaaf

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

When Ayres first presented the theory of sensory integration (SI), she grounded it in the neuroscience literature. Neuroplasticity was then, and is today, considered to be at the heart of this theory. This evidence-based review sought to critically examine the basic science literature to specifically identify evidence for the assumptions and tenets of Ayres' theory of SI. We reviewed literature between 1964 and 2005, within psychological, physiological, and biomedical areas, addressing neuroplasticity. The review focused on sensorimotor-based neuroplasticity; explored the data that addressed the links among sensory input, brain function, and behavior; and evaluated its relevance in terms of supporting …

An Investigation Of Depression And Fatigue Post West Nile Virus Infection., Patti J Berg, Stacy Smallfield, Lana Svien

Journal Articles: Occupational Therapy

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine depression and fatigue in individuals with a seropositive confirmed history of West Nile virus (WNV) infection.

METHODS: The South Dakota State Epidemiologist sent 218 letters inviting residents with a diagnosis of WNV to participate in the study. Forty-five subjects were tested. An occupational therapist and a physical therapist met with each participant to assess performance parameters, including depression and fatigue levels. Subjects (n=42) completed the Revised Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) during the assessment. The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) was sent to participants as a follow-up questionnaire, and …

Parasympathetic Functions In Children With Sensory Processing Disorder., Roseann C. Schaaf, Teal W. Benevides, Erna Imperatore Blanche, Barbara A. Brett-Green, Janice P. Burke, Ellen S. Cohn, Jane Koomar, Shelly J. Lane, Lucy Jane Miller, Teresa A. May-Benson, Diane Parham, Stacey Reynolds, Sarah A. Schoen

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

The overall goal of this study was to determine if parasympathetic nervous system (PsNS) activity is a significant biomarker of sensory processing difficulties in children. Several studies have demonstrated that PsNS activity is an important regulator of reactivity in children, and thus, it is of interest to study whether PsNS activity is related to sensory reactivity in children who have a type of condition associated with sensory processing disorders termed sensory modulation dysfunction (SMD). If so, this will have important implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying sensory processing problems of children and for developing intervention strategies to address them. The …

Dual-Task Interference: The Effects Of Verbal Cognitive Tasks On Upright Postural Stability In Parkinson's Disease, J. D. Holmes, M. E. Jenkins, Andrew M. Johnson, S. G. Adams, S. J. Spaulding

Occupational Therapy Publications

Although dual-task interference has previously been demonstrated to have a significant effect on postural control among individuals with Parkinson's disease, the impact of speech complexity on postural control has not been demonstrated using quantitative biomechanical measures. The postural stability of twelve participants with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and twelve healthy age-matched controls was evaluated under three conditions: (1) without a secondary task, (2) performing a rote repetition task and (3) generating a monologue. Results suggested a significant effect of cognitive load on biomechanical parameters of postural stability. Although both groups increased their postural excursion, individuals with Parkinson's disease demonstrated significantly reduced …

Survivors On The Edge: The Lived-Experience Of Professional Musicians With Playing-Related Injuries, Christine A. Guptill

Digitized Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived-experience of professional instrumental musicians who have experienced playing-related injuries. This study used a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology developed to examine this lived-experience. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten professional musicians. This was followed by a focus group where preliminary findings were presented to participants and their feedback was sought. Other sources of lived-experience included participant-observation by the researcher, who is a musician and has experienced injuries; and biographic and artistic representations of musical performance and its loss, including literature, films and television.

The findings were summarized in a visual representation unique …

An International Service Learning Guide For Occupational Therapy Students And Clinicians, Alicai D. Bohrer, Emily A. Kringle

Occupational Therapy Capstones

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop" -Mother Teresa

Increased diversity within the U.S. demands the education of occupational therapy clinicians who can deliver culturally responsive care. The number of immigrants to the U.S. is at an all-time high and the African-American and Hispanic populations are expected to double by mid-century (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). Occupational therapy students and entry-level clinicians have identified the need for more information, resources, and experience with people from different cultures (Murden et aI., 2008). Service …

Easing The Transition Into Long Term Care: An Occupation Based Approach, Sarah Boroos, Janel Ludenia

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to present methods to help ease the transition process for older adults into a long term care (LTC) facility using a meaningful occupation based approach. An estimated .9% of the community dwelling individuals versus 72% of long term care residents exhibit some form of depression (Harris & Haffer, 2003; Harris, 2007). Consequently residents experience decrease functional status and decreased quality of life. A comprehensive literature review of adults' transitioning into LTC facilities was conducted using PubMed, Ebsco, Psychlnfo, Scopus, OT search, CINAHL, AJOT, textbooks, and the internet. The literature supp0l1s the need for …

Integrating The Nintendo Wii Into Therapy: Resources For Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Ashley Bowersox, Sarah Lund

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Therapists have the challenge of identifying a variety of interesting, meaningful, and purposeful intervention activities for individuals needing rehabilitation services (Weiss, Rand, Katz, & Kizony, 2004). The purpose of this project was to develop educational resources for occupational therapists on the integration of the Nintendo Wii as an intervention.

An extensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, professional journals, and news articles to investigate the health related effects of utilizing virtual reality and video games in the rehabilitation process. Currently, there is minimal research identifying the benefits of video games in occupational therapy practice and no protocols were …

An Exploratory Study Examining Interprofessional Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy Practitioners And Students, Matthew Cappetta, Roberta Carrlson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between occupational therapy and physical therapy students and practitioners. Historically there has been limited research conducted that pertains specifically to the interprofessional collaboration of occupational and physical therapy students and practitioners. For the purposes of this study the researchers examined the relationships between occupational and physical therapy students, the relationships between practicing occupational therapists and physical therapists, and differences and similarities of their relationships with respect to variables thought to impact interprofessional collaboration.

Methods: A non-experimental survey research design was used to gather and analyze information from the participants. …

Activity Strategy Workbook For Mothers Experiencing Multiple Sclerosis, Skylar Davis, Elizabeth Meyer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a resource for mothers diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) to promote optimal success and independence in the motherhood role. The resulting workbook targets the mothering activities of individuals who have been newly diagnosed with MS and are raising young, pre-school aged children. The product provides education and guidance to optimize the mother's ability to care for herself and her child or children.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine current best practice and treatment guidelines for MS, the influence of MS on both the parent and child, and also common …

The Promotion Of Pediatric Sensory Integration Using Small Animals In A Clinical Or Classroom Environment: A Resource For Occupational Therapists, Nina Perez Jackson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create and provide a program to assist occupational therapists in setting up, managing, and providing animal assisted activities and therapies (AAA/T) as a useful conjunction with sensory integration therapy.

A review of the literature revealed a lack of information for occupational therapists to provide AAA/T with children. The research revealed that the use of sensory integration therapy as a pre-established framework to implement AAA/T would provide a research based platform to present a program incorporating animals into therapy.

Based on the literature findings, a product was developed to guide occupational therapists in …

Elderly In Prison: A Programming Protocol, Chelsey Hunt, Sarah Janke

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The current U.S. correctional system is structured for the young, well, able-bodied prisoner and does not take into consideration the extensive needs of elderly inmates. The number of elderly inmate has been steadily increasing and is going to continue to rise with the increase of age expectancy of the average American and changes in in sentencing policies that increase the length of stay in prisons (Potter, Cashin, Chenoweth, Jeon, 2007; The Sentencing Project, 2005). Currently elderly inmates make up 12% of the federal prison population (Mauer, King, Young, 2004, p. 24).

An extensive literature review was conducted to determine the …

An Occupational Therapy Program To Help Community Dwelling Seniors Age In Place, Amy Lundberg, Kayla Novacek

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: It is estimated that by 2030, one in five people in the United States will be 65 or older (US Census Bureau, 2008). An aging in place initiative has come to the forefront of health care to help seniors cope with the age related challenges, allowing seniors to experience productive aging in their own homes. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an occupation based aging in place wellness program for community dwelling elderly.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify the current challenges associated with aging. In addition, the literature review identified strengths and limitations …