Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Promoting Belonging Among Occupational Therapy Students Transitioning To Doctoral Studies, Gina M. Delgado

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Social Skills Groups For School-Age Children With Autism, Samantha Aybar

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The present capstone project and experience aimed to develop and implement a 12-week program of social skills peer groups for school-aged children with autism at an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. The program consisted of weekly peer group sessions targeting a range of social skill topics, such as emotional regulation, conversation skills, and collaborative play. The small group format provided an opportunity for participants to practice skills, learn from others, and obtain feedback on their performance within a supportive environment. A family-centered approach was utilized through providing parent resources, at-home activities, and a parent workshop to better support children’s social skill …

Peer-Led Building Resilience And Enhancing Social-Emotional Skills Program, Danielle K. Enrico

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of the Capstone experience was to develop and implement a five-week peer-led building resilience and social-emotional skills training program at a public high school. This program addressed high school students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding resources, social-emotional skills, and resilience. A questionnaire was administered pre and post-program to measure effectiveness. The results indicated an increase in scores, demonstrating a clearer understanding in all three areas.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Health Promotion For Youths Facing Chronic Conditions, Megan A. Moret, Megan A. Moret

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This 17-week capstone project was completed at The Parker Place and virtually managed throughout the entirety of the experience. The Parker Place is a pediatric endocrinology and lifestyle management facility located in Annapolis, Maryland. Completing a virtual capstone project did not hinder the progress and outcomes of this experience. The Healthy Habits program was developed at this site to implement an occupational therapy role to supplement the served population’s health and wellness goals. Communication and client visits took place through passcode-protected video call sessions, phone calls, a HIPAA-compliant texting system, and email. Dr. Elizabeth Parker was the mentor for this …

Using A Social Support Group To Educate And Empower Immigrant Latina Women, Diana N. Rendon

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to promote mental health education and access to vulnerable South Florida Latina Women. The original intent was to establish a program providing families with mental health education, including information about common mental illnesses, signs and symptoms, community resources, and the impacts on occupations. This capstone experience was conducted with the Magnolias Women's Support Group at Caridad Center, located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The focus areas of this capstone were advocacy, policy and program development, and administration. Furthermore, this capstone project was intended to promote health literacy for underserved populations, especially immigrant women.

Nerve Impairment In Burn Injuries, Taylor A. Kowalske

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Implementation And Efficacy Of Interprofessional Education (Ipe) Initiatives, Javed A. Mohammed

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The literature demonstrates many benefits of interprofessional education (IPE) simulations in various types of formats that facilitate greater student knowledge and understanding of professions outside their own (O’Hara et al., 2018; Clauser et al., 2020; Cooper, Spencer-Dawe & Mclean, 2005; Djukic et al., 2015; Lazinski et al., 2021). The goals of my doctoral capstone experience (DCE) were to: 1) Develop IPE curriculum and active learning sessions along with assessment plans for professional programs on the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) – Tampa Bay Regional Campus with emphasis on advocacy for the occupational therapy (OT) profession, 2) Lead educational opportunities for students …

Effects On Adherence And Comprehension With Video Demonstration Support Versus Traditional Home Exercise Programs: Culminating Project, Emily E. Morales

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This culminating project examines the need for video-supported home exercise programs (HEP) in outpatient hand therapy clinics in South Jersey by developing a YouTube channel. This YouTube channel will consist of HEPs for common upper extremity diagnoses including proper demonstration of each exercise and clear concise written instructions within a playlist correlating to diagnosis. Advance clinical skill in hand therapy is the main goal for this capstone project. An analysis was completed evaluating adherence and comprehension when clients are prescribed traditional HEP to HEP supported by a video demonstration. The ultimate goal of this project was to establish an easily …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Long-Term Recovery For Individuals Post-Covid-19: A Doctoral Capstone Experience, Holly Bull

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Physical Therapy And Occupational Therapy Well-Being, Jenna Pilkington, Dara Musher-Eizenman, Cindi Baum, Elizabeth Emley

Honors Projects

There is a lack of research in the professions of physical therapy and occupational therapy. To be more specific, the areas of stress and burnout have been topics of research within the healthcare field for medical physicians and nurses, but currently there is little research looking at stress and burnout for physical therapists and occupational therapists. (Anderson 2015; Berry 2019). The current study aims to look at the emotional connections between patients and professions, along with the related emotional stress experienced by these professionals. A survey was administered to 59 physical therapists and occupational therapists for the purpose to give …

Qualitative Exploration Of Mealtime Routines And Parental Stress Of Children With Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Analysis Of Occupational Performance, Andrea Patino

Student Capstone Papers

Pediatric feeding disorders (PFD) affect approximately 25-35% of children with typical development, 40-80% of children with developmental disabilities, and 90% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Feeding disorders affect families by disrupting mealtime routines, changing family dynamics, and increasing parental stress. Occupational therapy (OT) focuses on client-centered care that facilitates independence in meaningful occupations, including feeding and eating. OTs also play an essential role in assisting, training, and educating parents on effective mealtime strategies that can be implemented and carried over into the home environment. Few research studies show how parents manage behaviors and stress during mealtime routines, and …

Examining Complementary Health Approaches And Integrative Health (Chaih) Practices Among Occupational Therapists In The United States: A Mixed Methods Approach, Sarah M. Renner

Dissertations

The use of complementary health approaches and integrative health (CHAIH) is increasing among adults and children in the United States and continues to grow within various health care settings. With Health and Wellness identified as a key practice area for occupational therapists and the American Occupational Therapy Association supporting the use of CHAIH in occupational therapy (OT) practice, practitioners must offer safe, research-driven treatments supporting this movement. Research around CHAIH continues to grow; yet the gaps in the literature make it difficult to determine how CHAIH is being used in OT practice as well as the practitioner’s perspectives on the …

Governor Gains: A Remote Program Connecting Home And School, Madison L. Michels

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone project was to create and implement the Governor Gains remote home program aimed at increasing parent involvement in home-based activities to promote academic performance among children with disabilities. This capstone experience was completed within the Pierre, SD Public School System, specifically with elementary-aged students. An occupational therapy student worked with a faculty mentor (OTD), site mentor(OTR/L), and interprofessional team (physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, and general and special education teachers) to complete this project. The capstone project began with advanced clinical practice then transitioned into program development. Governor Gains provided a focus on fine motor …

Advanced Practice In Aquatic Therapy: Exploring Occupational Therapy In An Aquatic Environment, Brenna K. Barash

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Properties of water have been utilized as a therapeutic treatment method for the past 100 years (Becker, 2009). Aquatic-based occupational therapy services are used as an adjunct to traditional land-based occupational therapy intervention (Franken et al., 2013). The OTS developed a 14-week capstone project with assistance provided by faculty and site mentors. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop aquatic-based intervention skills and explore the use and benefits of aquatic-based occupational therapy in patient care. To facilitate appropriate outcomes, three learning objectives with numerous project deliverables were developed. In order to demonstrate competence and understanding of aquatic-based occupational …

Occupational Therapy Services For Sheltered Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, Ariana Oorlog

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

There is a need for interventions to help people experiencing homelessness learn home management, transportation, and health maintenance skills. The purpose of this capstone experience was to administer an occupational therapy program to support sheltered adults experiencing homelessness to improve their preparedness in obtaining and maintaining housing, community reintegration, and long-term success in life. I completed the capstone experience at Hope Street of Siouxland, a sober living home for adult males who are recovering from homelessness, addiction, and mental illness. I completed a Needs Assessment and developed the program based on the identified needs of Hope Street guests. The program …

Exploring Occupational Therapy With Athletes Using Principles Of Lifestyle Redesign® To Support Academic Success And Life Balance., Michaela M. Dendinger

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Occupational therapists have a range of skills that can benefit a variety of populations. Despite these skills, occupational therapy has limited exploration within the field of athletics. The capstone project gave insight to the services occupational therapy can provide to the student-athlete population. Through the lens of Lifestyle Redesign®, the Student-Athlete Wellness Program was created to support student-athlete academic success and life balance. Following a needs assessment an online program was developed. The program was provided to students and athletes a University in the Midwest U.S. The program attracted 21 student-athletes and five students. Limited participation in surveys provided difficulties …

Creating Inclusive Classroom Environments Through Education And Coaching, Leah Hagen

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The aim of this capstone project was to educate teachers on inclusive practices and strategies to create an inclusive classroom environment for students with disabilities and at-risk needs. An educational workshop including eight hours of asynchronous pre-recorded modules and four one-hour synchronous sessions was created. The workshop covered the following topics: Introduction to inclusion, accommodations and modifications, assistive technology, supporting sensory needs, supporting physical needs, supporting academic and learning needs, supporting social, emotional, and behavioral needs, virtual inclusion, empowering students, and creating an inclusive classroom environment. Optional inclusive classroom coaching sessions were offered to promote implementation of inclusive practices and …

Caregiver Perceptions Of Environmental Modifications For Sensory Processing, Jaimie Lynn Smith

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project explored in-depth clinical practice skills in sensory based therapy along with caregiver perceptions of sensory environmental modifications. In person and telehealth treatment sessions focused on the achievement of sensory based goals. A three-part continuing education course was also completed to expand knowledge and understanding of sensory environmental modifications and strategies that were family friendly. The main project was to gain an understanding of caregiver perceptions of sensory environmental modifications. This was accomplished through interviews with families that focused on sensory aspects of the environmental, completion of Participation and Sensory Environmental Questionnaire, and feel-good menus. After environmental recommendations …

Complex Conditions Of The Hand: A Resource For Rural Therapists, Jay D. Cooper

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this project was to address multiple disparities in the complex treatment of upper extremity conditions and injuries in the rural therapy setting with an accessible educational resource. These disparities include the lack of continuing education specifically targeted at the rural healthcare setting, the barriers to unique occupation-based treatment which occupational therapists are obligated to administer, and the need to provide information regarding hand therapy protocols to bridge the communication gap between hand specialists and rural therapists. The project was completed at the Monument Health Orthopedic and Specialty Hospital in Rapid City, SD, in an outpatient hand therapy …

Culminating Capstone Project: Critical Illness Myopathy, Min S. Yu

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The capstone project was completed in the focus area of clinical practice skills at AdventHealth hospital. The objective was to educate the rehabilitation team on critical illness myopathy (CIM), a condition that was requested to be further investigated by Megan Graf, OTR/L, who served as the capstone mentor. Through an extensive search, a literature review was completed. The rehabilitation team was informed scholarly and clinically with a PowerPoint presentation. Currently there is a gap within the literature between occupational therapy and CIM. Conversely, physical therapy had a plethora of research conducted on patients with CIM

Service-Learning And Case-Based Learning’S Impact On Student’S Clinical Reasoning : A Repeated Measures Design Study, Gordon B. Tsubira

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Clinical reasoning is crucial for the occupational therapy profession to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment but is seldom isolated for explicit instruction and outcome measurement in course curricula. A single-factor repeated measures design study was conducted to compare the impact of didactic case-based learning and experiential service-learning on the development of the clinical reasoning of students at a midwestern public university’s entry-level master of occupational therapy program. The participants were sixteen graduate occupational therapy students who had completed their foundation-level courses.

Participants explored modes of clinical reasoning in occupational therapy for eight weeks (the first half of the semester), …

Program Development At A Nonprofit Organization For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Victoria E. You

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

There are over six million individuals in the United States alone with developmental, or intellectual disabilities (ID). ID is defined by the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2021) as significantlimitations in both intellectual functioningand in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This type of disability originates before the age of 22. Historically, members of this population have fewer opportunities for engagement than their typically developing peers. This can be for a variety of reasons, including limited funding, the public’s lack of education on ID, and even ableism. Ableism is defined as “discrimination or social …

The Relationship Of Rehabilitation Therapy Clients And Grit: A Pilot Study, Kamilla Kisch

Honors Theses

Client experience is an important consideration in physical and occupational therapy (known as rehabilitation therapy.) The personality trait of grit has been studied in many different settings and populations and could have an impact on rehabilitation therapy clients’ perceptions and experiences. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between scores on Dr. Angela Duckworth’s Grit Scale (that identifies the presence and strength of grit) and perceptions of experiences by rehabilitation therapy clients. Seven males and twelve females (age: 56.78 ± 15.83) participated in this study. The Grit Scale was used to assess participants’ grit. Multiple-choice questions were …

Factors Contributing To The Use Of Evidence-Based Resources For Occupational Therapists Working In Post-Acute Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Alissa M. Cannoy, Mot, Otr/L, Cbis, Aib-Vr/Con

Occupational Therapy Research Projects

Abstract

Background: The use of theory and evidence-based practice resources guides the occupational therapy process and identifies factors that have the most impact on rehabilitation outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive survey study was to identify types of evidence-based resources, outcomes measures, and theoretical guidance that occupational therapists used in the evaluation and treatment of adults with a traumatic brain injury in a post-acute rehabilitation setting. The study also aimed to identify barriers to accessing and using evidence-based practice resources. Methods: Thirty-four occupational therapists completed an online survey questionnaire to identify qualitative and descriptive statistics that were related to …

Adaptive Gaming As An Occupation: Motor Phenomena And Lived Experiences, Christina Floyd, Melanie Blaisdell, Madeleine Pope, Audrey Metzger, Donna Chen Tubig, Lauren Andaya, Christine Vincent

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

Purpose: This qualitative study examined the lived experience and motor phenomena that occur in people with disabilities during the occupation of video gaming. Historically, the occupation of video gaming, also referred to as gaming, has not been inclusive of individuals with disabilities due to the design of traditional video gaming controllers. Typical gaming controllers require fine motor control, finger dexterity, and in-hand manipulation to grasp and use the controls on the device. Although, many people with disabilities do not have the fine motor skills required to access these devices, creating a barrier for this population to engage in …

Occupation-Based Volunteer Training Program To Increase Social Engagement For Residents With Dementia In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Kiyomi Kuroda, Nhat Hoang, Victoria Ramia, Kelsy Wallace

Occupational Therapy | Graduate Capstone Projects

The population of individuals with dementia (IwD) is increasing, and IwD are often admitted into skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) due to greater need for care (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020b). Admittance leads to social isolation as a result of decreased engagement in co-occupations. Co-occupations are occupations, or meaningful activities necessary for wellbeing and survival, that are performed with others (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014). IwD exhibit behaviors and symptoms that create challenges for family caregivers to engage in co-occupations (Ono et al., 2014). Without guidance or support, family members or volunteers may be less likely to visit or facilitate quality visits, …

Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Nicu And Post-Nicu Settings, Katlyn M. Schochenmaier

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone experience was to gain advanced clinical experience and explore occupational therapy’s role in the NICU and post-NICU settings. Further focus of this capstone was on the feeding concerns and sensory development of infants following a NICU stay. This capstone project was completed at a Level IV NICU and an outpatient speech and occupational therapy clinic in a midwestern city. Theoretical models of Ayres’ Sensory Integration, Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care Model, and Biopsychosocial Model of Pediatric Feeding were used to develop and implement this capstone experience. A two-day continuing education course was completed prior to the …

Advocating For The Field Of Occupational Therapy In A Childcare Setting, Nicole K. Leinhart

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Significant physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development occurs during the first five years of life; many children spend time in the childcare setting during this crucial time of development. Appropriately meeting the needs of children is important for healthy growth and development throughout an individual’s life. Working in collaboration with the childcare staff, occupational therapists are beneficial when working with the pediatric population. With their extensive knowledge, expertise, and training in human development, as well as the physiological, psychological, social, and emotional needs of individuals throughout the lifespan, occupational therapists improve the children’s engagement and success within a childcare setting. …

Empowering Occupational Therapy Practitioners Through Virtual Education On Seating And Wheeled Mobility, Jane A. Loscheider

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background and Purpose: Seating and wheeled mobility is a complex practice area with serious secondary complications if the client does not have an optimally configured seating and mobility device. Occupational therapists receive basic education on seating and wheeled mobility, but additional education is needed for best practice. The purpose of this project was to provide education for the occupational therapy practitioner and identify if a virtual seating and mobility course could improve their comfort level working with their clients who rely on a wheelchair for occupational engagement. Methods: A literature review and needs assessment submitted by 100 occupational therapy clinicians …

Virtual Reality And Its Impact As An Intervention On Meaningful Occupations For Individuals With Mental Health Diagnoses, Alison S. Benson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone project was to administer occupation-based and therapeutic interventions based on virtual reality and evaluate their impact on participation in meaningful occupations by individuals with mental health diagnoses. I completed this 14-week capstone experience at the Professional Rehabilitation Consultants, an outpatient occupational therapy mental health clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota. The interventions that I tested were administered using strategies from principles of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and the Recovery Model. I created intervention modules based on published instructions on the use of VR equipment and information gathered from research on the VR applications. I …