Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Leadership Roles In The Field Of Occupational Therapy, Christina Pitts, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to learn about leadership through expertise and experience. The first portion of the project consisted of reviewing the literature and interviewing four occupational therapists that currently had a leadership role within the healthcare industry to gain insight into leadership qualities. The second potion included me being at a facility (Advent Therapy in Richmond Hill, G.A.) for 14 weeks where I observed and learned about current programs, and with the guidance of the therapists and management of the facility, developed and implemented a program that was deemed to be beneficial to the client population.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Matching Handlers And Assistance Dogs, Jyoti K. Tatla, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project was to assess and observe the matching process and to identify the role of an occupational therapist in aiding the evaluation process with potential handlers and assistance dogs. Three sites were explored within California: Canine Support Teams, Canine Companions for Independence, and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Interviews were conducted with twenty-five participants about roles, routines, physical environment, need for an assistance dog, and additional support.

Key findings from this project revealed a need for occupational therapy within the evaluation process and two-week team training. Therapists could aid with adapting learning material, addressing performance patterns, …

Inclusion In Religion And Spirituality For Children With Special Needs, Mackinzie C. Weiss, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project will focus on using occupational therapy interventions to help a local church be more inclusive to children and families with special needs. This project partners with a pre-existing special needs program to develop evidence-based volunteer training, implement a parent respite program, and introduce a movement-based program for children with special needs.

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Pain Management Using Virtual Reality, Johnathan Quach, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Pain is a complex phenomenon that affects millions every day and is frequently associated with activity restriction and decreases in psycho-social health. Studies have shown that opioids alone cannot eliminate all the difficulties that are associated with chronic pain, demonstrating a dire need to consider safer and more effective alternatives. Furthermore, given the impact of chronic pain on an individual’s ability to perform valued activities, and therefore overall well-being and quality of life, occupational therapy must be considered an essential member of any pain management team. Thus, there may be potential benefits to reviewing the use of virtual reality (VR) …

An Occupational Therapy Approach To Education For Foster Parents, Alexandra E. Judd, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The focus of this project is to enhance current programming for foster parent pre-licensure education courses in San Diego, California. This capstone project focused on the preferred learning styles of foster parents and utilized adult learning theories to create suggestions to enhance the current pre-licensure class curriculum. Data collected during verbal interviews with foster parents helped guide the suggestions to enhance the current curriculum. Utilizing specific occupational therapy group strategies, occupational therapists can help enhance education for foster parents by increasing the saliency of the learning material. The increased saliency facilitates a deeper understanding of the material and increases the …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Adapting Residential Youth Camps For Increased Inclusion, Brittany Tate, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Each year, summer camps serve more than 11 million youth in the United States (US) (Wilson, Sibthorp, & Brusseau, 2017). Summer camps provide children with new experiences and give them opportunities to build confidence, social skills, and peer relationships (Wilson et al., 2017). Occupational therapy (OT) is an emerging area of practice throughout summer camps in the US (Hanscom & Schoen, 2014). Hanscom and Schoen (2014) recommend strategically combining OT with traditional camp programming to create an emotionally, physically, and spiritually safe environment that promotes optimal attending and task follow through. Summer camp has been shown to enhance positive youth …

Supporting The Role And Transition To Motherhood Through The Occupation Of Feeding, Bethanne N. Vidmar, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project was to assess and explore the occupational needs of mothers who are feeding their infants in a variety of ways to then identify psychosocial and occupational barriers affecting women's’ choices in feeding options for their infant through survey and interviews and opportunities for occupational therapists to become more involved in the occupation of breastfeeding.

Data analysis for this capstone project consisted of running a needs assessment in Santa Barbara County. The needs assessment consisted of written or online surveys and semi-structured in-depth interviews. Of the 95 women who filled out the hard-copy or online survey, …

Exploring The Concurrent Validity Of The Indoor Mobility Pre-Driving Screen (Imps): A Comparison Of The Imps And Ef-Car Motion Driving Simulator, Nicholas T. Bolen, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell, Kaitlyn Cremer

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the Indoor Mobility Pre-driving Screen (IMPS) in relation to assessments on the EF-Car Motion Driving Simulator. Data was gathered from a convenience sample of 36 participants ages 18 and older who possessed an active driver’s license. To answer the primary research question, is there a correlation between scores on the IMPS and the EF-Car Motion Driving Simulator, statistical analyses were performed in the form of Pearson r correlations. Results of these statistical tests showed scores on the IMPS correlate with some scores on the driving simulator. While some …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In The Transition To Employment, Jeanne M. Ventura, Kayla Collins

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Employment rates for persons with disabilities are shockingly low at 30%, while 70% remain unemployed. Some of the reasons for this disparity found in the research include a lack of preparation during high school, a lack of occupational therapy involvement in the transition to work process, and limited transition resources in rural communities resulting in students with disabilities graduating from high school without the skills necessary to secure employment. The goal of this project was to create a pre-employment course at a local YMCA in Warsaw, IN with occupational therapy-based curriculum for youth and young adults with disabilities to help …

Animal-Assisted Therapy And Quality Of Life Of Patients With Dementia, Karissa D. Thomson, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The aim of this quantitative study was to examine the effects animal-assisted therapy (AAT) had on people diagnosed with dementia living in a nursing home. The study examined the effects AAT had on depression, blood pressure, social interaction and how these factors impact quality of life (QOL). The study was conducted once a week for one hour on Thursdays for 6 weeks. 7 participants were included in the study and further broken down into two groups based upon their level of cognition as measured by the Mini Mental State Examination. The Beck’s depression inventory (BDI) and the World Health Organization …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In College And Career Readiness For Adolescents, Chelsea Van Gorder, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The transition to life after high school leads to many possibilities including post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. Of the youth aged 16-24 who graduated high school in 2018, 69.1% enrolled in college, and 79.1% of the remaining graduates either were employed or participated in employment searches (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). With a considerable number of high school graduates entering the workforce and college, the education system needs to equip students with skills necessary for post-secondary success. Transition planning for adolescents incorporates College and Career Readiness (CCR) which consists of academic and non-academic factors (Lombardi, Freeman, & …

Exploring The Occupation-Based Needs Of Older Adults With Alzheimer’S Disease At A Reminiscence Therapy Adult Day Center, Kendra C. Gillio, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting approximately 60% to 70% of the older adult population aged 65 and older (Santos da Silva, de Oliveira Alves, Barros Leite Slagueiro & Bezerra Barbosa, 2018). Reminiscence therapy prompts an individual’s memory by stimulating their sense – sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch, and provides an opportunity for them to revisit and relive their past through their surrounding environment (Swann, 2013). For individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, occupational therapy focuses on adapting the environment in order to promote their ability to engage in meaningful occupations, increase quality of life, and social …

Improving Awareness And Access To Adaptive Sports, Alison S. Takagaki, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Adaptive sports can be defined as a recreational activity that allows individuals to improve their overall quality of life through an occupation they enjoy (Aytur et al., 2018). Barriers to participation in adaptive sports programs include a lack of resources, limited programs identified, and difficulty in finding the best program to fit the athletes’ needs (Lape et al., 2018). Adaptive sports have been seen as a holistic rehabilitative care plan that helps to improve self-esteem, build self-identity, increase confidence, and provide higher life satisfaction (DiVincenzo, 2013). Occupational therapists can play a role in helping enhance participation in adaptive sports by …

Exploring Occupational Disruption In Newly Diagnosed Individuals With Cancer With Minor (Dependent) Children, Riley S. Harrold, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: According to the American Cancer Society (2019), there were more than 1.7 million new cases of cancer in 2019 alone. Individuals are being diagnosed at a young age with 22.4% of cases occurring in individuals 22-55 years old and whom are childrearing age (Shah et al., 2017). There are an estimated 2.85 million children under the age of 18 who are living with a parent who has cancer (Shah et al., 2017). Newly diagnosed individuals face changes in daily life, the threat of possible death, and fear of dying (Compas et al., 1994). Changes in shared family roles …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Spirituality: Partnering With A Special Needs Ministry, Kelsey Stockton, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with special needs frequently face obstacles and barriers to inclusive participation in various activities among their peers; most commonly due to mental, physical, and/or social limitations and deficits (Mathur & Koradia, 2018). One activity in particular impacted by such barriers is participation in spiritual activities within a church (Jacober, 2007; Lee, 2010).

While several highly successful special needs ministries have been established globally, many churches currently either lack appropriate evidence-based volunteer and staff training, adequate resources and accommodations to meet each child’s needs and functional capabilities or are unable to provide any accommodation services. (Avis, 2019; Jacober, 2007; Lee, …

A Non-Pharmaceutical Approach To Chronic Pain: An Ot’S Perspective, Alison L. Brown, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The following project was created for advocacy and education of occupational therapy's role in chronic pain management. This project focuses on occupational therapist's ability to utilize non-pharmaceutical interventions to manage chronic pain symptoms. The capstone outlines fitness-based exercises, aquatic therapy, ergonomics, adaptive equipment, and adaptive strategies by supporting their efficacy in recent literature. Occupational therapists possess invaluable skills that can impact the chronic pain community for the better. They can aid in the reduction of pain while increasing overall quality of life and independence. Occupational therapists are a much needed resource in chronic pain management.

Perceived Impact Of Non-Contact Boxing On Daily Life And Occupational Participation At Home Among Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Kristen E. Bignal, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The aim of this project was to determine whether individuals with Parkinson's disease perceive an impact on their daily life and occupational participation at home secondary to participation in non-contact boxing.

Semi-structured open-ended interview questions were conducted with 17 participants (3 female) who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease for(i.e., self-care, home and health maintenance, sleep, intimacy, social and leisure interests, etc.) in the home environment. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed utilizing thematic analysis.

Data analysis derived three overarching themes including psychological benefits, sense of community, and framework to develop routines. Subsequent research exploring how non-contact boxing directly impacts specific …

Occupational Therapy Student Pro Bono Clinic: Creating A Sustainable Model, Shane Tong, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project was to create a model for a sustainable student pro bono clinic with a clear mission and vision that aligned with that of the occupational therapy (OT) profession. This project consisted of interviewing founding members of similar programs, conducting an indirect needs assessment, and performing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis (Blayney, 2008) of current pro bono clinic operations at the University of St. Augustine College for Health Sciences (USAHS). These results, combined with input from key stakeholders, were used to develop a strategic plan to support the development of future pro bono …

Introduction To Adaptive Surfing: A Pool Program To Promote Engagement, Safety, And Confidence, Madison Mcbride, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster delves into a needs assessment done on the international community of adaptive surfers with spinal cord injuries to determine the interest in creating a pool-based program as a prerequisite for adaptive surfing. This was done through a survey which inquired about their experiences with learning how to adaptive surf, as well as important skills necessary for adaptive surfing. Results of the survey were used to inform curriculum design for an introduction to adaptive surfing pool program.

Developing Educational Resources To Support The Use Of The Hippotherapy Evaluation And Assessment Tool, Emily Peoples, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The Hippotherapy Evaluation and Assessment Tool (HEAT) was created in 2011 with the goal of creating an assessment specific to this therapeutic intervention and effectively tracking client progress. Based on the current literature of client progress during hippotherapy intervention, four domains of scoring were created: Static Posture, Dynamic Motor Behavior, Sensory Processing, and Psychosocial/Behavioral. Over the years, many thesis studies have been conducted to confirm the reliability and validity of the HEAT. However, further dissemination was required as many therapists had not yet heard of the tool. A doctoral capstone project was completed in 2019-2020 to create a training program …

Mental Health In The School System: Providing Tools And Resources For Teachers, Hannah Skinner, Kayla Collins, Mary P. Shotwell

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Mental health is an important part of our everyday life. For many school aged students, mental health issues are on the rise and our roles as occupational therapists are becoming more vital. Educators also have a vital role in the mental health of their students, however their is a gap between their knowledge of mental health practices and their comfort and confidence with implementing such practices.

This project aimed to bridge this gap for 5 educators in the Lake Stevens School District in Washington state. The project was comprised of a Mindfulness Toolkit that walked teachers through implementing a total …

Occupational Therapy In Veterans Treatment Court, Lauren T. Rodriguez, Kayla Collins, Mary Shotwell, Suny Faradj-Bakht

Spring 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Veterans may face difficulty transitioning back into a civilian lifestyle. Their difficulties may be attributed to PTSD, TBI, sexual trauma, anxiety, depression, unemployment, and more. Due to these obstacles, veterans may commit crimes that place them in the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC). It was noted in October of 2018 that there were possible gaps in service for our veterans. The purpose of this project was to create an occupational therapy-based curriculum that will reduce the recidivism rate in St. Johns County VTC. The OT-based manual is intended to replace negative habits, roles, and routines with positive ones in order to …