Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Occupational Therapy Job Satisfaction In The Geriatric Setting, Dawn Doctor

Masters Theses

This study examined the level of job satisfaction among occupational therapists working in the geriatric setting in the state of Michigan. The purpose of this study was to determine if burnout exists among occupational therapists working in a geriatric setting. Questionnaires from 29 therapists who work in a·geriatric setting were analyzed. The majority of the respondents reveled they are not burned out, but do report at least one sign of stress within their job. The most common forms of stress were treating difficult diagnoses, excessive paperwork, excessive caseload, increased productivity expectations, the lack of respect for occupational therapy, and the …

Understanding Occupational Therapy: Medical Doctors And Doctors Of Osteopath’S Knowledge About Occupational Therapy In An Acute Care Hospital, Shereen A. Metwalli

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to discover whether medical doctors (MD) and doctors of osteopath (DO) at two large hospitals in the Midwest have adequate knowledge about the roles and functions of occupational therapy, its services and benefits to patients and its implications on interdisciplinary team success. Increasing the knowledge in these three areas could influence occupational therapy referral rates and, as a result, impact the quality of patient care. This study used a descriptive survey to collect data from 55 physicians. Respondents acquired their knowledge of occupational therapy through secondary sources within informal sources of information. A statistically …

Response To Craniosacral Therapy In An Infant With Plagiocephaly, Amy Taylor Johnson

Masters Theses

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of utilizing craniosacral therapy (CST) techniques to influence head symmetry and motor skill development of an infant with plagiocephaly. The study is an ex post facto single case study, analyzing the results of data from previously conducted intervention utilizing a craniosacral therapy approach.

Method

The infant in this case study received gentle hands on treatment using the cranium and sacrum to influence the membrane system that encloses the cerebrospinal fluid. Developmental positioning, myofascial release, and sensorimotor techniques were incorporated. The student investigator treated the infant 8 times over a …

Bridging Oceans: An Occupational Therapist's Journey Toward Client-Centeredness, Anna Liedberg Miron

Masters Theses

This study blends an autobiographical approach with a person's own narrative about her recovery experience to create an analytic framework for exploring how narratives of clients and practitioners can be used to inform occupational therapy practice. Beth and I shared 12 hours of audio-taped conversations about her recovery/rehabilitation experience one year after she had experienced a stroke. Beth was intimately involved in the process of editing her story during the research process. Narrative analysis that takes into account the flow of time was used in addition to identification of key stories that Beth felt were important in her recovery-process. Congruence …

Investigation Of Parental/Caregiver Concerns Of Children With Spasticity, Lynda Johnson-Cross

Masters Theses

Although there is capacious documentation on the concerns associated with parenting/care giving the disabled child, the concerns of parents/caregiver of children with the specific condition of spasticity is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to begin to determine the concerns of parents/caregivers of children with spasticity as they specifically relate to care giving. An extensive qualitative based survey interview was utilized to gather information from three informants. Analysis revealed clusters of concerns in the Nature of Caregiving, Spasticity Encounters, and Parental/Caregiver Comments.

An Evaluation Of Methylphenidate Preference In Adults Diagnosed With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Emily Kathleen Macdonald

Dissertations

Methylphenidate (MPH) is widely used in the treatment of ADHD, and is associated with positive effects across a wide range of domains. In spite of the clinical effectiveness of MPH, concern has arisen with respect to its abuse potential. The present study examined the reinforcing effects and participant-rated effects of MPH in adults diagnosed with ADHD. Participants included 10 volunteers (ages 18-22) diagnosed with ADHD who were receiving MPH treatment. The reinforcing effects were assessed using a double-blind choice procedure with 4 sampling and 8 choice sessions. During sampling sessions, participants completed a self-report questionnaire before receiving either placebo or …

Athletic Trainers' Perceptions Of Competence In Therapeutic Exercise, Christopher J. Jones

Masters Theses

As the athletic training profession continues to expand, it is necessary to evaluate the preparedness of the entry-level certified athletic trainer (ATC). The purpose of this research is to determine if entry-level certified athletic trainers perceive that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform specific tasks related to therapeutic exercise.

An online questionnaire was sent out to 450 entry-level certified athletic trainers in District Four. A total of 69 subjects returned the survey for a response rate of 15.3%. The questionnaire utilized a Likert-type scale consisting of questions derived in the area of therapeutic exercise of the NATA …

Effect Of Proprioceptive Input Combined With “Handwriting Without Tears” On The Handwriting Of Children With Learning Disabilities, Jodie M. Guy

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of"Handwriting Without Tears" on students' handwriting, and to explore if providing proprioceptive input before implementing "Handwriting Without Tears" has an effect on the legibility and accuracy of handwriting. Three first-grade and three second-grade students who received direct occupational therapy services were divided into two treatment groups. Those students in treatment group A received a combination of proprioceptive input and the "Handwriting Without Tears" program during their treatment session. Those students in treatment group B received only the "Handwriting Without Tears" program. Each student completed the Minnesota Handwriting Test (MHT) before …

Evaluation Of The Systems Theory Based Interdisciplinary Patient Safety Practice Guideline On Restraint Reduction And Fall Prevention, Steven D. Eberth

Masters Theses

Patient safety remains one of the most profoundly complex and important issues in healthcare systems especially regarding the use of restraint and the prevention of falls. Current topic guidelines suggest a "systems approach." These guidelines, however, oriented toward solution application using analytical problem-based approach. The development of this practice guideline was in response to a desire for theory-based practice that could guide outcomes. This practice guideline transforms systems theory into a guide for use by a leader/manager and a tool for the practitioner to rethink patient safety in a more holistic manner. This study was conducted in critical care, older …

The Immediate Effects Of Vestibular Stimulation On The Language Performance Of A Child With Autism, Jennifer L. Sova

Masters Theses

There is a proposed link between sensory processing abilities and language performance in children with autism. Research evaluating such a relationship is limited. This study sought to evaluate the hypothesis that language expression is facilitated by the application of vestibular stimulation in a child with autism. The purpose of the present study was to implement language interaction techniques and measure the outcome of language performance in a 4-year-old child with autism and sensory integration dysfunction. The child was evaluated in regards to vestibular stimulation and its facilitative effect on language production for social communicative purposes. Direct observation was used to …

Evaluation Of The Pediatric Test Of Brain Injury, Heather K. Koole

Masters Theses

This study was designed to evaluate the Pediatric Test of Brain Injury (PTBI), as well as to examine information obtained from informal measures in assessing children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Three students with TBI and three grade- and gender- matched subjects participated in this study. All six students were administered the PTBI, and their performances were given raw scores, rated for level of difficulty in performing the tasks, and compared among and across the two groups. The students with TBI were interviewed by the graduate student researcher regarding self-perceptions of their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, their …

Right Hemisphere Effects On Language Processing: Suppression Or Activation Deficit, Sarah A. Orjada

Masters Theses

This study was designed to add to the body of research that examines the possibility of semantic activation or suppression deficits as underlying right hemisphere communication disorders. Modified treatment techniques for activation and suppression deficits proposed by Myers (1999) were used as stimuli for the experimental tasks. A total of four RHD participants and four control participants matched in age, gender, and level of education were included in the study. The study aimed to answer the following questions. Do RHD or control participants have higher scores on the suppression tasks? Do RHD participants have longer reaction times? Do RHD or …