Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Restoring Connection: Promoting Social Participation & Mental Wellness In A Rural Assisted Living Facility, Madison Rogo

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project highlights the important role of occupational therapy in addressing emotional well-being and promoting occupational justice within rural assisted living facilities.

Fostering Holistic Practice In The Outpatient Setting With Upper Extremity Impairment, Montanna Tapper

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project is to develop a program that improves psychosocial challenges faced by clients with upper extremity injuries or conditions. The program is designed to be implemented by occupational therapists in the outpatient setting and aims to increase holistic practice with this population by broadening focus past the physical impairment by addressing psychosocial factors.

Bridge & Bloom: Empowering Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Through Activities Day Camp, Peyton Summers

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project consist of developing a six-week day camp, available one day a week, for adults with intellectual disabilities residing in local group homes, ICFs, and family homes. Through the development of Bridge & Bloom Summer Day Camp, participants were provided the opportunity to engage in enriching and meaningful activities, showcasing various avenues of hobbies, leisure activities, and leadership, vocational, and social-emotional skills. The goal of this Doctoral Capstone Project was to empower every participant through engaging, hands-on experiences that celebrate individual differences and help foster a sense of purpose.

Occupational Therapy For Older Adults Grieving Non-Death Loss, Zoe Sloas

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

An occupation-based grief support group was developed through literature review, enhancing therapeutic skills, and inter and intra professional collaboration through employing grief-specific occupational therapy interventions with the older adult population.

Surf's Up! The Benefits Of Surf Therapy For Individuals With Disabilities, Isabella Leggett

Senior Honors Projects

Surf therapy is a structured intervention that utilizes elements of the ocean and surfing to improve health. It is an increasingly popular sport for development focused on enhancing mental, physical, and social well-being. While research demonstrates that surf therapy is beneficial for all people, most research aims to gather the impact of surf therapy on children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, veterans with mental health disorders, and people with traumatic brain injuries or physical disabilities. The International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO) is a non-profit organization with surf therapy practitioners and researchers who work to advance surf therapy as an evidence-based …

The Role Of Ect In Ocd: A 10-Year Review (2014-2024), Mariana Sales, Tainiz Polanco, Amy Nguyen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects up to 2.5% of the population with significant impacts on everyday functioning and relationships. First-line treatment includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and cognitive behavioral therapy; however, studies have found that up to 40-60% of patients do not respond to SSRIs. ECT is an alternative approach that has demonstrated limited efficacy in OCD.

Objective: The current review aims to summarize the results of published work between 2014-2024 to assess the efficacy of ECT in the treatment of OCD.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using eight studies from 2014-2024 to assess the effectiveness of ECT …

Effect Of A Mindfulness State Induced By Marconi Union’S Weightless On Perceived Loneliness: A Pilot Study, Ayman Khatib, Richard Jermyn, Judith Lightfoot

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Loneliness is associated with increases in risk for cardiovascular disease, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, there is an urgent need for treatments that can help reduce loneliness. Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness techniques may help reduce the experience of loneliness. Digital sound therapy that incorporates biofeedback can help individuals enter a mindfulness state with minimal effort by simply listening to sound. One song titled Weightless by Marconi Union has been called the most relaxing song in the world with the capacity to reduce anxiety by 65% and equivalent to midazolam6. We hypothesize that watching the “Weightless” …

Home-Based Stroke Rehabilitation: Virtual Reality For The Elderly?, Joseph C. Moschella, Liam H. Kerrick

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Stroke remains the leading cause of long-term disability, especially within the elderly population. Nearly 50 percent of stroke survivors never achieve full independence post-stroke. This literature review examines the capability of virtual reality (VR), as home-based continuation of stroke rehabilitation for elderly patients. VR has the potential to improve motor recovery, increase independence, and reduce healthcare costs for stroke survivors. A comprehensive literature review has been conducted following the PRISMA guidelines to evaluate VR therapy compared to conventional post-stroke therapy. VR rehabilitation demonstrated improvements in motor ability, however it did not demonstrate significantly superior improvements when compared to conventional therapy. …

Exploring Mindfulness Meditation In Managing Elevated Blood Pressure And Heart Rate In Debilitating Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Han Jie Liu, Krish Patel, Zachary Coren, Youssef Daoud, Zeshan Fahim, Shikhar Rastogi, Justin Le, Avinash Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US, with elevated blood pressure (BP) significantly contributing to its progression. Mindfulness meditation has emerged as a high-value preventative care strategy for managing BP and heart rate (HR); however, its specific effects on managing BP and HR in individuals with debilitating CVD remain poorly understood. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in this population. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we employed a tailored Boolean string to search PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane …

Effectiveness Of Mind-Body Therapy Techniques In The Management Of Chronic Pain, Esha Sharma, Kalyna Leshchuk, Maria Cox, Kaitlyn Koo, Emily Sarett, Sarah Chen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

In this review, we aim to determine whether mind-body therapies—defined here as mindfulness meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)—can effectively improve pain management in adults with chronic lower back pain, particularly when compared to standard opioid treatments alone or used in conjunction with them. Our hypothesis posits that mind-body therapies serve as valuable supplements to current opioid-based treatment plans, potentially improving not only pain outcomes but also overall quality of life and psychological well-being.

By synthesizing findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses, this review builds on existing literature by narrowing the treatment scope and …

Quality Of Affected Upper Extremity Use During A Ride-On Toy-Based Training Program In Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study, Megan Carlmark

Honors Scholar Theses

Unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is a subtype of cerebral palsy that impacts movement and coordination on one side of the body. This condition often leads to reduced use of the affected upper extremity in daily tasks. This pilot study explored the feasibility and potential of a joystick-operated ride-on-toy training program as an engaging home-based and play-based intervention to promote affected upper extremity use in children with UCP. Five children from a larger sample of 15 children with a diagnosis of UCP between the ages of 3 and 8 years old were used as data for this thesis. This study included …

Unbridled Healing: Identifying The Barriers Of Equine-Assisted Therapy, Sally A. Hamm

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite the documented benefits of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for mental health conditions, this complementary approach remains underutilized. This qualitative study investigated barriers preventing wider EAT implementation by examining challenges faced by clients, facilities, and volunteers. Data collected through open-ended surveys from 33 participants and the researcher's autoethnographic observations revealed eight common barriers: Accessibility (48 mentions), Money (43), Time (30), Awareness (23), Physical Factors (13), Relationships (13), Risk (13), and Weather (7). Clients identified financial constraints as their primary barrier, particularly insurance limitations. Facilitators struggled most with accessibility challenges, including lack of resources, trained staff, suitable horses, and appropriate facilities. Volunteers …

The Effectiveness Of Ras Treatment In Improving Gait Patterns In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease: A Literature Review, Vivian Huang, Andrea Hunt, Alicia Chopyk

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the loss of dopaminergic neurons leading to symptoms such as tremor and gait disturbance. This results in the classic shuffling gait: stooped posture, variation in stride length, variation in cadence, reduced gait velocity, inability to maintain a steady rhythm, and an increased fear of falling. This study’s objective is to review the current literature on the use of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS)Ⓡ as a treatment option for PD. Previous research has looked at RASⓇ as a potential non-pharmacologic treatment because researchers hypothesize that listening to music produces an external rhythm that the …

Fieldwork Remediation Program: Enhancing The Professional Competency Of P3 Otd Students, Megan Ellison

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project addresses a critical gap between classroom learning and clinical readiness in Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students preparing for Level II Fieldwork (FW). While clinical reasoning and knowledge-based skills are emphasized in training, professional behaviors—such as ethical communication, conflict resolution, and clinical interaction—are often underdeveloped yet essential to success in practice. These "gray-area" skills are typically learned through experience and are difficult to teach directly.

The project, designed for the Eastern Kentucky University OTD Program, aimed to improve student readiness and success in fieldwork through a virtual remediation module focused on self-reflection, professional identity, and effective communication …

Medication Assisted Treatment - The End In Mind, Nandita C. Kapur, Annas Aljassem

Posters

• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is defined as a problematic pattern of substance use causing significant impairment or distress, and it is a leading cause injury deaths1 in the U.S.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), using methadone (full agonist) and buprenorphine (partial agonist/antagonist), is the gold standard for OUD2 , stabilizing patients by alleviating withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• • Stigma and skepticism about MAT's effectiveness hinder its adoption in acute care settings3.
• More research is needed to overcome misconceptions and enhance the efficacy of MAT in hospitals since it is the first point of contact for patients.
• This project aims to educate patients …

Occupational Therapy Fellowship Curriculum Design: A Framework And Curriculum Mapping, Sydney Mitchell

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Objective. There is little published research on occupational therapy (OT) fellowships and varying levels of understanding around fellowships. The purposes of this IRB-exempt capstone were to identify stakeholder perception of OT fellowships, create a neurologic OT fellowship to bridge the gap in access to this training in the Southeast, and apply a conceptual framework during development. Methods. Anonymous surveys and semi-structured interviews were used to identify stakeholder needs for the curriculum. Methods focused on curriculum outline, development of one educational lesson, and incorporating formative and summative assessments. Five volunteers rated the module on usability and overall experience. The curriculum was …

Identifying Predictors Of Student Success During Occupational Therapy Level Ii Fieldwork, Melissa R. Foster

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The training paradigm for new occupational therapy (OT) practitioners includes both didactic classroom learning and clinical fieldwork experiences in order for them to establish clinical competency. However, many students struggle with the theory-to-practice gap of translating classroom knowledge to clinical experiences. When students struggle in this manner, it causes stress for all stakeholders involved, including the fieldwork educator, clinic managers, OT program faculty, as well as the student.

This study aims to avoid this stress by identifying predictors of student success by analyzing data from recent graduates of the University of Arkansas/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences OT program through …

Addressing The Lack Of Patient Adherence To Exercise Within The Physical Therapy Clinic And Creating Infographics To Improve Patient Adherence, Gretchen Panovich

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The primary objective of this applied knowledge project is to develop educational materials to enhance patient adherence. The World Health Organization defines adherence as “the extent to which a person’s behavior…corresponds with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider.” Within the physical therapy field, non-adherence to exercise is a significant problem linked with increased duration of treatment, more patient complaints, reduced positive clinical outcomes, and even surgical intervention.

Multiple factors affect patient adherence, making it hard to pinpoint a singular cause. Clinical observations and research suggest that belief in the rehabilitation process may suffer due to a prolonged recovery period, lack …

Preparing Young Learners: Using Occupational Therapy To Promote Kindergarten Readiness At The Ymca., Zoey Eastman

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project aimed to enhance kindergarten readiness skills in preschool-aged children through the implementation of a school-based occupational therapy program at a YMCA child care center. The primary objective was to support children's developmental progress across multiple domains critical for school success. Over a 14-week period, developmentally appropriate, play-based activities were integrated into the classroom routine, specifically targeting fine motor skills, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and executive functioning—key areas linked to kindergarten readiness. Standardized assessments, including the Denver II Developmental Screening Tool and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), were utilized to monitor each child’s growth and identify areas …

Exploring Occupational Therapy's Role In Seating And Mobility And Assistive Technology Services In Adults With Neurological Conditions, Kathryn R. Larsen

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Assistive technology has the potential to have a positive impact on quality of life in those living with neurological conditions (Arbesman & Sheard, 2014; Soofi et al., 2017). The purpose of this capstone project was to allow the student to gain advanced clinical practice skills the areas of assistive technology and seating and mobility, to serve adults with neurological conditions, and to address gaps in service provision. The project was completed at an inpatient rehabilitation facility where the student participated in wheelchair evaluations, assistive technology clinic, and muscular dystrophy association clinic. Corresponding objectives and deliverables were created for each area …

Utilizing Trauma-Informed Universal And Targeted Occupational Therapy Interventions In A School Setting, Maciah L. Nobles

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This project aimed to provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 trauma-informed occupational therapy interventions to a rural elementary school. Project components included implementing the “Just Right!” Sensory Curriculum (Wiggins & Wild, 2020) with students grades preK-6th, education to staff about trauma-informed classroom strategies, development of a sensory room for the elementary school, and creation of centers to be used in the classrooms. Key findings included a significant decrease in hyperactivity/inattention (p=0.00) on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, a 1.13 point average increase in staff members’ knowledge of trauma-informed classroom strategies on a 5-point Likert scale, and students reporting increased understanding …

Early Intervention For Adulthood: Occupational Therapy’S Vital Role In Secondary Transition Services, Carolyn A. Blatchford

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Transition to adulthood is an essential stage of development, especially for those with disabilities. Occupational therapy practitioners are qualified to play a vital role in a young adult’s transition to adulthood within school settings, yet the majority of therapists are not serving transition-aged youth. This capstone utilized the Zarrow Institute on Transition & Self-Determination, specifically the “ME! Lessons for Teaching Self-Awareness & Self-Advocacy” and “TAGG Lesson Plans” lessons as a programming intervention foundation within a school-based setting to support transition-aged young adults currently served by the school district’s special education program, and classified as in a regular classroom at least …

Chronic Care Connections: Occupational Therapy In Rural, Primary Care, Jayden Renee Bormann

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Rural healthcare faces a unique set of challenges including fewer primary care providers compared to urban areas, (Dobis & Todd, 2022). Occupational therapy has become more frequently part of the staff in a primary care clinic. An occupational therapy practitioner brings a unique perspective to the care of clients in a holistic manner and looking at the client from their specific context to create specific goals (Koverman et al., 2017; Donnelly et al., 2014). If a client with a chronic condition receives individualized care from an occupational therapist as part of their primary care visits, they may experience improved self-efficacy …

Serving Rural America: Occupational Therapy's Role In Agriculture, Kaiya R. Gieseke

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Occupational therapy can provide a vast variety of roles to individuals in the agricultural industry. Although there is a lack of knowledge regarding the topic of occupational therapy in agriculture, there is room for research to be conducted and relationships to be made. The profession’s role in being involved in the agricultural industry is largely unexplored. The purpose of this 14-week capstone project was to advocate and educate on occupational therapy’s role in agriculture. Additionally, this project worked to create a program for individuals involved in agriculture to promote preventative care and lifestyle management. A variety of goals and objectives …

Mind Over Matter: A Theory-Based Approach To Enhancing Functional Cognition With Occupational Therapy, Amanda Marx

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Functional cognition is comprised of an individual’s performance skills and patterns to result in successful completion of an occupation (Giles et al., 2020). Functional cognitive deficits are prevalent across various client populations and diagnoses of neurological, psychosocial, and/or developmental etiology (AOTA, 2019). Literature has shown metacognitive strategy training and individual- and group-based mindfulness practice promotes improvements in functional cognition and prevents decline in occupational performance (Ahn et al., 2017; Borujeni et al., 2019; Nagelkop et al., 2021; Reitano et al., 2023). This capstone project utilized theoretical principles from the Multicontext Approach and Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance theories to complete …

Making A Splash: Exploring The Effectiveness Of Aquatic Occupational Therapy For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Avery Brockberg

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

According to the American Psychiatric Association, autism spectrum disorder is one of the most common developmental disabilities in the world. Approximately 90% of children with ASD experience atypical sensory processing which can lead to increased difficulties in daily occupations including play, academic activities, feeding, self-care, and sleep. Aquatic therapy (AT) is an effective intervention that has a role in addressing social, emotional, physical, and sensory needs in children with ASD. There is limited research on the role of occupational therapy in providing AT for children with ASD. The purpose of this capstone was to evaluate the effectiveness of aquatic occupational …

Efficacy Of Single Joystick-Operated Ride-On-Toy Navigation Training Program To Promote Increased Spontaneous Use And Motor Function In The Affected Arm In Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy, Neha Samuel

Honors Scholar Theses

The purpose of this study is to assess the adjunctive effects of a home-based single joystick-operated ride-on-toy navigation program to conventional care on affected upper extremity (UE) use and motor function in children with hemiplegia. Wrist-worn accelerometers were worn by children on both their affected and unaffected extremities at baseline (i.e., prior to start of the training program) and during ride-on toy training sessions to measure affected and unaffected arm activity, resulting in measurements of percent duration of time in every session that children engaged in sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA) using their affected and unaffected arms at baseline …

Exercise As An Intervention For Postpartum Depression (Ppd), Kylie P. Mistretta

Honors Scholar Theses

Objective: To illustrate the applications of exercise for preventing the development of postpartum depression (PPD) and addressing associated risk factors identified in the literature. Data Sources: PubMed and EBSCO: Academic Search Premier were accessed using the search terms exercise OR physical activity OR yoga AND postpartum depression OR postnatal depression. A secondary search of PubMed was conducted using the search terms exercise AND pregnancy AND depression OR gestational diabetes OR weight gain OR sleep quality.

Study Selection: Studies selected for inclusion were peer-reviewed, published after January 2012, written in English, and relevant to the PPD risk factors examined. Only clinical …

Bridging Theory And Practice: Aquatic Occupational Therapy For Functional Rehabilitation In Parkinson’S Disease, Chelsea L. Tate

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Experience and Project is to develop a theoretical framework and supporting program to guide the application of aquatic interventions specific to Parkinson’s disease treatment, while highlighting the therapeutic benefits that can be integrated into occupational therapy practice. The framework and program focus on improving overall physicality, cognitive, and functional performance for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Care For The Carer: A Program For Caregivers & Their Loved One, Luke Allen

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project is to reduce the burden experienced by dementia caregivers due to unmet physical, mental, and social needs. To meet this objective, CAREpackages with resources pertinent to dementia caregiving, with accompanying Dementia Difficulty educational videos will be delivered to families from low socio-economic backgrounds in the Northeast Arkansas community.