Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Occupational Therapy In Action: Enhancing Diabetes Awareness And Support In Rural Schools, Sierra Cook, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes among adolescents highlights the need for early prevention-focused interventions. This capstone project implemented an occupation-based program for middle school students targeting body awareness, nutrition, movement, and stress management. Five interactive workshops incorporated hands-on activities, including energy check-ins, meal planning, movement stations, and coping strategy development, to promote engagement and support the development of healthy routines.

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Adaptive Sports: Implementation Of A Young Athletes Program In St. Johns County, Gabriellea Elizabeth Zito Fernandez, Cynthia Haynes

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project examined the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program (YAP) within St. Johns County, Florida, an area with limited early childhood adaptive sports opportunities. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and the occupation-centered program development model, the project aimed to support participation in inclusive recreation for children ages 2–7 with and without disabilities.

A comprehensive needs assessment, community resource mapping, and collaboration with Brooks Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports & Recreation informed program planning and implementation. A five-week YAP pilot program was conducted, focusing on foundational motor skill development through structured, play-based activities centered on …

Addressing Social Isolation, Role Loss, And Participation Challenges In Older Adults Post-Stroke: An Education Program, Djenane Fevrier, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of the project was to develop four educational workshop to equip occupational therapists with resources to identify barriers to social participation such as social isolation, role loss, and participation challenges from the patient’s perspective in older adults. This capstone addresses a gap in current post-stroke care, where rehabilitation often prioritizes physical recovery while providing limited structured and evidence-based strategies to support social participation and role restoration. In response, four educational workshops were develop for occupational therapists highlighting findings from the needs assessments, review of six assessment tools, and building a screening tool to improved engagement in meaningful roles …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Health Management Of Cancer Survivors, Morgan Mcguffee, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Cancer survivorship often results in ongoing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges that disrupt daily routines, roles, and participation in meaningful activities. Despite these needs, occupational therapy remains underutilized in survivorship care. This capstone project, completed at the Cancer Support Community North Texas, developed and implemented a 6-week occupation-based wellness program to support re-engagement in daily life, promote health management, and enhance overall quality of life

Impact Of Dementia On Caregiver Quality Of Life And How Occupational Therapy Plays A Role, Alissa Diaz, Lakeisa Boykin, Katelyn Fell

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project is to provide an occupation-based website that focuses on dementia related educational material, local and online resources, and training support to improve caregivers' QoL.

Using Standardized Assessments To Guide Adl-Focused Interventions, Emily James, Keisa Boykin, Natalie Rivera

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project sought to address challenges faced by acute care OTs by promoting the use of ADL-focused standardized assessments as a clinical guide for ADL interventions. Challenges such as large caseloads, productivity demands, time constraints, and staffing shortages limit OTs contribution within the acute care setting. With acute care also being a fast-paced environment in which medical necessity can overshadow rehabilitative needs, OT is often undervalued and the focus is shifted on mobility over function. Although standardized assessments are not commonly used in acute care due to time limitations, this capstone project successfully piloted an assessment tool based on the …

The Impact Of Vestibular System Stimulation On Emotional Regulation For Children With Disabilities, Mickayla N. Coyle, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project is a mixed-methods research study that aimed to identify the impact of vestibular system stimulation on emotional regulation in children with disabilities. Throughout this research study, swing use was used as vestibular stimulation to identify its effectiveness in improving emotional regulation in children with disabilities. The study was conducted over the course of six weeks in a school-based setting.

Executive Functioning And Retained Primitive Reflexes In School-Aged Children, Haley A. Kane, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project aimed to provide teachers with education on EF and RPR and to improve access to educational materials. The education provided definitions of EF and RPR, what deficits in each may present in the classroom, and classroom strategies to mitigate the impact of the skills affected by these deficits. This educational program improved understanding of EF and RPR, evidenced by knowledge-based questions. These materials also increased awareness of RPR and their effects on students, as evidenced by responses to short-answer questions. These results align with the long-term goal of improving the academic performance of students impacted by EF deficits …

Examining The Correlation Between Emotional Well-Being, Leisure Engagement, And Leisure Preferences In Geriatric Long-Term Care, Katherine G. Stahl, Keisa Boykin, Sharon Glover

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project explores the relationship between emotional well-being, leisure participation, and activity preferences among older adults in an assisted living facility using a mixed-methods approach. Findings showed that participation frequency alone was not strongly associated with emotional well-being, as residents with varying levels of attendance reported similar well-being scores. Instead, factors such as personal interest, physical limitations, scheduling conflicts, and environmental preferences played a larger role in engagement. Residents preferred socially interactive and physically active activities, such as fitness classes and performances, and identified gaps in current programming where preferred activities were not consistently offered. Overall, the study highlights …

Understanding Post-Nicu Caregiver Mental Health And Occupational Participation: Implications For Healthcare Practice, Emily S. Knight, Zeida Gutierrez, Maureen Fischer

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project explored the mental health challenges experienced by caregivers following their infant’s discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the resulting impact on occupational participation. Using a mixed-methods design, data was collected through an anonymous survey of 46 post-NICU caregivers, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative responses. Findings revealed that caregivers commonly experienced significant mental health concerns, including stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, particularly within the first year following discharge. Although results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in mental health over time, many caregivers reported limited access to mental health resources and professional support. Importantly, the study …

Proclamation For Student Nurses' Week, William E. Batson

Documents

The proclamation for Student Nurses' Week by Mayor William E. Baston, Florence, Alabama. Baston declared the week of April 8-12, 1974, to be Student Nurses' Week in honor and recognition of the efforts of the student nurses at Florence State University.

How To Guess Your Age, Corey Ford

Documents

Short creative writing work, presumably student written, concerned with the process of aging and the progression of time.

News Release: Open House At Keller Hall For Fsu’S New School Of Nursing And Business, Florence State University

Correspondence

The news release offers a brief history of Keller Hall, which was first erected as a men's dormitory in 1947, through its transition to the School of Nursing and School of Business in 1973.

Correspondence & Memorandums: Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital Expansion And Affiliation With Florence State Univeristy, James Cox

Correspondence

Correspondence from James Cox, Executive Vice President of Medical Architectonic, Inc. to Dean Jimmye Stephen of Florence State University's College of Nursing. The correspondence and related memorandums detail the communication between the architecture company, Florence State University, and Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital regarding plans for an expansion of the hospital and collaboration with the nursing program at FSU.

West Alabama General Hospital Scholarship Letter, Kathryn Hicks

Correspondence

Scholarship letter issued by the Virginia Planz Memorial Nursing Scholarship Committee of West Alabama General Hospital to University of North Alabama nursing student Barbara Montgomery.

St. Thomas Hospital Scholarship Letter, Peter J. Giammalvo

Correspondence

Letter from the St. Thomas Foundation Scholarship Committee to University of North Alabama nursing student Barabara Jean Montgomery detailing a grant in the amount of $1,200 contingent upon her employment at St. Thomas Hospital for one year following graduation.

Pulling The Plug: Alabama's Natural Death Act, A Free Symposium In Five Perspectives -- Law, Religion, Medicine, Nursing, Humanities, The Committee For The Humanities In Alabama, National Endowment For The Humanities, Health Education & Action League

Documents

The program for Pulling the Plug: Alabama's Natural Death Act, a free symposium in five perspectives -- law, religion, medicine, nursing, humanities held in Huntsville, Alabama on May 20, 1982 mentions critical discussions on Alabama's Natural Death Act, the dignity of terminally ill and suffering patients, medical technology, and the impact of ethical and religious conviction.

Memorandum & Fact Sheet: Una Student Nurses' Association, The Dean And Faculty Of The Una School Of Nursing

Correspondence

Memorandum and fact sheet issued from the dean and faculty of the University of North Alabama school of Nursing to nursing majors concerning the Student Nurses' Association. The document details information about the benefits of joining the organization and various facts.

Student Nurses Association Awardees (1980-1981), Student Nurses' Association (Sna)

Documents

List of awardees selected by the Student Nurses' Association (SNA) in the 1980-1981 academic year for outstanding service and academic performance within the School of Nursing at the University of North Alabama

Memorandum: Proposed Nursing Program At The University Of North Alabama, John F. Porter Jr., Ache (Alabama Commission On Higher Education) Staff

Correspondence

Annotated memorandums concerning the subcommittee on the proposed nursing program at the University of Alabama. The first memorandum was issued to the Council of University Presidents from John F. Porter Jr., Executive Director of the Alabama State Commission of Higher Education. Whereas the second was issued by the ACHE Staff to Members of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

'Access To Life' Begins Workshops, Kandis Steele

Documents

In the article, Dr. Ernestine Davis of the UNA School of Nursing addresses the concerns of the elderly through a workshop sponsored by the Southern Rural Health Care Consortium's Access to Life Program and the Home Extension office. The news article is derived from the Franklin County Times of Franklin County, Alabama.

Student Nurses Association Spring Awards Banquet, Program, University Of North Alabama, School Of Nursing

Documents

Program for the 1985 Spring Awards banquet of the University of North Alabama's Student Nurses' Association (SNA)

National League For Nursing: Certificates Of Membership, National League For Nursing, The Council Of Baccalaureate And Higher Degree Programs

Documents

Certificates of membership in the National League of Nursing issued to Florence State University and the University of North Alabama's School of Nursing for December 31 of 1974-76 and 1978 by the National League for Nursing and the Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs

Daddies At Graduation And A Nurse In Uniform, William L. Mcdonald

Documents

The first article, "Daddies at Graduation" (1978), addresses the bittersweet experiences of local historian William Lindsey McDonald, while attending the graduation of his oldest daughter, Nancy McDonald Buttram, from the School of Nursing at the University of North Alabama.

The second article, "A Nurse in Uniform," (1979), features McDonald's reflection on his daughter's career in nursing.

Una School Of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Program (Dec. 15, 1985), University Of North Alabama, School Of Nursing

Documents

Program for the Fall 1985 Pining Ceremony for the University of North Alabama's School of Nursing

Patient Perceptions Of Empathy In Medical Student Encounters: Comparing Electronic And Handwritten Notetaking Methods, Harish Karthikeyan, Asad H. Siddiqui, Stacey Algren, Angellar Manguvo

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Objectives: Patient interviews are central to clinical practice, serving as both an information-gathering tool and a foundation for rapport and empathy. With the increased use of electronic documentation during clinic visits, concerns have been raised about technology detracting from the patient-clinician connection. This study examined whether medical students’ notetaking modality (electronic vs handwritten) influenced patient perceptions of empathy during clinical encounters.

Study Design: This study employed a causal-comparative approach, as student groups occurred naturally, combined with a survey design to collect data from patients.

Methods: A total of 135 student–patient encounters were analyzed at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School …

Emotional Intelligence Training In Physician Assistant Education: Comparing Workshops Alone To Workshops Plus Coaching, Mickey Lebowitz, William Holmes

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Introduction

Clinicians and health care students with higher emotional intelligence (EQ) are more likely to experience positive outcomes for themselves and their patients. Given these benefits and EQ’s learnability, teaching EQ to health care students has been suggested. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of workshops combined with coaching (W+C) relative to workshops only (WO) on PA students’ EQ, and, as an outcome measure, their feelings of success. Additionally, we investigated whether these impacts depend on students’ baseline EQ.

Method

Using the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Inventory, we retrospectively tracked first- and second-year changes in EQ and success scores …

The Effect Of Vestibular System Stimulation On Emotional Regulation In Children With Disabilities, Mickayla N. Coyle

Student Capstone Papers

This capstone project is a mixed-methods research study that aimed to identify the impact of vestibular system stimulation on emotional regulation in children with disabilities. Throughout this research study, swing use was used as vestibular stimulation to identify its effectiveness in improving emotional regulation in children with disabilities. The study was conducted over the course of six weeks in a school-based setting.  The results of this research study are indicative that using a swing as a vestibular input is an effective intervention to manage emotional regulation in children with disabilities. Utilization of linear swinging at the beginning of occupational therapy …

Occupational Therapy In Action: Enhancing Diabetes Awareness And Support In Rural Schools, Sierra Cook

Student Capstone Papers

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes among adolescents highlights the need for early prevention-focused interventions. This capstone project developed and implemented an occupation-based educational program for middle school students targeting body awareness, nutrition, movement, and stress management. The program consisted of five interactive workshops addressing energy awareness, meal planning, social and environmental influences on health, movement-based regulation strategies, and coping skills. Hands-on activities, including energy check-ins, meal logs, movement stations, and coping toolbox development, were used to promote engagement and support the development of healthy routines.

Planning For The Transition To Adulthood: Parent Perspectives On The Planning Process And Experiences Of Young Adults With Fragile X Syndrome, Leonard Abbeduto, Jessica Klusek Ph.D., Ccc-Slp, Julie Lounds Taylor, Angela John Thurman

Faculty Publications

Objectives

Relatively few young adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS) meet the normative expectations of adulthood, although there is heterogeneity in this regard. The present study examined the preparation for the transition to adulthood experienced by young adults with FXS and their parents.

Methods

Thirty-nine young adults with FXS and their primary caregiving parents participated. Those with FXS were in their last year of, or had recently left, high school or a formal transition program. Parents completed surveys about the formal transition planning process. We examined the role of the young adults’ adaptive behavior skills in transition planning.

Results

Among …