Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Adolescent Perceptions Of Weighted Blankets And Quality Of Sleep: A Mixed Method Design, Tara D. S. Summers

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this mixed methods case study was to describe the perceived sleep quality experience of an adolescent, without a pre-identified sleep need, when they used a weighted blanket during sleep.

Method: Adolescents (n = 5) 11 to 16 years of age completed a sleep diary for 7 days, sleeping with a self-selected weighted blanket for at least 3 days. A semi-structured individual interview was held after Day 7.

Results: The majority of the participants would like to continue using a weighted blanket for sleep. Eighty percent of the adolescents choose to sleep with a …

Occupational Therapists' Perceptions On Addressing Spirituality: A Cross Sectional Survey, Shannon Metzger, Jeanine Beasley, Jordan Marheineke, Amy Stites, Amy Riley, Christine Byam, Diane Maodush-Pitzer, Dawn R. Devries

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational Therapy (OT) was founded as a holistic profession that addresses the mind, body, and spirit. Research indicates that occupational therapists feel uncomfortable incorporating spirituality into practice. Method: This study aimed to identify perceptions of occupational therapists in addressing the spiritual needs of their clients. A cross-sectional Qualtrics survey was adapted from the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Practice Assessment Scale (RSIPAS). The survey was electronically sent out by several professional OT organizations. It was sent to occupational therapists and OT assistants to obtain their perspective of incorporating spirituality in practice. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis was completed. Results: Of the 52 …

A ‘Friendly Visitor’ Volunteer Intervention For Hoarding Disorder: Participants’ Perceptions, Susan Noyes, Sarah Van Houten, Elizabeth Wilkins

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Determining and delivering effective interventions for Hoarding Disorder remains challenging, and appropriate resources are often unavailable. To address the need, the Friendly Visitor Program was designed in Portland, Maine, to pair people living with hoarding disorder with a trained volunteer to help with decluttering the living environment. The majority of the trained volunteers were occupational therapy students.

Method: This qualitative research study explored participants’ perceptions in a volunteer program that addresses hoarding behaviors. The study was conducted through an interpretivist, constructivist lens, examining the Friendly Visitor hoarding intervention program through individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with nine participants, …

Factors Influencing Driving Confidence In Older Adults, Jill Linder, Beth Ann Walker, Elizabeth Moore, Anne Hegberg

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: It has been determined that both confidence and cognition impact driving performance and self-regulation. While it is known that cognitive decline impacts driving safety and that decreases in driving confidence can lead to self-driving regulation, further research is needed to determine whether cognition, demographics, and driving routines are associated with driving confidence.

Method: A non-experimental, cross-sectional design study using a convenience sample of 100 older adults was conducted to determine if individual factors are related to daytime and nighttime driving confidence.

Results: Multiple regression indicated that four variables predicted daytime driving confidence, including cognition, driving at …

Informing Modifications To Social Participation And Navigation (Span) For Adolescents With Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs, Nicole Porter, Gary Bedell, Jason Getzler, Megan Mueller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Social anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health challenges of adolescence and profoundly impacts social participation. This study obtained adolescent and parent feedback to inform a future modification of Social Navigation and Participation (SPAN) for use with adolescents with social anxiety incorporating pet dogs.

Methods: The study had two phases: Phase 1 included interviews with adolescents with social anxiety (n = 8) about their social participation experiences, strategies, pet dogs, and thoughts on a proposed intervention to promote social participation; and Phase 2 included on-line survey completed by the adolescents and their parents (n = 14) assessing …

Artificial Intelligence: Analysis And Guidelines For Scholarly Writing, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Pilot Study: Impact Of Social Responsibility And Altruism Values On Rehabilitation Employee Satisfaction, Debra Beazley, Agnes Kim, Lori Bolgla

Asian Journal of Physical Therapy

Background: This study explores the association between physical therapist satisfaction in a rehabilitation private practice and perceptions of altruism and social responsibility in the workplace. Small private, for-profit businesses like therapy practices often embrace altruistic values and socially responsible cultures driven by close stakeholder relationships. Alignment between business culture and personal values is a stronger predictor of workplace and career satisfaction. Employees who perceive value alignment report higher job satisfaction and relatedness. Prosocial cultures, rich in altruism and social responsibility, foster job fit and reduce dissatisfaction and turnover. Physical therapy's core values, including altruism and social responsibility, are integral to …

Enhanced Breast Cancer Tumor Classification Using Mobilenetv2: A Detailed Exploration On Image Intensity, Error Mitigation, And Streamlit-Driven Real-Time Deployment, Aaditya Surya, Aditya Keshary Shah, Subash Tarun Sasikumar, Jarnell Kabore

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

This research introduces a sophisticated transfer learning model based on Google’s MobileNetV2 for breast cancer tumor classification into normal, benign, and malignant categories, utilizing a dataset of 1576 ultrasound images (265 normal, 891 benign, 420 malignant). The model achieves an accuracy of 0.82, precision of 0.83, recall of 0.81, ROC-AUC of 0.94, PR-AUC of 0.88, and MCC of 0.74. It examines image intensity distributions and misclassification errors, offering improvements for future applications. Addressing dataset imbalances, the study ensures a generalizable model. This work, using a dataset from Baheya Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, compiled by Walid Al- Dhabyani and colleagues (2020), emphasizes …

Peer-Mediated Family Support Project: Evaluation Of Changes In Family Quality Of Life, Preethy S. Samuel, Elizabeth Janks, Nia S. Anderson, Michael Bray, Christina Topolewski, Sharon Milberger

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Family Quality of Life (FQOL) approach represents a paradigm shift from fixing to supporting people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) by changing the focus from the individual to the family and highlighting strengths rather than deficiencies. Aging family caregivers of individuals with I/DD often encounter obstacles, including accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of services. Little is known about best practices to support aging families of adults with I/DD. Understanding how a state-wide peer-mediated family support project implemented in this study helped improve the FQOL of aging caregivers is important in broadening participation of other caregivers in these types of programs. To …

Interdisciplinary Treatment Approach To Youth With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities And Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions, Ashley Greenwald, Erika Ryst, Diane D. Thorkildson, Lauren Brown

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Many individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) have co-occurring mental health needs, yet service delivery options often do not allow for the integrated delivery of mental health treatment and social behavioral support services. Siloed treatment approaches often result in lack of collaboration between providers, increasing the difficulty in accessing comprehensive and coordinated treatments and reducing treatment potential and effective outcomes. Additionally, many service providers in behavioral support services are not trained to address significant mental health needs; similarly, providers of mental health services lack experience in modifying practices for differing cognitive needs. The lack of cross-training and cross-collaboration makes …

The Person Experiences Interview Survey: A Measure Addressing Ableism In Mental Healthcare For Patients With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Micah Peace Urquilla

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Many People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) also have mental health needs requiring the support of mental health service providers, yet they may experience barriers to full engagement in their care due to ableism. Ableism is a kind of prejudice that impacts People with IDD in many parts of life, even in mental health care. This article proposes how an adapted Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM) can be a response to ableism, with an impact at three distinct yet interrelated levels that reflect the parties involved in the mental healthcare of People with IDD-MH: provider, caregiver, and patient.

At …

Integrative Assessment And Prediction Modeling For Injury Risk Mitigation In Division 1 Female Soccer Athletes: A Comprehensive Approach Utilizing Wearable Technology, Joseph Amitrano, Juqi Lin, Gina Lewandowski, Lauren Calabrese, Dhruv Seshadri

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

There is a pressing need for effective injury prevention methods to mitigate time-loss injuries. This study aims to develop a predictive recovery model for Division 1 female soccer athletes by integrating physiological, biomechanical, and subjective wellbeing assessments. PURPOSE The growing popularity of women's sports, particularly soccer, has brought the critical issue of injury risk management. While existing literature underscores the importance of maintaining an optimal acute to chronic workload ratio (ACWR) to mitigate injury risks, there remains a gap in understanding additional predictive metrics for athlete health. This deficit is pronounced in the context of women's soccer, where research focusing …

Leveraging Wearable Technology For Physiological Modeling In Guiding Return To Play Protocols For Athletes Post-Acl Reconstruction Surgery, Dhruv Seshadri, Milad Zarrinfar, Marco Giuliani, Kevin Cahill, Joseph Amitrano

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

There is a clinical need to quantify return to play when assessing athletes’ post-surgery. This study aims at developing physiological models to predict recovery time post-Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery in Division 1 Football players by integration of physiological and subjective data. PURPOSE Amidst the pressure to excel in top athletic competitions, athletes frequently endure ligamentous injuries, notably ACL tears. Yet, there's no standard method for quantifying return-to-play post-ACL reconstruction, leaving rehabilitation without an objective measure to assess athletes' readiness. Holistic assessment integrating physiological and subjective measurements can facilitate return prediction. METHODS This case study evaluates two Division 1 football …

Comparing The Effect Of N-95 Vs Surgical Mask Use On Resting Metabolic Data Changes, Robert Steinberg, Alexander Rothstein, Amerigo Rossi, Alyssa Hillian, Joanne Difrancisco-Donoghue

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Face masks reduce the spread of viral respiratory particles, however, their impact on respiratory physiology requires further research. Previous studies reported negative changes in gas exchange data when wearing a surgical mask, however, breath-by-breath data has not been analyzed. PURPOSE: To compare physiological changes when wearing an N95 mask and surgical mask at rest. Variables measured include oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide ventilation (VC02), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (MV), and discomfort. METHODS: 42 subjects ages 18-55 (19 men; age 22.98±3.83) were recruited. Exclusion criteria was a history of metabolic disease/claustrophobia. Respiratory and …

Responsiveness Of The Sit-To-Stand Test To Measure Lower Body Power, Jose Antonio Tan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Muscle power declines at a faster rate and demonstrates a stronger association with physical function than strength, emphasizing the growing importance of assessing muscle power. The Sit-to-Stand (STS) test is a novel test to measure lower body power that is valid and reliable, while also being portable and affordable. However, its responsiveness to change or longitudinal validity is unknown. PURPOSE: To examine the responsiveness to change of the Sit-to-Stand test in comparison to the pneumatic leg press in measuring lower body power. METHOD: 23 community-living adults, aged 50-80, were recruited. Participants underwent a full body strength training workout twice a …

Knee Injuries In Nfl Lineman -- A Correlation With Bmi, Michael Lem Md, John Bianchi Do, Austin Irwin, Robert J. Farrell Md, Cole Siegenfeld

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Knee Injuries in NFL Linemen - Correlation with BMI

Dr. Michael Lem, MD; Dr. John Bianchi, DO; Austin Irwin, OMS II; Dr. Robert Farrell, MD; Cole Siegenfeld, OMS II

Purpose:

Knee injuries are among the most common injuries suffered in the NFL which in turn can decrease a player's playing time in a given season and thus negatively impact future performance. Understanding characteristics like BMI can help modify and identify players at risk for knee injuries.

Methods and Study Design:

Data collected for this study was extracted from the official NFL database of injuries.

Reported knee injuries for offensive and …

Bioinformatics To Guide Musculoskeletal Modeling: A Retrospective Study From Olympic Water Polo Athletes, Dhruv Seshadri, Tony Del Vecchio, Hayley Whitney, Tim Gabbett

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

GNYACSM Original Research Abstract

Bioinformatics to Guide Musculoskeletal Modeling: A Retrospective Study from Olympic Water Polo Athletes

DEL VECCHIO TONY, WHITNEY HAYLEY, GABBETT TIM

Seshadri Lab; Bioengineering; Lehigh University; Bethlehem, PA

Category: Masters

Advisor / Mentor: Seshadri, Dhruv dhs223@lehigh.edu

ABSTRACT

There is a pressing need for effective injury prevention methods to mitigate time-loss injuries. This study aims to develop a robust injury risk assessment model for water polo athletes by assessing the interplay between load-response metrics, and leveraging artificial intelligence to forecast wellness based on prior assessments.

PURPOSE

Water polo athletes present with upper extremity injuries in the hip, knee, …

Effectiveness Of Mobile Health Sedentary Time Interventions In Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Siqing Chen, Lili Yang, Carol Ewing Garber Facsm, Matthew Stults-Kolehmainen Facsm, Chenchen Wang, Yuting Yang, Qiao Yuan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

mHealth is the provision of health care and health information through mobile electronic devices.The prevalence of sedentary behaviors (SB) among older adults is increasing, underscoring the urgent need for effective mHealth interventions. Evidence of the effectiveness of mHealth in older adults is unclear. PURPOSE: The study aims to 1) explore the effects of mHealth interventions on reducing SB; and 2) examine the influence of potential moderators on mHealth interventions' effectiveness by analyzing subgroups according to participants' characteristics and intervention specifics. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were conducted. A literature search was conducted using multiple databases …

Perceived Recovery States And Physical Fitness In Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets, Lianne Emanuel, Jessie Hirsch, James Bodendorf, Amy Loin, Gregory Ioannides, Aliya Catanzarita, Joseph Schnatter, Isaac Stein, Tarek Harhash, Sean Kane, Julianne Rung, Katie Sell

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are challenged mentally, emotionally, and physically with the physical fitness requirements (e.g., Army Combat Fitness Test or ACFT) required within their military science curriculum. Common physical fitness tests such as those for strength, power, and balance can provide insight into the recovery and readiness status of tactical athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between scores on the Short Recovery and Stress Scale (SRSS) and performance on a physical fitness test battery assessing balance, mobility, body composition, muscular strength, and power in collegiate ROTC cadets. METHODS: Seventeen …

Heart Rate Response To Maximal Exercise In A Participant With C8 Spinal Cord Injury, Jessie Hirsch, Alex Rothstein, Norbert Holowat Jr, Michele Aquino, Amerigo Rossi, John P. Handrakis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction are a common sequela after spinal cord injury (SCI) and typically impair cardiovascular responses to exercise. However, some individuals with cervical SCI (tetraplegia) and “complete” motor and sensory injury (AIS A) demonstrate the ability to increase heart rate (HR) above the limit achievable by vagal withdrawal alone (~110 bpm). PURPOSE: The purpose of this test was to highlight the unexpected HR response to a continuous graded exercise test. (GXT) in a wheelchair athlete with tetraplegia. METHODS: A 26-year-old male with tetraplegia after a SCI (classification neurological level of injury (NLI) C8, AIS A) …

In The Quiet Place, Tina M. Higgins Wussow

Survive & Thrive: A Journal for Medical Humanities and Narrative as Medicine

Essay about the death of a father and the grief that comes after.

Non-St Elevation Myocardial Infarction Presentation In Severe Aortic Stenotic Patient, Margi Desai, Daniel Maysonet

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

This case report demonstrates a patient who presents with typical findings for a diagnosis of NSTEMI. Upon further evaluation, this diagnosis was able to be ruled out. Presentations and labs consistent with NSTEMI masked the true diagnosis of aortic stenosis due to oxygen supply/demand mismatch.

The Attitudes, Level Of Interest, And Knowledge Held By Physicians And Psychologists Toward Integrated Healthcare Practices And The Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, Mark Cassano, Robert A. Ditomasso, Barbara Golden, Scott D. Glassman

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

As the healthcare system evolves, issues related to cost and access to care continue to persist. In response to this concern, integrated models of healthcare, like the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), have been developed to work toward reducing cost for both patients and providers, increasing patient access to quality care, and improving patients’ overall satisfaction with the care that they are provided. However, despite the overwhelming evidence found in the literature supporting the efficacy and benefit of these treatment models, it is unclear as to why more providers do not choose to practice and support collaborative forms of healthcare provision. …

Biopsychosocial Management Of Long Covid Fibromyalgia: Lessons From The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Fibromyalgia Program, Joseph Harrison, Dennis Given Psy.D.

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of chronic health concerns worldwide, leading to a new population of patients suffering from Long Covid. Patients with Long Covid often experience persistent symptoms impacting multiple organ systems, including neuroimmune and neurological manifestations. Recently, attention has grown toward Long Covid patients developing chronic widespread pain similar to fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a nociplastic pain disorder characterized by widespread pain and central sensitization with fatigue, sleep disturbances, and impairments in cognitive functioning. Given the nascent and limited research exploring new treatment options, patients need support now from biopsychosocial multi-modal pain management strategies. The Fibromyalgia Program …

An Exploration Of Self-Reported Training Needs For Anxiety Interventions Among Primary Care Behavioral Health Consultants, Katherine Buckheit, Ryan Willard, Kyle Possemato, Robyn Shepardson, Abigail Lashinsky, Jen Funderburk

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Introduction: Despite the need for greater training in evidence-based interventions for the treatment of anxiety in primary care behavioral health (PCBH), there are limited data on which interventions are desired by behavioral healthcare consultants (BHCs). The objective of this study was to identify which interventions BHCs desired more training in when treating anxiety in PCBH practice, and to examine if this preference was associated with theoretical orientation. Method: We conducted an online survey of PCBH providers regarding their training preferences for treatment of anxiety symptoms. The final sample comprised 291 BHCs recruited from e-mail listservs of national professional organizations. Providers …

Perceived Recovery States And Physical Fitness In Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets, Lianne Emanuel, Jessie Hirsch, James Bodendorf, Amy Loin, Gregory Ioannides, Aliya Catanzarita, Tarek Harhash, Joseph Schnatter, Isaac Stein, Sean Kane, Julianne Rung, Katie Sell

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are challenged mentally, emotionally, and physically with the physical fitness requirements (e.g., Army Combat Fitness Test or ACFT) required within their military science curriculum. Common physical fitness tests such as those for strength, power, and balance can provide insight into the recovery and readiness status of tactical athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between scores on the Short Recovery and Stress Scale (SRSS) and performance on a physical fitness test battery assessing balance, mobility, body composition, muscular strength, and power in collegiate ROTC cadets. METHODS: Seventeen ROTC cadets …

Effects Of Electrical Exercise On Self-Reported Depression And Quality Of Life In Those With Spinal Cord Injury, Aj Barber, Eric Heidorn, John Mcdaniel, Cody S. Dulaney

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

One of the most common psychological disorders that occur as a result of spinal cord injury (SCI) is depression along with reductions in quality of life. Moreover, depression is correlated with quality of life. It is increasingly apparent that exercise offers an accessible and non-pharmacological intervention to ease depressive symptoms and improve quality of life. Unfortunately, access to meaningful exercise options remains challenging to those with mobility impairments such as those seen with SCI. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the chronic engagement of home-based electrical stimulation exercise (ESE) on self-reported depression and quality of life …

Effects Of Electrical Exercise And Affect On Self-Reported Anxiety In Those With Spinal Cord Injury, John Zimmerman, Eric Heidorn, John Mcdaniel, Cody S. Dulaney

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Those who have incurred a spinal cord injury (SCI) have severe and immediate changes to their lifestyle. Those with SCI have reported reduced levels of positive affect and no change in negative affect compared to controls. Also, those with SCI may have reduced opportunities for engaging in meaningful exercise either due to mobility or equipment access limitations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the chronic engagement of home-based electrical stimulation exercise (ESE) on self-reported anxiety and positive and negative affect. METHODS: 9 individuals with ASIA A or B SCI were recruited for this study. Participants …

Animal-Assisted Services And Occupational Therapy Within An Australian Context: A Survey Study, Jessica Hill, Carlie Driscoll, Kelly Pearse

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Introduction: The incorporation of animal-assisted services is an emerging field of occupational therapy. There remains varying levels of involvement and knowledge of what is involved in animal-assisted services among Australian occupational therapists. The profession of occupational therapy acknowledges that competence as a clinician requires appropriate education and knowledge guiding clinical decision making.

Research Question: This study aimed to explore the understanding and role of Australian occupational therapists including animal-assisted services in their practice, as well as the changes required to support future service delivery.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted online. Participants were recruited through a digital mailing list, …

Cavernous Wonders: Delving Into Cavernous Sinus Syndrome In Neuro-Ophthalmology, Anza Rizvi, Ba

inSIGHT

Cavernous sinus syndrome (CSS) is any disease process that affects the cavernous sinus. This syndrome is marked by a complex interplay of neurovascular symptoms, primarily due to the compression or dysfunction of the cranial nerves that traverse the cavernous sinus. Understanding the intricate details of this syndrome is critical to providing optimal care and improving patient outcomes.