Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Proactive Planning For Contextual Fit: The Role Of The Implementation Premortem, Guillermo M. Wippold, Kaylyn A. Garcia, Ariel Domlyn, Dylan Wong, Maria E. Fernandez

Faculty Publications

Background

Implementation failure is a major barrier to program success. It is widely acknowledged that context matters—individual, community, and organizational norms, values, environment, and priorities influence successful program implementation. A mismatch between how the program was intended to be delivered and the constraints of the context in which it was delivered is a major cause of implementation failure. The barriers to implementation are usually understood after a program has failed. Although there are tools that can help accommodate for, or overcome, contextually-driven sources of implementation failure, there remains a significant gap – a tool and structured approach to analyze data …

Adapt & Thrive: Parkinson’S Training For A More Meaningful Life, Alyson Chew

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

As of 2022, there are 107,601 people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in California with 78% of cases above 70 years old (California Department of Public Health, 2024). Falls are the most common cause of injury for adults 65 years and older with over 14 million falls reported annually (CDC, 2024). Occupational therapy is an underutilized profession that can assist both people with PD and caregivers to reduce falls and injuries from occurring.

Understanding The Collaborative Role Of Occupational Therapists And Personal Trainers With Young Onset Parkinson’S Populations, Anthony Cervania

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The lack of resources and research on YOPD decreases overall quality of life for individuals with YOPD and decreases treatment quality provided by healthcare professionals due to lacking Evidence Based Practice (EBP).

Navigating Sensory Challenges: Understanding The Sensory Experience Of Adults With Dementia In Adult Day Centers, Bailey Stewart

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Staff had not yet received formal training on how to identify a variety of sensory based behaviors and how to best utilize the sensory room and tailor its use to meet specific individual’s needs from an OT lens.

Advancing The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Diabetes Self-Management: A Community-Focused Approach In Stockton, Benjamin Angel Magallon

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Key Barriers: Lower Socioeconomic Status (LSES), low health literacy, and lack of culturally appropriate diabetes care hinder effective self-management. Gap in Services: Occupational therapy is underutilized in chronic disease care, with unmet needs in addressing diabetes-related depression, physical rehabilitation, and health education. Purpose: Equip occupational therapy students and early-career practitioners to address gaps in diabetes care using evidence-based, client-centered approaches.

Enhancing Adaptive Aquatics For Children With Autism, Arielle Bernstein

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism. Current trainings lack inclusive, neurodiversity-informed teaching strategies. Without practical tools and education, instructors struggle to meet the unique sensory and communication needs of these swimmers.

Innovative Rehabilitation: Enhancing Qol For College Athletes With Post-Concussion Symptoms, Francis Gonzales

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Inconsistent concussion protocols and modest current practices in emerging technology for treating post-concussion symptoms can lead to a decrease in physical, cognitive, and emotional deficits, causing college athletes to have diminished community integration and poor QOL.

Helping Prepare Young Adults With Disabilities For Successful Employment, Irvin Jimenez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem Statement: Young adults with disabilities are at a higher risk of unemployment and typically don't receive the career development and employment readiness training needed to attain employment (Lindsay et al., 2015). In turn, young adults with disabilities struggle to transition into the workforce and can benefit from life skills and work-related skills in which occupational therapy (OT) can help with providing valuable insight and helping with identifying and selecting work opportunities, employment seeking and acquisition, and developing needed work-related skills and patterns (Occupational therapy practice framework, 2020).

Mindfulness, Meaning, And Mental Health: Occupational Therapy At The Heart Of Community Wellness At Acc, Hazel Hyeonjin Yang

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Despite growth, limited research exists on culturally sensitive healthcare interventions and utilization patterns in this group. Aimed to increase awareness and support older adults in accessing mental health services, promotes mindfulness and highlights the role of occupational therapy in community wellness by addressing cultural and generational barriers through workshops.

From Trauma To Triumph: Occupational Therapy Approaches To Addressing Aces And Empowering Change, Kayla Livingston

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem statement: Despite the number of children who are exposed to ACEs, there is limited literature that mentions the relationship between current interventions and the scope of OT.

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Addressing Physical & Psychosocial Health Needs Within The Dance Community To Optimize Artist-Athlete Longevity, Krista Narvasa Antonio

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Purpose: This capstone project seeks to advocate for holisitc and sustainable training approaches in dance by creating a system of improving awareness of current evidence-based protocols and practices surrounding dancer health.

Fostering Community To Promote Health And Wellness Amongst Lgbtq+ School Of Health Sciences Students, Lio Inumerable

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem Statement: Lack of resources, programming, and supports for queer-identifying graduate students in health science focused programs.

Traumatic Brain Injury In The Criminal Justice System, Molly Mcdavid

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Between 51 - 60.25% of incarcerated individuals and 47% of those on probation have one or more traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s) in their lifetime. Despite this, the criminal justice system (CJS) lacks: • Routine screening for TBI, • CJS worker education, on TBI and it’s impact, • TBI specific resources for clients and workers.

Supporting Co-Occupation Through Play: Exploring Park Accessibility For Families Affected By Disability, Serenity Edwards

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Public playgrounds are often designed without considering the needs of families with disabilities. When parks and playground environments are not accessible it hinders the the co-occupation of play between parent and child.

Examining Associations Between Street Vegetation And Child Firearm Violence At Microgeographic Locations In 3 Us Cities: A Case-Control Study, Zihan Lin, Gregory A. Wellenius, Jonathan Jay

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Background: Firearm violence is a leading cause of death among U.S. children under age 18. Urban vegetation, a vital component of the living environment, has been found to influence firearm violence, yet the relationship between different types of street vegetation and firearm violence with children as the victim at the microgeographic scale remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed 2316 child firearm assault incidents from Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia from 2015 to 2021. Using a spatial case-control approach, we matched assault locations with control locations within 1-km. For each location, we applied deep learning algorithms to Google Street View …

Sbar: Handoff Communication Technique For Nurses, Carrie Jane Barnett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project aimed to address inconsistent and ineffective handoff communication among healthcare staff in a 44-bed observation unit. ​ The project focused on implementing an education program centered on the SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) communication technique to improve staff knowledge and communication practices. ​ Using a pretest/posttest design, the program demonstrated significant knowledge gains among participants, with a cohort-normalized gain of 0.85 and statistically significant improvements in test scores (p < .05). The intervention highlighted the importance of structured communication in enhancing patient safety, reducing errors, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. ​ Despite limitations such as a small sample size and time constraints, the project highlighted the value of SBAR as a reliable tool for enhancing communication and improving patient outcomes. ​ Recommendations include ongoing SBAR training, integration into onboarding programs, and expansion to other departments to sustain long-term improvements in communication and care quality. ​

Advancing Workforce Development In Digital Health: A Regional Model From The Gcc, Manal Almalki, Osama El-Hassan, Jawad Ahmed, Amr Jamal, Mowafa Househ, Evelyn Hovenga, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

This study examines the evolution of ZIMAM's role in the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) taskforce on workforce development in digital healthcare. Established in 2016 and formalized as a non-profit organization in 2023, ZIMAM integrates international best practices, regional insights, and innovative strategies to develop a scalable digital health knowledge and skills framework. ZIMAM's methodology includes competency mapping aligned with the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), stakeholder engagement, and iterative validation to ensure relevance and adaptability. Key ZIMAM initiatives encompass the development of governance structures, capacity-building workshops, annual conferences, and recognition programs such as the ZIMAM-ELSEVIER Digital Health Awards. …

Implementation Of Cognitive Therapy Online Modules To Impact Advanced Practice Leader Burnout: A Quality Improvement Project, Courtney Cambell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Advanced Practice Provider (APP) leaders face unique stressors due to their dual roles as clinicians and administrators, which places them at an elevated risk for burnout. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the impact of self-paced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs, specifically Learn to Live and Lyra, on burnout among APP leaders at a medical center affiliated with a university and a children's hospital. Theproject spanned over six weeks, during which participants completed the Mini-Z Worklife Questionnaire for Leaders, assessing the effectiveness of the CBT programs. Although the original statistical analysis plan included a …

Quality Improvement Project Nursing Lab Instructors’ Experiences Using A Structured Prebriefing Tool In Simulation Education, Avion Smith-Samms

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) endorses the inclusion of prebriefing as a Standard of Best Practice to enhance psychological safety, clarity, and engagement in simulation; without a structured approach, nursing students often experience anxiety, reduced confidence, and a lack of preparedness. At the project site, a university’s simulation learning lab, nursing lab instructors reported inconsistent prebriefing practices, leading to suboptimal simulation experiences. This Quality Improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of implementing the INACSL prebriefing tool on nursing lab instructors’ perceptions of preparedness, confidence, and student performance. A quasi-experimental design was used over …

Enhancing Care Coordination Through Staff Education In Interdisciplinary Communication Best Practices, Sharane Bowlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective communication is essential in psychiatric treatment, where patient status continuously evolves and needs to be addressed with quick decision-making to ensure optimal care results. Delayed communication, especially in the virtual setting, can affect patient care significantly. In this staff education project, I examined whether daily hybrid meetings with situation background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) protocol affect care coordination on a knowledge and attitudes survey. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project was to address communication breakdowns and coordination issues among an interdisciplinary psychiatric health care team. The intervention involved administering a presurvey; an in-person session …

The Effect Of Coadministration Of D156844 And Ar42 (Rec-2282) On The Survival And Motor Phenotype Of Mice With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Ashlee W. Harris, Rod C. Scott, Matthew E. R. Butchbach

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by degeneration of spinal motor neurons and is a leading genetic cause of pediatric death worldwide. SMA results from the loss of or pathological variant in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Disease severity is dependent on the number of copies of the orthologous SMN2 gene, which is nearly identical to SMN1 except for some key nucleotide differences. As disease severity is inversely related to SMN2 copy number, most SMA therapeutics trials have focused on identifying ways to increase SMN2 expression at different levels of gene regulation. Other studies have investigated compounds which …

Discontinuation Rates And Predictors Of Medical Cannabis Cessation For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Mohammad Khak, Sina Ramtin, Juliet Chung, Asif M. Ilyas, Ari Greis

Rothman Institute Papers

Medical cannabis (MC) is increasingly used as a treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, but there is limited data on factors influencing its discontinuation. This study aims to investigate the rates of MC discontinuation and explore factors influencing it in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 78 patients certified for medical cannabis over a 2 year period. Patient demographics, pain origin, and Global Physical Health (GPH) and Global Mental Health (GMH) scores were collected before intervention. Discontinuation rates were measured at three-month and one-year follow-up. Statistical analyses, including Fisher's Exact Test and two-sample t-tests, were performed …

Branching Out: Expanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy Through Nature-Based Practice, Sarah Kelly

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The current intake and outtake process lacks uniformity and there is no structured system in place to effectively monitor client progress and outcomes during the program or after its completion. Develop a streamlined process for screening, goal setting, and following up on goal progression at the end of camp.

From Heart To Eyes: Barriers Impacting Diabetes Management In Lses Areas, Robert Swayze

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem statement: Individuals with diabetes in LSES communities often experience challenges in managing their health due to barriers affecting daily routines, motivation, and health literacy, leading to comorbidities like DR & CHF.

Occupational Therapy Home-Based Treatment To Improve Feeding In Kids With Arfid And Other Eating Disorders, Taylor Renee Sanders

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The project aimed to spread research-based interventions and strategies to parents whose children are receiving occupational therapy for feeding challenges.

Gym Inclusivity For Individuals With Physical Disabilities, Sergio Rodriguez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Project purpose: Provide staff with the recommendations necessary to make the Fitness Center more ADA compliant. Provide staff with the training necessary to better understand different types of disabilities, laws and regulations and how to interact with individuals with disabilities. Provide students with the necessary tools to advocate for change within the fitness community.

Independence Beyond Sight: Occupational Therapy's Role In Promoting Functional Independence In Low Vision Communities, Kristina Holcomb

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Many individuals with low vision experience a multitude of barriers limiting access to community and healthcare services. Interviews highlighted the need to expand outreach to youth, build an updated community resource guide, and the need for community events for all programs.

Empower, Educate, Engage: Supporting Hispanic Families With Diabetes Through Occupational Therapy, Luis E. Perez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The population of interest is Hispanic individuals and familiaes managing diabetes. Purpose: Close gaps in health literacy, daily routine-building, and family engagement through OT-designed tools and resources. Advocate for integration of OT into multidisciplinary diabetes-care teams, expanding access to holistic self-management support.

Play With Intent: A Community Based-Approach In Promoting Inclusive And Child-Led Engagement With Easterseals Superior California, Margerie Vergara Vinoya

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Neurodiverse children may require additional environmental support to successfully engage, socialize, and adapt due to differences in their sensory systems. However, there’s a lack of inclusive, child-led, and sensory-rich environments that promote meaningful participation and social success.

Assistive Devices For Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis, Maribel Gutierrez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

An epidemiology survey reported a prevalence of 2.8 million individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the year of 2020. In Northern California the prevalence of MS has increased with an estimated 288 cases per 100,000 individuals. Studies report less than 40% of individuals with MS have used occupational therapy services, and when they do, it is frequently in reaction to more severe symptoms than taking preventative measures.