Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Informal Leadership In The Clinical Setting: Occupational Therapist Perspectives, Clark Patrick Heard, Jared Scott, Tanisha Mcginn, Emily Van Der Kamp, Amjad Yahia

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Leadership is vital to clinical, organizational, and professional success. This has compelled a high volume of research primarily related to formal leadership concepts. However, as organizations flatten, eliminate departmental structures, or decentralize leadership structures the relevance of informal leaders has markedly enhanced.

Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological methodology consistent with interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study examines the impact of informal leadership in the clinical setting for occupational therapists. Data was collected through the completion of semi-structured interviews with 10 peer-identified informal occupational therapy leaders in Ontario, Canada. Collected data was transcribed verbatim and coded for themes by …

Psychometric Properties Of An Instrument Derived From The Intentional Relationship Model: The Self-Efficacy For Recognizing Clients’ Interpersonal Characteristics (N-Seric), Victoria C. Ritter, Farzaneh Yazdani, Tove Carstensen, Mikkel M. Thørrisen, Tore Bonsaksen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Intentional Relationship Model conceptualizes the therapeutic use of self in occupational therapy. To increase motivation for and success in establishing therapeutic relationships, therapists need self-efficacy for using the self in therapeutic practice. However, attempts to combine this model with self-efficacy theory are rare, and instruments by which to measure self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self are in a developing stage. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and internal consistency of the Norwegian Self-Efficacy for Recognizing Interpersonal Characteristics (N-SERIC).

Methods: Occupational therapy students (n = 100) from two education programs completed the instrument and …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Needs And Supports For Handwriting Instruction In Kindergarten, Jill A. Nye, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study was designed to explore the perceived needs of kindergarten teachers as well as the supports they require in preparing children for success in the area of handwriting.

Methods: A phenomenological research design was used and nine kindergarten teachers employed at four elementary schools in a school district in Illinois participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were completed to discuss the perceptions of teachers related to challenges they face and the supports they require in promoting the occupational task of handwriting among the children in their classrooms.

Results: The results from this pilot study revealed that overall …

A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Developmental Milestones And Parental Experiences In Ghana, Kate G. Barlow, Stacey Reynolds

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Ghana currently lacks a systematic method for identifying children with developmental delays, and there do not appear to be any culturally sensitive assessment tools available. The objectives of this mixed-methods research study were to explore normal developmental milestones and parental practices in the Ghanaian population. The study also aimed to identify and describe culturally specific factors that should be accounted for on assessments used in the Ghanaian culture.

Methods: Twenty-eight Ghanaian parents were interviewed and asked to participate in a developmental milestone picture-identification task. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were performed.

Results: The interviews revealed several cultural factors that …

Understanding Therapists’ Use Of Play With Children With Life-Threatening Conditions: A Qualitative Study, Rachel L. Bambrick, Carole W. Dennis, Kimberly Wilkinson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study examined how occupational therapists use play in their treatments when working with children with life-threatening conditions.

Methods: This narrative qualitative study used an interpretive phenomenological approach to data analysis. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with each therapist; interviews were designed to gather an understanding of how these occupational therapists work with children with life-threatening conditions and the ways in which they use play.

Results: Four major themes arose from the interviews along with two sub-themes. The four major themes were: play as a means, playful moments, condition-dependent limitations, and reimbursement. The two sub-themes were the importance of …

Normative Or Heavy Clouds? Early Indicators Of Nonverbal Learning Disability Based On Mothers’ Reports, Sara Rosenblum, Michal Piran, Sonya Meyer, Dalia Sachs

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD) are verbally competent and particularly weak in nonverbal, visuospatial, and social abilities. Most of the literature about NVLD discusses the all-around functioning and diagnosis process during school years. In this qualitative study, the perceptions of mothers of children with NVLD were explored in the context of their children’s daily functioning characteristics during their first 3 years. The aim was to identify early indicators and warning signs of NVLD during the developmental process.

Method: Five mothers participated in two in-depth, semi-structured retrospective interviews.

Results: Two main themes were identified: (a) “Everything …

The Clinical And Classroom Utility Of The Inventory Of Reading Occupations: An Assessment Tool Of Children’S Reading Participation, Lenin Grajo, Catherine Candler, Patricia Bowyer, Sally Schultz, Jenny Thomson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the initial clinical and classroom utility of the Inventory of Reading Occupations (IRO), a new tool to assess children’s reading participation.

Method: The study used phenomenological qualitative and descriptive methods. The participants included 38 occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, classroom teachers, and parents who completed or reviewed responses of children on the IRO. To provide triangulation, 20 of the children who completed the IRO were interviewed. Data were thematically analyzed and then categorized using a central Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats premise.

Results: The majority of the participants indicated favorable response to the …

The War On Words, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Similarity Based Classification Of Adhd Using Singular Value Decomposition, Taban Eslami, Fahad Saeed

Parallel Computing and Data Science Lab Technical Reports

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common brain disorders among children. This disorder is considered as a big threat for public health and causes attention, focus and organizing difficulties for children and even adults. Since the cause of ADHD is not known yet, data mining algorithms are being used to help discover patterns which discriminate healthy from ADHD subjects. Numerous efforts are underway with the goal of developing classification tools for ADHD diagnosis based on functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging data of the brain. In this paper, we used Eros, which is a technique for …

Language Profiles Of Children Who Have Experienced Complex Trauma And Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Christel G. Ciolino

Masters Theses

Children who experience maltreatment and children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have similar neurological differences and are at risk for language impairments. However, limited research has been conducted to analyze their specific skill sets. To address this limitation, retrospective data from the Children’s Trauma Assessment Center of Southwest Michigan were analyzed. The linguistic profiles of 79 children with histories of varying numbers of traumatic experiences and comorbid FASD statues are compared in the areas of semantics, syntax, pragmatics, and social communication. Individuals had high pass rates on the CELF-5 Screening Test and high overall scores on the Pragmatic Protocol-Revised …

Exploring The Relevance Of Art Therapy In Public Education, Brandy A. Jarrell

Masters Theses

This thesis will explore art education as a therapeutic tool in a public education system. This topic will serve as a continuation of research that I conducted previously but will bring more focus upon bringing a certified art therapist into public school districts in West Virginia. Data will be collected through student surveys, interviews of professional art therapists, and administrative officials. Data will also be collected through a review of the literature surrounding the benefits of art therapy to children and adolescents. Through these sources I will explore the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of educational professionals, art therapists, administrators and …

Organocatalyzed Synthesis Of Epoxides From Chalcones Utilizing Amino Acids, Sabrina N. Kegeler

Masters Theses

The epoxide functional group is important throughout the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in nature. In the chemical industry, epoxides are present in resins and fragrances. In the pharmaceutical industry, epoxide-containing compounds are used as intermediates in the manufacturing of drugs. In nature, many natural products contain epoxide groups and are used for medicinal purposes, and for models to create synthetic molecules.

One approach to epoxide synthesis involves the use of an alkene precursor, a base, and an oxidizing agent. This is where my investigations began. The first step was to optimize the epoxidation reaction, examining substrate scope, …

A Survey Of Perceptions And Professional Boundaries Between Music Therapy And Speech-Language Pathology, Jennifer Rose Fromius

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between music therapists and speech-language pathologists in order to gain a better understanding of professional boundaries within each profession, frequency of co-treatment between the two professions, and perceptions of referral in clinical practice. Data for this research were collected through two online questionnaires with parallel sets of questions, which were distributed to a sample of boardcertified music therapists (MT-BC) and speech-language pathologists (CCC-SLP). Quantitative and qualitative data collected from the survey (N= 283; n = 45 MT-BC, n = 238 CCC-SLP) are analyzed to determine if there are correlations and …

Diabetes Prevention Program: Exploring Spirituality And Spiritual Interventions On Outcomes, Sharon E. Plutko Long

Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore a relationship between a modified Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for adults with pre-diabetes (pre-DM) or type-2 DM with variables of spirituality and religiosity (S/R) to illuminate the potential religion-health connection based in changes in participant weight, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity. A secondary purpose is identifying spiritual interventions used by faith-based DPP coaches in a group setting.

Methods

A mixed-methods study was conducted with 34 DPP participants and 11 DPP coaches who completed the core section (weeks 1-26) of DPP courses held in Macomb Country, Michigan. Independent variables are …

Assessment For Mild Cognitive Impairment: Striving For Best Practice, Julie Leigh Dalmasso

Dissertations

This dissertation is a series of three studies aimed at determining the best assessment practices for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that can employed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The first study was non-experimental and descriptive examining whether three commonly used assessment instruments yielded similar categorical results. The data were analyzed to determine whether the Eight-Item Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Cognitive-Linguistic Quick Test (CLQT) identified the same participants from a neurotypical sample as having cognitive deficits. Very little agreement was found amongst the three tools.

Study two was modified to include two …

Intersex And The Pardoner’S Body, Kim Zarins

Accessus

Most scholars today have retreated from reading into the Pardoner's body in favor of more figurative readings that emphasize his lack of masculinity, and such lack is then linked to his dejection and despair. Other, more affirming readings center the Pardoner's performance, which allows him to model any sort of body desired through figuration. While such positions dominate and older theories like Beryl Rowland's proposal of an intersex Pardoner are dismissed, in fact, an intersex reading might be a more life-affirming interpretation, not only in terms of reframing the Pardoner's body as manifesting variation as opposed to lack, but also …

The Art And Science Of Occupation As Therapy, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Ashley Woo Lee, an occupational therapy student based in Loma Linda, CA, provided the cover art for the Winter 2018 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT) (Figure 1). The piece, titled “Tree of Life,” is a 11” x 14” drawing made from mixed media. As a child living in Korea, Ashley enjoyed drawing as a favorite pastime. After her family relocated to the United States, art became Ashley’s primary means for self-expression. When a career in art was not an option, the field of occupational therapy satisfied Ashley’s artistic and scientific interests. In a recent interview, Ashley …

Factors Associated With Academic Performance Among Second-Year Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students, Tore Bonsaksen, Brian J. Ellingham, Tove Carstensen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Research into occupational therapy education and its outcomes for students is growing. More research is needed to determine the factors of importance for occupational therapy students’ academic outcomes. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with academic performance among second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students in Norway.

Methods: Occupational therapy students (n = 111) from two education programs completed questionnaires asking for sociodemographic, work-related, and education-related information. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to examine factors independently associated with the students’ academic performance.

Results: A higher age was associated with better average academic performance among the students, whereas having …

Co-Constructing Simulations With Learners: Roles, Responsibilities, And Impact, Diane E. Mackenzie, Kathleen E. Collins, Mylene J. Guimond, Abby C. Hunter, Kassia J. Jurcina, Johanna L. Mcdonald, Nikki L. Richards, Stephanie. H. Sinclair, Kelsey Y. Taylor

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Co-constructed simulations were designed and piloted with senior occupational therapy master’s students in a neurorehabilitation practice module. The instructor served as the guide for the students through all phases of the case creation, simulation development, delivery, and debrief. The instructor facilitation promoted self-regulated learning (SRL) of knowledge and skill development through independent discovery and peer learning. This paper provides an evidence-informed co-construction simulation design with outlined stages, roles, and responsibilities for the instructor and learner. Thematic qualitative analysis of student feedback highlighted enhanced insight and SRL as a result of multiple role preparation, observation and interaction with peers, close interaction …

Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educator Practices And Preferences In Clinical Education, Kaitlyn Ryan, Melanie Beck, Lee Ungaretta, Magdalena Rooney, Elaina Dalomba, Leamor Kahanov

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The shortage of clinical education fieldwork sites coupled with a concern over the quality of the required fieldwork experience poses an unintended outcome for the recent changes in the health care system and an increasing number of occupational therapy students. While the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) issues standards for fieldwork education, the quality of the experience is known to vary. The present study employed a mixed methods concurrent nested design with a quantitative online survey alongside qualitative individual semi-structured online interviews to examine the practices and preferences of fieldwork educators in Pennsylvania ACOTE accredited programs. From the …

Balancing Efficacy And Effectiveness With Philosophy, History, And Theory-Building In Occupational Therapy Education Research, Barbara Hooper, Jyothi Gupta, Andrea Bilics, Steven D. Taff

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The preferred focus for education research in occupational therapy increasingly rests on studies that investigate efficacy and effectiveness in the teaching-learning context. While important, the almost exclusive promotion of outcomes-focused studies can come at the expense of other forms of inquiry, including philosophy, history, and theory-building. To fully inform education and enhance practice, outcomes-focused research needs the conceptual foundation provided by philosophical, historical, and theory-building studies. In this paper, the authors suggest that the research enterprise in occupational therapy education is in its infancy and, therefore, quite susceptible to shortcuts that head straight to outcomes. To address this issue, the …

Use Of Religious Observance As A Meaningful Occupation In Occupational Therapy, Kelly Thompson, Bryan M. Gee, Sara Hartje

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Research shows that religious and spiritual beliefs influence a person’s health and quality of life. Studies have found that religious people are healthier and require less access to health services, and that clients want to have their religious and spiritual needs addressed as a part of their plan of care.

Method: This study used a descriptive survey design to explore the attitudes and behaviors of occupational therapists concerning religious observance in clinical practice. The survey yielded 181 responses from a random sampling from members of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Results: The study found that while …

Occupational Therapy Employers’ Perceptions Of Professionalism, Vicki C. Mason, Kathleen Mathieson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient satisfaction survey, the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, and the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are affecting expectations of professionalism in health care. These initiatives and shifts in expectations are especially concerning for occupational therapists whose services historically have not been well understood.

Method: Eighteen supervisory and managerial occupational therapy practitioners were interviewed regarding perceptions of professionalism in occupational therapy employees. The semi-structured interview guide explored professionalism in occupational therapists’ interactions with patients and co-workers and in an employer’s organization. …

Expressive Art To Facilitate The Development Of The Occupational Profile: A Scoping Review, Verna G. Eschenfelder, Christina M. Gavalas, Taylor M. Pendergast, Colleen A. Gorman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. The American Occupational Therapy Association and the American Medical Association have changed CPT codes to require a completed occupational profile at every evaluation and re-evaluation session for reimbursement as of January 1, 2017. A revitalization of art in occupational therapy has led to a recent increase in the evidence supporting the use of expressive art in practice. The benefits of expressive art can directly enhance the occupational profile required by these changing reimbursement requirements.

Methods. A scoping review method was applied in the current study. Out of 347 initial articles, 12 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed through …

A Bibliometric Analysis Of Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications By British Occupational Therapy Authors, Ted Brown, Yuh-Shan Ho, Sharon A. Gutman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: A bibliometric analysis was completed of the peer-reviewed literature from 1991 to 2015 written by British occupational therapy authors that was indexed in the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCI-Expanded) or Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) databases.

Methods: “Occupational therapy” and “occupational therapist” were used as keywords to search journal articles’ publication title, abstract, author details, keywords, and KeyWords Plus. One of the authors had to be identified as a qualified occupational therapist with a British affiliation.

Results: From 1991 to 2015, 680 journal articles were published by British occupational therapy authors. The top three journals in which authors published …

Discovering Perspectives On Health And Well-Being From Parents And Teachers Of Preschool- Aged Children, Divya Sood, Delawnia Comer-Hagans, Dirk Anderson, Diana Basmajian, Ashley Bohlen, Michelle Grome, Irada Imanova, Kimberly Martin

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study explores the concept of health and well-being as perceived by teachers and parents of preschool-aged children in the specific context of a child day care facility. The study also identifies the barriers parents and teachers encounter and the supports they require in promoting the health and well-being of preschool-aged children.

Method: A qualitative phenomenological research design combined with a projective technique of Photovoice was used for data collection. A total of eight participants, four teachers and four parents of preschool-aged children from a child day care facility, participated in the study.

Results: Several themes were identified related …

Feasibility Exploration Of Electrodermal Response To Food In Children With Asd Compared To Typically Developing Children, Michelle A. Suarez

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently have food selectivity that causes additional health and quality of life stressors for the child and the family. The causes of food selectivity are currently unknown but may be linked, at least in part, to sensory processing problems.

Method: The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of using electrodermal activity (EDA) measurement in response to food to gain insight into the physiological processes associated with eating for children with ASD compared to typically developing children. In addition, differences in food acceptance and the relationship between food acceptance …

A Retrospective Pre-Post Treatment Study Of Occupational Therapy Intervention For Children With Sensory Processing Challenges, Sarah A. Schoen, Lucy Jane Miller, Joanne Flanagan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study investigated the impact of an intensive, short-term program that incorporates the principles of sensory integration and relationship-based therapies with extensive parent collaboration. The goals were to identify measures sensitive to change and explore the relation between sensory modulation characteristics and change in behavior after intervention.

Method: A retrospective chart review examined routine clinical data pre-post intervention from 179 children identified with sensory processing challenges without comorbid autism. Change in measures of adaptive behavior, emotional functioning, sensory-related behaviors, and motor functioning were evaluated. Relations between sensory modulation and behavior were explored.

Results: Improvements were noted …

Selection Of Post-Acute Care For Stroke Patients, Kathryn M. Gulfo, Glen Gillen, Lauri Bishop, Clare C. Bassile, Randy B. Kolodny, Joel Stein

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Significant variation exists in post-acute care for stroke survivors. This study examines referral practices of occupational and physical therapists for patients after acute stroke.

Method: Occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) were surveyed either electronically or in person at a national conference. The respondents selected the most appropriate referral for each of five case vignettes. The referral choices included Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH), home with home services, or home with outpatient services. Demographic data included practice location, setting, and duration. The respondents were also asked to rate …

Occupational Adaptation As A Construct: A Scoping Review Of Literature, Lenin Grajo, Angela Boisselle, Elaina Dalomba

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study integrates research on practice applications of the construct of occupational adaptation with occupational therapy and occupational science literature.

Method: Using Arksey and O’Malley’s 5-step Scoping Study Framework (2005), we conducted a scoping review of 74 articles from five online databases and literature hand-searching and performed quantitative and thematic analyses.

Results: The Occupational Adaptation model (Schkade & Schultz, 1992; n = 74) and the Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner, 2008; n = 37) were the most frequently cited literature influences. Occupational adaptation has been defined as a process (n = 49), an outcome (n = …