Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Multiple Sclerosis On Perceived Parenting Roles And Adolescent Coping, Alyssa Coundourides, Kendra Host, Elizabeth Rexroat

Adult

This research project focused on the effects of parental multiple sclerosis (MS) upon parenting roles and family coping. Specifically, the study was implemented to acquire insight into the primary research question: How do parents perceive familial role changes resulting from MS to impact coping of their adolescent children? The study also investigated the role of occupational therapy in assisting parents with MS to facilitate coping in their adolescent children. These concepts were investigated though a mixed methods design, using the Role Checklist to quantitatively assess participants’ roles and values, and a focus group to qualitatively explore participants’ lived experiences of …

Hand Pressure And Force: Adapted Knives Compared To A Straight Knife, Melissa S. Hudecz, Lillian A. Schaefer, Katherine A. Simon

Hand and Upper Extremity

This study analyzed the pressure and force required to cut an object with a standard kitchen knife and two adaptive knives. Occupational therapists recommend adaptive utensils such as kitchen knives. The appropriate tool or adaptive device reduces joint force and pressure and helps keep joints properly aligned to reduce pain during daily activities for individuals with arthritis. This research seeks to add to the body of knowledge to support the use of adapted equipment. Methods: Thirty-three participants were included in this study. Data were collected using a hand sensor and software made by Novel Pliance-X. This tool was found to …

How Power Tilt Is Used In Daily Life To Manage Sitting Pressure: Perspectives Of Adults Who Use Power Tilt And Therapists Who Prescribe This Technology, Laura C. Titus

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Recent research studies have identified that use of large amplitudes of power tilt as a pressure management strategy used by adults who use wheelchairs and are at risk of developing pressure ulcers, was low. While the reason for low use was not identified, a lack of fit between using large amplitudes of tilt and daily life function was speculated as a main reason across studies. Using a post-positivist grounded theory approach, this study explored how power tilt was used in daily life particularly for managing sitting pressures, from the perspectives of five people experienced with using power tilt and six …

Impact Of Finger Position On Pinch Strength, Rachel Boerema, Jamie Powers, Kelsey Walukonis

Hand and Upper Extremity

The purpose of this study was to assess for differences in the amount of tip, lateral, and three-jaw-chuck pinch force generated when fingers are placed on the groove or bridge of a B&L pinch gauge. Thirty-six healthy volunteers (9 males, 27 females), ages 19-49, participated in the study. Using a quantitative crossover design, each participant pinched six times: one for each type of pinch with fingers placed on the groove and bridge. Although no significant differences were found, results revealed slightly higher three-jaw- chuck and lateral pinch strength when fingers were placed on the groove, whereas tip pinch strength was …

What Are The Relations Among Stress Perception, Health Perception And Activity Participation In School-Aged Children?, Allison Caplin

Honors Theses and Capstones

This correlational study examined possible relations among children’s activity patterns, perceived stress, and perceived health. A variety of self-report questionnaires were administered to a sample of 33 school age children. The Pediatric Activity Sort (PACS) was used to measure activity participation, a health questionnaire was used to assess health, and the Childhood Stress Questionnaire (CSQ) was used to measure perceived stress. Correlations showed no significant relationships between stress level and the amount of reported activity participation. The absence of significant relationships may be due to testing a sample of middle to upper class, Caucasian children, as there was a skewed …

Usefulness Of The Mms And S5 For Assessing Medication Management Capacity For Clients Post-Stroke, Jessica Jean Bolduc

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Occupational therapists need a means to efficiently and accurately screen a client’s medication management capacity, especially for clients post-stroke. Most therapists are not aware of, nor do they utilize specific assessments for medication management capacity, partly due to lack of thorough assessments. The purpose of this study was to compare the scores of the ManageMed Screen (MMS), the Screening for Self-Medication Safety Post Stroke (S5), and the Montreal Assessment of Cognition (MoCA) on a population of rehabilitation clients post-stroke to evaluate consistency of scores and determine their usefulness in clinical practice. All screens were designed for use in occupational therapy; …

A Systematic Review Of The Best Practices For Playground Inclusion, Megan Mejeur, Graceann Schmitt, Hannah Wolcott

Pediatrics

Occupational therapy considers the person, occupation, and environment when providing treatment services. In schools, the person is the student, the occupations include education and play, and the environment is the classroom and the playground. In Muskegon, Michigan, the public school system is undergoing a consolidation of elementary schools and trying to determine what to do with the current playground environment. The researchers conducted a systematic review of the existing research regarding best practice, accessible, and inclusive playground designs for the elementary schools that will promote physical activity and enhance classroom performance. Scholarly databases and gray literature were searched using predetermined …

Analysis Of Playground Equipment At Muskegon Public Schools: A Needs Assessment, Kailee Chandonnet,, Elizabeth Elam, Leah Lucas

Pediatrics

A local school district, Muskegon Public Schools, is restructuring due to budget constraints. Therapists at Muskegon Public Schools were concerned about the safety and accessibility of the current playgrounds. The purpose of this needs assessment was to determine if any of Muskegon Public Schools’ playgrounds met the students’ safety and accessibility needs. To determine this, the researchers created a checklist using the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Handbook on Public Playground Safety (1997) and the U.S. Access Board Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas (2005). The checklist was then used to assess all nine Muskegon Public School playgrounds. None of …

A Qualitative Study Of Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Unstructured Time, Stephanie L. Hovick, Justine N. Gonzalez Bratt, Kristin M. Cameron

Pediatrics

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify middle school students’ perceptions of unstructured time by determining physical and leisure activities the students would want to have available for their use at school.

METHOD: A researcher developed questionnaire (Students’ Leisure Time Questionnaire) was used to interview 23 middle school students (ages 11 to 15) regarding their perceptions of activities during unstructured time. A phenomenological design was used, incorporating open-ended qualitative questions.

RESULTS: The students were able to identify activities in which they would like to participate during their unstructured time at school. Students primarily indicated football and basketball as …

A Case Study Of One Service Member With Traumatic Limb Loss And The Decision Of Whether Or Not To Return To Duty, Carly Braun

Online Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this qualitative case study was to describe the experience of one service member's decision of whether or not to return to duty (RTD) following limb amputation. The participants included a combat-wounded amputee and an occupational therapist who worked with the amputee during his period of transition. Participants were interviewed over the phone. Data from the interviews was transcribed and analyzed by a manual coding process. The service member completed a self-report questionnaire called the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths. Four themes were found: 1) the decision to RTD takes a long time, 2) life factors before …

A Model Of Management Learning For Occupational Therapists In Small Business In Australia, Jeannine Millsteed

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research sought to identify factors that contribute to occupational therapists developing management competencies when they become small business owners providing professional clinical services. This is an important for several reasons and precipitated by the Australian government’s introduction of incentives that encourage health professions to move from employment in public hospitals into the private sector, coupled with a recognition that occupational therapists receive no formal business training in their professional education, and the reported high levels of business failure in the small business sector. A review of the literature established the value of small business to the Australian economy, growth …

Improving Functional Outcomes For Children And Adolescents With Anxiety Related Disorders Through Occupational Thrapy : A Narrative Review ; Perceptions Of The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Community Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), Paula J. Anderson

Theses : Honours

Background/Aim: Children and adolescents experiencing anxiety find it challenging to maintain optimal occupational performance, thus the specific role of occupational therapy in the management of anxiety requires investigation. This narrative review examines the current available literature surrounding the use of occupational therapy approaches for children and adolescents experiencing anxiety.

Methods: Academic journals as well as a variety of sources were considered, due to the paucity of literature surrounding this topic. Articles were included if they discussed the occupational therapy role in treatment of children experiencing anxiety symptoms, including anxiety related disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive …