Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Implementation Of Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy In Upper Limb Stroke Rehabilitation In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital, Umana W. Udoeyop

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Despite increasing and strong evidence of modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT) as an effective intervention approach for patients with chronic and subacute stroke in outpatient settings, it is still not widely used for the rehabilitation of patients with acute stroke who are typically admitted to inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to implement an evidence-based approach using mCIT in the upper extremity rehabilitation of patients with acute stroke in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and to demonstrate its feasibility and efficacy in increasing the motor recovery, and the amount and quality of arm use when compared to …

Ergonomics Within The Workplace: An Occupation Based Injury Prevention Program For Computer Users, Jessica T. Maxwell

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

An ergonomic intervention increased computer workers’ knowledge of ergonomics, and improved their work station, thereby reducing risk for injury. Occupational therapy’s ability to implement ergonomic training programs for computer workers is an effective way to improve worker safety.

Opening Minds Through Art: Engaging Art Agencies To Foster Community Participation And Commitment, Ashlyn Cunningham

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Opening Minds through Art [OMA] is a visual arts program for individuals with dementia which aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals living with dementia, as well as their caregivers, through a creative opportunity held within their own community. The intent of this project was for community art agencies and galleries to participate in dementia-specific training to develop programming for individuals with dementia so that clients with memory needs can actively engage in the creative arts in St. Louis. This project used a pre-post design to analyze perceptions regarding arts based programming with people who have memory …

Leadership Roles: Creating Inclusiveness Within A Worship Environment, Susan L. Morreau

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project sought to investigate and measure the process of social change in the community setting of a Christian church. A committee of stakeholders came together with a common passion to engage and integrate individuals of varying disabilities at all levels of church participation. As a new committee, stakeholders agreed to use the cyclical process of Participatory Action Research (PAR) to guide them in creating an action plan for promoting this congregational change. The occupational therapist served on the committee as both a co-facilitator and researcher.

While the primary purpose of the project was to objectively measure the degree …

The Residency Program Experience: Impact On Resident And Mentor, Lisa Hiestand

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The Occupational Therapy Residency Program developed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) aims to prepare occupational therapists after completion of their degree program through structured didactic and clinical experiences, mentoring and professional activities. This research study attempts to measure changes in the skills of the resident and mentor during the residency period in an acute care hospital setting. Using self-assessment questionnaires from the University of Wisconsin, this study will determine the perceived trajectory of skill development for the resident and the perceived changes in mentors of an OT resident in regard to mentoring and communication skill development. Qualitative data …

Investigating The Effectiveness Of Web-Based Recommended Practice Tutorials For Caregivers Of Children In Early Intervention Programs, Terri L. Beard

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this mixed-method investigational pilot study is two-fold: are web-based tutorials effective for caregivers of children in early intervention programs to learn recommended practice content and 2) examine caregiver attitudes towards using online training tutorials. The problem addressed will be “Is using an online learning platform an effective adjunct way for caregivers of young children in early intervention programs to learn recommended practice information?” In early intervention programs, practitioner time, resources, and availability is often limited. Frequently, children in early intervention programs are taken care of by multiple caregivers. To improve carryover, this study focuses on determining if …

Exploring Clinical Fieldwork Educators’ Perceptions And Expectations Of Occupational Therapy Student Professional And Technical Skills At The Beginning Of Level Ii Fieldwork, Jessica A. Mason

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Educational programs must ensure students are prepared for clinical practice prior to initiating the mandated fieldwork experiences defined by ACOTE. This is done through a multitude of educational learning strategies including lectures, service learning opportunities, and skill competence. Occupational therapy professionals serving as fieldwork educators can offer unique insight to occupational therapy educators in how to best prepare students for clinical practice.

The Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapist Guided Remediation Through Handwriting Home Programs, Cindy W. Poole

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

There is extensive research on the evolution of handwriting instruction, programs, the neuromotor components, the complexity of performance, and the long term effects of both adequate and inferior performance to occupational performance. The research supports occupational therapy intervention as effective for remediation of poor handwriting. With occupational therapy services limited to only those who receive special education services in schools, supplemental handwriting instruction and remediation responsibilities fall to the teachers and parents. This also creates a large unserved segment of children who struggle under traditional instructional approaches. Parents and teachers have instructional support needs related to current evidence based practice …

Sensory-Based Group Treatment In Reducing Physically Acting-Out Behaviors And Perceived Levels Of Distress, Tiffany Barnette

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Mental health legislation over the last several decades has focused on restricting the use of seclusion and restraints within facilities receiving federal financial assistance. Facilities serving psychiatric populations have looked for strategies to eliminate the need for these forced interventions. One strategy is the use sensory-based treatment in occupational therapy intervention. Sensory approaches that have been adopted as ‘best practice’ include the use of sensory rooms, groups and kits to help users learn how to regulate psychological and emotional states of arousal.

Purpose: The purpose of this Capstone Project was to examine the effectiveness of a sensory-based …

Sensory-Based Services In Adult Mental Health, Leslie Reed

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this Capstone Project was to evaluate the sensory room program used by occupational therapy to determine whether use of the sensory room and the elements within the room reduced perceived levels of distress and acting out and/or aggressive behaviors of patients with mental illness. Methods: This Capstone Project was an outcome evaluation of a routine clinical program using retrospective analysis of existing patient records to ascertain physical aggression episodes, sensory modulation ability, and self-ratings and staff ratings of patient distress levels pre- and post-sensory intervention. Results: Through analysis of quantitative data, the results of the project …

Workplace Factors Affecting The Delivery Of Occupational Therapy Services: Perspectives Of Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Robert J. Mullaney

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

This research is a study on the occupation of being an occupational therapy practitioner. The work-related factors of focus are change, absenteeism, productivity/performance expectations, and work-stress and have the potential to influence the delivery of occupational therapy services in healthcare settings. Collective case-study inquiry and analysis was used to determine the overall meaning of the perspectives of 21 hospital, skilled nursing, outpatient, and community-based participants who were occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants. Interviews and transcription took place, with a validation review. NVIVO-10 Qualitative Software was used to aid in the analysis and coding of the a-priori factors using deductive …

Investigating The Effectiveness Of Web-Based Modules Reinforcing Therapy Topics For Caregivers Involved In Early Intervention, Terri L. Beard Ms, Otr/L

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Research questions answered in this capstone pilot study project were two-fold: 1) determine if web-based tutorials are effective for caregivers of children in early intervention (EI) programs to reinforce general topic information and 2) examine caregiver attitudes towards using online training modules.The scientific underpinnings used were the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) (AOTA, 2014) and the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework (Brown & Green, 2011).

The study was created on CourseSites website powered by Blackboard, using technology to reinforce occupation-based EI topics, through tutorial presentations and videos. Quantitative data was collected from caregivers using pre-and post-testing measures including …

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Non-Contact Boxing On Social And Community Engagement For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Casey E. Humphrey

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that is characterized by a variety of physical and cognitive symptoms. Research supports the use of non-contact boxing for symptom management of Parkinson’s disease, but no research is available that examines the social and community impact of non-contact boxing on individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of individuals with Parkinson’s disease on their experiences within a community based, non-contact boxing program. Specifically, this study considered how these individuals perceived non-contact boxing to influence their social and community engagement and factors influencing ongoing participation …

The Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapist Guided Remediation Through Handwriting Home Programs, Cindy W. Poole Mrs.

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of an occupational therapist guided, parent-taught home handwriting instruction program for alphabet letter mastery and as a potential school system service delivery model.

Methods: Sixteen teacher referred students participated in this two-group pre-test posttest design using the Test of Handwriting Skills-R and parent survey data to determine summer remediation program effectiveness.

Results: Parent survey support correlated to statistically significant intervention group THS-R mean change standard scores in alphabet letter formation from pre-test (M = 89.57, SD = 12.12) to posttest (M =101.4, SD = 10.39), t …

Exploring Fieldwork Educators' Expectations Of Occupational Therapy Students' Professional And Technical Skills, Jessica A. Mason

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: This capstone project focused on professional and technical skills of occupational therapy students beginning Level II Fieldwork. Fieldwork educators are essential personnel to the development of successful occupational therapy students. The education provided by the fieldwork educators is vital to the growth of each occupational therapy student in the profession.

Purpose: The purpose of this capstone project was to explore perceptions held by Level II Fieldwork educators of occupational therapy students’ professional and technical skills at the beginning of Level II Fieldwork. By identifying these perceptions, academic occupational therapy educators can assist students to develop these skills while they …

Understanding The Impact Of Substance Abuse On Occupation Using The Lifestyle History Questionnaire, Mikel Stone

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Substance abuse and addiction have become serious societal problems resulting in a myriad of health, personal and relational issues (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Gutman (2006) reported that an individual involved in substance abuse and addiction may experience difficulty with purposeful time management and may neglect major life roles. The focus of this Capstone Project was to identify the occupational dysfunction experienced by individuals prior to participating in residential recovery programming.

Purpose: The purpose of this Capstone Project was to identify occupational dysfunction associated with substance abuse and addiction using the Lifestyle History Questionnaire (Martin et …