Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Survey Of Sensory Diet Use Among California Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Morganne Peterson, Allison Hunt, Emily White

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of sensory diets in the field of occupational therapy. This study investigated the use of sensory diets among California occupational therapy practitioners. A mixed-methods design was used to collect data through an online survey. The survey was sent out to members of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) and received 98 respondents within one month. Participants worked among various clinical settings and implemented sensory diets with various client populations. Practitioners reported using terms such as “sensory strategies,” “sensory tools,” and “sensory supports” which indicates an overall misunderstanding associated with …

Resilience And Protective Factors In Older Adults, Jessica Mcclain, Katelyn Gullatt, Caroline Lee

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Evidence suggests resilience promotes successful aging in place and protective factors promote resilience. This study sought to investigate whether or not the combination of three protective factors, physical health, social support, and self-efficacy are all of equal importance in predicting resilience among Marin County older adults, or if some individual protective factors have a greater impact on resilience than the others. Fifty-eight participants ages 62 and higher were recruited from senior community programs and personal contacts. Four self-report questionnaires were completed by the participants in this exploratory, cross-sectional, quantitative design. SPSS was used for a descriptive and multivariate analyses to …

Measuring Physiological Responses To Sensation In Typical Adults, Sarah Button, Kristen Christensen, Emily Minor

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Objective: Sensory processing issues can have a large negative impact on the ability to participate in daily occupations such as ADLs, access to work, school and leisure environments, and social interactions (Dunn, 2001). The evidence documenting sensory processing issues in adults is sparse. Physiological information can be used as objective evidence to support the claim that those with over-responsivity to sensations are experiencing their environment differently than the typical population. Understanding more about sensory processing in adults may lead to increased recognition of the problem and more opportunities for intervention to increase occupational participation. The purpose of this quantitative study …

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 …

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

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Anecdotal reports of the Therapeutic Listening ®-Quickshifts (TL-Q) technique report positive effects on child behavior but the individualized approach requires further supporting evidence. TL-Q is an individualized sound-based program used to facilitate sensory processing skills and is believed to improve interpersonal, social, and cognitive skills (Frick & Hacker, 2001). This study examines the use of a standardized protocol to measure the specific outcomes of the TL-Q program using a practice-based evidence (PBE) approach for the purpose of aggregating data for clinical practice. The protocol was used to measure the outcomes of the TL-Q program in a convenience sample of 23 …

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 …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Formal Dementia Care Training Program: Abilities Care Experts™, Carmen Joaquin, Michelle D'Amato, April Perez, Louiza Alexandria Villarina, Sophie E. Miller

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Overview: Abilities Care Experts™ (ACE™) is an educational training program for nursing staff who care for individuals with dementia in skilled nursing facilities (SNF). The objective of the program is to provide the nursing staff with knowledge, and methods to engage residents’ remaining abilities in order to maximize occupational participation using a stage-specific dementia care approach. ACE™ training has yet to be evaluated for effectiveness in a controlled study design.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACE™ training.

Design: The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, quasi-experimental design.

Participants: A total of 29 CNAs, 13 ACE™ trained …

Pilot Study: Assistive Technology As A Vocational Support For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Erin Chaffee, Tina Ho, Kevin Ng

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of video-based instruction (VBI) to support completion of vocational tasks. A mixed-method approach was utilized to explore the use of VBI on a personal digital assistant with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using two assembling cooking tasks, researchers investigated the level of independence with task completion through written instruction versus VBI. The results indicated a small non-significant increase in the level of independence with task completion during the VBI task independent of intelligence quotient (IQ) levels. Participant’s feedback of VBI was also noted as positive to help learn …

Collaborative Practices In Special Education: An Exploratory Study, Blanka Pentek, Katherine Sadoff, Evelyn Tang

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Objective: This exploratory survey study examined collaborative practices of professionals working in special education. The basis for the survey was the Conceptual Model of Collaboration (CMC), created by Hess and colleagues (2017).

Methods: 27 professionals who work in special education participated. Cross tabulation tests and Pearson's correlation tests were run to determine relationships between the variables.

Results: The findings indicated that the majority of participants value collaboration for student outcomes and professional development. Most participants agreed on common facilitators and barriers to collaboration. Collaboration primarily takes place in IEP meetings, through email and text messaging and is frequent in all …

Functional Cognitive Activities For Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury: Pilot Case Studies, Ajay Pala, Karen Huang, Ashley Cook

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The purpose of these pilot case studies were to investigate the effectiveness of the Functional Cognitive Activities for Adults with Brain Injury: A Sequential Approach (FCA) in generalizing functional cognitive skills across meaningful occupations for adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study was a pretest-posttest design consisted of two participants with TBI.

Both participants attended 14 out of the 16 intervention sessions, twice-a-week for eight-weeks. Pretest-posttest measurements, including the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills, and Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), were used to measure changes in occupational performance. Additionally, a four-month follow-up phone interview using …

Age-Related Changes In Visual Processing Speed: A Pilot Study Using The Motor Free Visual Perception Test- 4, Amber Zadravecz, Kassidy Ha, Lauren Gollnick, Stephanie Pawek, Zoe Studer

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Older adults are at a significantly increased risk of being involved in motor vehicle accidents. Evidence reveals that visual processing speed decreases with age, which may impact driving. The Motor-Free Visual Perception Test- Third Edition (MVPT-3) is used as a pre-driving assessment and has an age-normed Response Time Index that measures visual processing speed. In 2015, a new version, the new Motor-Free Visual Perception Test- Fourth Edition (MVPT-4), was published. The new MVPT-4 does not yet demonstrate its utility in measuring visual processing speed. The purpose of this study was to explore if differences in visual processing speed between younger …

Managing Fatigue With Technology For Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, Janie Grant, May Anne Gamueda, America Ortega, Jordan Song

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the use of a mobile health application (mHealth app) in conjunction with energy conservation management techniques will result in a decrease in fatigue for adults with multiple sclerosis.

METHOD: Using a quantitative, exploratory, pre-posttest design, we examined outcomes associated with the use of the mHealth app, Pace My Day, by seven participants during one chosen task over two weeks. The app reinforced the use of energy conservation management techniques during the chosen task. Outcome measures included Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).

RESULTS: There was …

The Effects Of Therapeutic Listening On Bilateral Coordination, Avery Wilson, Mios Buccat, Amanda Grace Irao, Morgan Mousley, Michael Yra Munchua

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Therapeutic Listening® is an intervention increasingly used by occupational therapists despite the lack of supporting evidence in current literature. Therapeutic Listening® is a sound-based treatment developed by Sheila Frick, OTR/L, rooted in sensory integration. The purpose of this continuation study was to compare the quality of bilateral movement in typically developing children after either listening to Therapeutic Listening® Bilateral Coordination Quick Shift or listening to white noise. This study used a randomized control pretest-posttest experimental design to analyze posture, smooth and continuous movement, effort, precision, and arm/leg movements. Specific items were further analyzed after eliminating those with a strong ceiling …

Implementing Multifactorial Education Modules With Older Adults: Individualized And Interactive Fall Prevention Education, Salvador Chavez, Jocelle Flores, Rachelle Yambao

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Falls are a significant concern for community-dwelling older adults (OAs), with one in four OAs reporting a fall every year. Occupational therapy students collaborated with first responders of the Novato Fire District to identify gaps in fall prevention community outreach programs and found that many interventions lack an interactive or individualized approach. Based on the gap analysis and current literature, seven education modules were developed to address key risk factors including home safety hazards, polypharmacy, fear of falling, and strength and balance exercises. Thirty community-dwelling OAs participated in the education modules that were implemented at two senior community sites in …

Validation Of The Medication Box Task Assessment, Katherine Blank, Alison Chandler, Malcolm Isely, Serena Soria, Yamin Zaw

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

There are a limited number of validated occupation-based cognitive assessments that are feasible in clinical settings. For individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI), ecologically valid cognitive assessments are needed to understand how cognition influences functional performance. This study implemented a quantitative exploratory correlational design using a battery of gold standard tabletop cognitive assessments as criterion measurements against the Medication Box Task assessment, an occupation-based cognitive assessment. Eight participants completed the test battery. The student researchers used Pearson correlations to analyze each participant’s scores on the Medication Box Task assessment and the scores on the battery of gold standard assessments. Results …

Fall Risk Reduction Using Lifestyle-Integrated Functional Exercise (Life), Kayla L. Comer, Tiffany Huang, Kelly Schmidt, Matthew W. Tong

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

As the population and longevity of older adults’ increases, the prevalence of falls is becoming an ever-growing issue. Falls in older adults may lead to sedentary behavior, decreased independence, and lower quality of life. Evidence has shown that traditional exercise programs emphasizing strength and balance can decrease the fall risk in older adults, but may be difficult to sustain over time. Emerging evidence suggests that exercises that are integrated into daily life, as seen in the Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program, may have a more lasting effect in reducing fall risk in older adults. This study explored the effectiveness of …

Sleep As An Occupation In College Students: A Mixed Method Study, Charlotte Sally, Savannah Hancock, Rhianna Wallace, Jacqueline M. Bloom

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Sleep is an emerging area of research and practice for occupational therapists. The purpose of this study was to identify and investigate how college students’ cognitive perceptions and beliefs about sleep affect their quality of sleep. Four college students participated in qualitative interviews investigating their sleep beliefs and attitudes. The students also completed a two-week daily sleep diary to report their sleep beliefs, attitudes, and daily living patterns. Four emerging themes were identified from the interviews: beliefs about sleep patterns related to temporal structure of sleep, stress, daytime performance associated with sleep, and conflicting beliefs about sleep. Daily sleep diaries …

High School Student Concussion Recovery Program: Teacher Involvement In Student Academic Transitions To Classroom And To Sports, Brittany Diego

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Many symptoms of concussions can substantially interfere with the cognitive abilities, and skills students use in school. Although students may have similar symptoms, they experience concussions differently. Students returning to the classroom from a concussion often have different needs and abilities.

Research shows that a formal, individualized protocol to treat suspected concussions, both academically and physically, is vital to the successful recovery of each student. Much research is available on concussions for professional athletes, specifically related to recovery and returning to their sport. However, there is little research about high school students regarding concussions. Concussion recovery programs for high school …

Efficacy Of Therapeutic Listening® Quickshifts In Children With Sensory Processing Difficulties, Shannon Preto, Ann Malloy, Bryant Luong

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Few empirical studies provide evidence for the effectiveness of Therapeutic Listening - Quickshifts (TL-Q). However, anecdotally, therapists and clients report TL-Q produces consistent positive results as an intervention for children with learning and developmental problems. In this study, the researchers examined the effectiveness of TL-Q intervention for five children with sensory processing difficulties to improve participation and function in (1) self-regulation and arousal, (2) activities of daily living (ADLs), (3) social/emotional skills, and (4) sensorimotor skills. Over the course of an 8-week prospective study, the researchers conducted a pre-test, post-test, prospective case study. During the intervention period, occupational therapist with …

Occupational Therapy In The Intensive Care Unit, Kelsie Colombini, Kristen M. Henderson, Michelle Huie, Courtney Malachowski

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

In recent years, the number of inpatient cardiovascular surgeries has significantly increased in hospitals around America. Occupational therapists in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center (Burlingame, California) lack a standard protocol for addressing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors in patients post cardiac surgery. Furthermore, individuals’ experience and clinical reasoning frequently guides interventions rather than current evidence. The American Occupational Therapy Association’s Centennial Vision encourages occupational therapists to pursue science-driven practices and provide evidence-based interventions. In response to this Vision, an evidence-based clinical pathway was developed for the occupational therapists at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center. The clinical pathway facilitates …

The Duc Healthy Aging Website: Providing Online Occupation-Based Information, Haley Caruthers, Samantha Talavera, Jackeline Ulloa, Stephanie Vera

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Access to current, evidence-based health information is an important step to the promotion of health and wellness for all age groups, including OAs. Since the virtual world is easily accessible and is being used more frequently by OAs, an effective way to convey relevant up-to-date health information is through a website devoted to the dissemination of health promotion information tailored for OAs, including tips for integrating healthy habits into their lifestyle. Dominican University of California’s (DUC) Healthy Aging website, developed in May 2014, contains relevant and evidence-based research, including activities and local community based programs that promote healthy aging on …

Increasing Occupational Participation Of Older Adults With Low Vision Through An Occupation-Based Exercise Video, Valerie J. Deroos, Skyler Moon

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

With the increasingly large population of older adults with low vision, many older adults would benefit from having a guide dog as an assistive device. When walking with a guide dog, different upper extremity muscles and postures are adopted to handle the guide dog. However, older adults with low vision may not be in the proper physical condition to meet the strenuous demands of handling a guide dog due to the normal aging process and decreased mobility. To prevent pain and injury, stretching and strengthening muscles used when handling a guide dog may benefit older adults before entering the Guide …

Effectiveness Of The Bridge/Adapt Program On Functional Skill Generalization After Acquired Brain Injury, Janice S. Li, Diana Lopez, Eugene Cheung, Angela Talamantez

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

This study explored the effectiveness of the Bridge/Adapt program for generalizing increased cognition to functional skills. Three participants, identified as having significant cognitive impairments as measured by the Cognistat assessment, participated in the Bridge/Adapt program, an eight-week program that includes both remedial and compensatory components. The remedial component used was a computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program called Parrot Software. Past studies have proven computer-based cognitive rehabilitation to be effective in increasing overall cognition. The Bridge/Adapt module is the compensatory component that utilized a variety of strategies and everyday tasks to facilitate the generalization of improved cognition to functional performance. A homework …

The Lifestyle-Integrated Functional Exercise Program For Older Adults, Anna Lee, Courtney Beyer, Jessica Lim, Sienna Anderson

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the most common cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults over the age of 65 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009). Falls can lead to a myriad of traumatic physical and emotional consequences. Integrated exercise programs such as the Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program are effective in preventing falls and increasing fall efficacy in individuals who have previously fallen (Clemson et al., 2012). The purpose of our study was to examine if the LiFE program is as effective in reducing fall risk and increasing fall …

Preventing And Reducing Falls In Assisted Living Facilities: An Educational Intervention, Jennifer A. Borcich, Raquel F. Ramos, Taylor S. Wong

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

As the number of older adults continues to rise, falling in older adults has become a national health care issue. Many older adults who fall reside in assisted living facilities. Every time a fall incident occurs, first responders are called, utilizing a significant amount of first responder’s time and resources. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to implement a fall prevention program for residents of an assisted living facility (ALF) to reduce fall risk and fall-related calls to the local fire department. The project consisted of a four-week course given once weekly for 60 minutes to residents at an …

Capturing Success At Autistry Studios: A Qualitative Study, Ali Ives, Vince Colombano, Joey Bava

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study examined the perceived outcomes of participation at Autistry Studios among young adult students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autistry Studios is a unique program offering services to individuals with ASD similar to that of a pre-vocational training program. The mission of Autistry Studios is to help students with ASD become independent adults by engaging in “project-based therapy.” A setting is provided where individuals with ASD can achieve personal and functional growth with the use of creative resources like art supplies, raw materials, and power tools to pursue and complete a project that is client-centered. The purpose of …

Facilitating Effective Communication Between First Responders And Older Adults During Fall Incidents: An Educational Intervention, Krystin M. Beeman, Erica L. Berger, Isabel A. Cabezas, Nicole M. Mathews

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

PURPOSE. The purpose of this project was to provide first responders with communication strategies for older adults that may help when responding to fall- related calls. General information was also provided to First Responders on working with older adults with a focus on the aging process, fall risk factors, and communications strategies.

METHODS. A series of educational sessions to first responders at a local fire district were developed and presented by occupational therapy students. Materials were developed by presenters from evidence-based resources and tailored to the target population. Each presentation focused on statistics about older adults, the aging process, fall …

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 …

Standardized Patients In Occupational Therapy Education, Andrea E. Battle, Jessica M. Borceguin, Joanna P. Dizon, Lai Zan Saechao

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The use of standardized patients (SPs) in occupational therapy (OT) education has greatly increased in recent years; however, there is limited research on the perceptions of student’s clinical readiness utilizing SPs and whether or not the utilization of SPs prepare students for fieldwork. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of SPs in OT education and the perceived clinical readiness of students. The use of SPs has been thoroughly researched in other healthcare related fields. It is important that the same critical attention be given to their use in our own field, which emphasizes the importance of …

A Matter Of Balance: Program Outcomes For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Tiffany Lau, Victoria Reyes, Adrienne Angeles, Leslie Hollaway

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Aims: The purpose of this program evaluation was to determine if A Matter of Balance with volunteer lay leaders (AMOB/VLL) was effective in increasing fall self-efficacy, fall control, and fall management in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Participants included community-dwelling older adults over the age of 60 who were concerned about falls and attended at least five of the eight AMOB/VLL program sessions. Fear of falling, pretest, posttest, and 3-, 6-, and 12- month follow-up data were collected from program participants between 2012 and 2013.

Results: Participants demonstrated overall improvements in fall self-efficacy, fall control, and fall management. Qualitative analysis also …