Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures: A Home Visitation Curriculum For Pediatric Residents, Kofi D. Essel, Sirisha Yalamanchi, Cara Lichtenstein, Erin Hysom

E-Learning Modules

A working knowledge of the home and neighborhood environment is critical to understanding the barriers that families face when struggling with obesity. Most doctors are only given the opportunity to address individuals with obesity in the office setting and usually describe their counseling abilities as ineffective. This focused home visitation curriculum offers a unique tool to improve residents’ understanding of the social determinants of health, how these determinants relate to obesity, and critical obesity-management skills. The curriculum requires residents to review three PowerPoint modules and an article on motivational interviewing. Residents then implement what they have learned by doing two …

Fever Of Unknown Origin In Patient After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation, Eugenia Raichlin, Sara Varnado, John Y. Um, Michael J. Moulton, Ronald Zolty Dr

The VAD Journal

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is a lifesaving procedure in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. Despite improvement in surgical techniques, ICU care and restored hemodynamics, some patients on MCS remain severely debilitated due to multiple medical problems, including infections, respiratory failure, de-conditioning and nutritional deficits.

Here we present a case of a patient with persistent high degree fever, devastating muscle weakness, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, who dramatically responded to treatment with vitamin B 12.

Puzzleart Therapy: Connecting The Pieces In Search Of Answers, Jennifer Fortuna

Open Journal of Occupational Therapy: Occupation and the Artist

Alli Berman has been an artist, educator, author, and lecturer for more than 25 years. Her art can be found in private, corporate, and nonprofit collections around the world. Berman is the creator of PuzzleArt, a series of small abstract paintings that combine to form a modular puzzle. When a stroke impacted Berman’s quality of life, she turned to art for answers. Engagement in a meaningful activity, such as painting, provided her motivation and strength for continued physical and psychological healing. The PuzzleArt concept evolved from a simple exercise that helped Berman to fit all of the missing pieces back …

Puzzleart Therapy: Connecting The Pieces In Search Of Answers, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Alli Berman, a New York based artist, provided the cover art for the Fall 2016 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Sunlight Underwater” is a 12 piece PuzzleArt painting made from acrylic on American maple that measures 22x30. The PuzzleArt concept began as a simple exercise that evolved into a therapeutic modality. When a sudden stroke impacted Berman’s well-being and quality of life, it was art that helped her to make connections during recovery.

Reclaiming And Proclaiming The Use Of Crafts In Occupational Therapy, Emily Leenerts, Cynthia Evetts, Emily Miller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

What's In The Fridge? Unique Competencies Of Community-Based Occupational Therapists, Sunny R. Winstead

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Academic Fieldwork Coordinators Regarding The Value Of Fieldwork In Emerging Areas Of Practice, Victoria G. Wilburn, Kate E. Decleene Huber, Julie Gahimer, Candace Beitman, Elizabeth S. Moore

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This study investigated the perceptions of academic fieldwork coordinators (AFWCs) regarding emerging areas of practice as fieldwork experiences for entry-level occupational therapy (OT) students. Further, this study explored several aspects of fieldwork experiences in emerging areas of practice on student personal and professional development, academic curriculum, partnering community agencies, and the profession at large. A survey designed through Qualtrics®, an electronic survey system, was sent to 163 AFWCs of fully accredited master’s and doctoral entry-level OT programs. Forty-four participants (27%) completed the 16-question survey. Significance at p < .05 was found in higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy student performance when compared to traditional areas of practice. Common perceptions found among the AFWCs related to emerging areas of practice fieldwork experiences included: improved student professional and personal skills, increased connections and collaborations across and in health care disciplines, an enhanced ability to define and understand OT. Continued opportunities for fieldwork in emerging areas of practice are essential as the profession contemplates new markets and avenues in a changing health care environment.

Ot Practitioners’ And Ot Students’ Perceptions Of Entry-Level Competency For Occupational Therapy Practice, Minetta Wallingford, Lisa J. Knecht-Sabres, Michelle M. Lee, Lavonne Ellen St.Amand

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This study examined occupational therapy (OT) practitioners’ and OT students’ perceptions of the importance of 12 specific OT-related entry-level competency skills and the number of weeks required to consistently demonstrate skills for entry-level competency. The results indicated that, on average, practitioners (n = 39) and students (n = 38) agreed that all of the items were important. However, the students had significantly higher ratings regarding the importance of communication, occupation and client-centered goals, time management, interventions, and use of theory and evidence. They also rated a higher number of minimum weeks required to consistently demonstrate entry-level competency. The …

High-Fidelity Simulation In Occupational Therapy Curriculum: Impact On Level Ii Fieldwork Performance, Rebecca Ozelie, Catherine Both, Emma Fricke, Carolyn Maddock

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Simulation experiences provide experiential learning opportunities during artificially produced real-life medical situations in a safe environment. Evidence supports using simulation in health care education yet limited quantitative evidence exists in occupational therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in scores on the AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation for the Occupational Therapy Student of Level II occupational therapy students who received high-fidelity simulation training and students who did not. A retrospective analysis of 180 students from a private university was used. Independent samples nonparametric t tests examined mean differences between Fieldwork Performance Evaluation scores of those who did and did not …

Knowledge Translation And Occupational Therapy: A Survey Of Canadian University Programs, Heidi Cramm, Blair Short, Catherine A. Donnelly

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

While Canadian occupational therapy recognizes knowledge translation (KT) as essential to clinical interactions, there has been little attention paid to KT activity in education and research. The objective of this study was to identify the nature of KT activities in which Canadian occupational therapy faculty engage. An electronic survey was sent to faculty at 14 Canadian occupational therapy programs to explore the nature of KT activities, including research, education, strategies, evaluation, and barriers and facilitators. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results show that faculty engage in a range of KT activities, with conferences and peer-reviewed publications being …

Up Bloom’S Pyramid With Slices Of Fink’S Pie: Mapping An Occupational Therapy Curriculum, Susan C. Burwash, Roberta Snover, Robert Krueger

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Curriculum design is a complex task. One tool used in the design process is curriculum mapping. A mandated transition from a quarter to a semester academic calendar, alongside preparation of accreditation self-study materials, provided an opportunity for faculty teaching in an entry-level occupational therapy program to review the underlying basis of the curriculum. Two taxonomies of learning (Bloom’s cognitive domain and Fink’s taxonomy of significant learning experiences) were used to examine existing courses and to consider how learning outcomes and experiences varied over the sequence of courses in the curriculum. This led to the creation of a series of course …

Bangladesh Norms For A Gender-Specific Functional Fine Dexterity Test (Ffdt), Debra K. Lindstrom-Hazel, Umme Aeyman, Md. Julker Nayan, Syed Shakawat Hossain

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Good psychometrics and cultural relevance are needed for evidence-based practice. Occupational therapy (OT) assessment tools in Bangladesh have been developed outside of Bangladesh and have not been validated or normed for Bangladeshis. This normative and psychometric study was to provide culturally relevant norms for in Bangladesh for bilateral fine motor.

Method: The Functional Fine Dexterity Test (FFDT) consists of two functional/self-care gender-specific task instruments: a shirt with five buttons for males and a pinning board for females. Raters were trained in timing these tasks.

Results: Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) scores were > .85 for all rater teams. Participants …

Goals And Expectations Of Continuation High School Students Transitioning To Postsecondary Education, Chi-Kwan Shea, Gordon Muir Giles

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Students at a continuation high school (CHS) attended an occupational therapy program to acquire life skills in preparation for their transition from secondary education. Most of the students who participated in the OT program planned to pursue a postsecondary education (PSE), but the CHS students encountered many barriers in negotiating the requirements of PSE. Discernment of these barriers encountered by the CHS students may enable the occupational therapy practitioners to better prepare the students for PSE.

Method: This was a qualitative phenomenological study based on analyses of interview data. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with eight CHS senior students …

Fitness-To-Drive Screening Measure©: Patterns And Trends For Canadian Users, Sherrilene Classen, Shabnam Medhizadah, Liliana Alvarez

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Fitness-to-Drive Screening Measure^© (FTDS) is an online screening tool that enables proxy raters (caregivers, family members, and friends) to identify at-risk older adult drivers via 54 driving-related items. This study aimed to identify areas in need of improvement for the FTDS by identifying the patterns and trends of Canadian users and providing recommendations to increase the usage, reach, and potential impact of the FTDS as a health promotion tool.

Methods: We used monthly Google Analytics reports to calculate descriptive statistics for web page and session specific variables. Variables were separated into Year 1 and Year 2 …

Perceived Benefits Of Kinesio Tape® Compared To Non-Kinesiology Tape And No Tape In Healthy Collegiate Athletes, Gregory Chown, Jennifer Innamorato, Marlee Mcnerney, Jennifer Petrilla, Hillary Prozzillo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Sports participation is considered a meaningful occupation for people of all ages. Multiple disciplines use Kinesio Tape® during treatment (Kinesio Taping® Association International, 2013e) for sports-related injuries. While the use of Kinesio Tape® is becoming increasingly popular in sports, there is a lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to address the following question: Is there a perceived sports performance benefit of using Kinesio Tape® compared to non-kinesiology tape or no tape in healthy collegiate athletes?

Method: This quantitative pilot study used a convenience sampling method. The participants included eighteen healthy men’s …

Perspectives Of Individuals Who Experienced Bullying During Childhood, Olivia Byjos, Jackie Dusing, Callyn Zartman, Susan M. Cahill

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The objective of the qualitative study was to describe the perspectives of adults who experienced bullying at school during childhood or adolescence.

Method: Data was collected through semi-structured interviews (n = 8) and analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Results: Three major themes emerged: (a) the school should have done something, (b) it still affects me, and (c) there needs to be prevention.

Conclusion: Based on their unique expertise, occupational therapy practitioners may be able to collaborate with interprofessional teams to address the needs of individuals who bully and those who are being bullied at school.

Why The Veracity Of Data Matters In Health Care Research, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Anxiety: What Is It And How To Deal With It, Kaitlyn Byrd

Student Brochures

No abstract provided.

Asthma, Kayla Phipps

Student Brochures

No abstract provided.

Life With Alzheimer's Disease, Sarah Houtz

Student Brochures

No abstract provided.

Skin Cancer: Be Kind To The Skin You Are In, Sara Beth Stevens

Student Brochures

No abstract provided.

Southern Living: Type 2 Diabetes, Annie Doster

Student Brochures

No abstract provided.

Integrative Health Studies Newsletter, Ciis

Integrative Health Studies Newsletter

This is the Fall 2016 / Winter 2017 issue of the Integrative Health Studies Newsletter at CIIS.

Healthnet News V.31:No.3 Fall 2016, Wendy Urciuoli

Articles - Patient Care

Linking Connecticut Patients and Families to Reliable Health Information

Flight Physician - October, 2016, Civil Aviation Medical Association

Browse all Civil Aviation Medical Association Newsletters

A twenty-seven page newsletter of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. The newsletter provided news about civil aviation medicine and information related to the organization.

Syrian Refugee Women In Jordan: Family Planning Preferences And Barriers In A Host Community, Hilary Smith

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The aims of this pilot study were to research and analyze the availability of birth control and family planning resources among Syrian refugee women at a reproductive age. This study took place in the host community of Karak, Jordan. Syrian women are a vulnerable population based solely on their gender. But being refugee women makes them more vulnerable and sometimes, their needs do not get met. This study is important because it will look into reproductive health aspects for this vulnerable population to ensure that there is satisfaction among women about their own health. This cross-sectional study sought to answer …

Nit Nitay Garabame: Analyzing Mental Illness And Art Therapy Within Dakar’S Atelier D’Ex-Pression Artistique, Alaina Orr

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As mental health issues are usually given low priority in countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, mental illness continues to be an emerging topic of discourse (Rand 2015). In Dakar, the practice of art therapy has been used for decades to provide those living with mental illness or going through trauma with a method for selfexpression when words fail to articulate their situations or mental states. Situated within Hôpital Fann’s psychiatric hospital, Clinique Moussa Diop, is an art therapy workshop known as l’Atelier d’EX-PRESSION Artistique1, which provides the space, structure, and material for persons with mental illness to work with …

Breast Is Best: Determinants Of Breastfeeding In Bali, Leah Hardenbergh

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Breastfeeding greatly benefits the health of newborns, providing them with needed antibodies and protection from numerous diseases, including some of the leading causes of infant mortality. This paper explores breastfeeding practices in Bali, and the wide array of factors that have led to these practices. After discussing how breastfeeding fits into the larger context of maternal and newborn health, I explain factors in Bali that affect a woman’s decision to breastfeed and experience while breastfeeding. Determinants include those related to health, financial position, and social status. I explore the history of formula companies and formula as an alternative to breastmilk, …

Actually, Let’S Not Talk About Sex: The Value-Laden Sex Education Received By China’S Young Women, Allyson Tsu

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

No abstract provided.

Mid-Atlantic Ethics Committee Newsletter, Fall 2016

Mid-Atlantic Ethics Committee Newsletter

No abstract provided.