Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of Non-Kinship Foster Parent Training Needs And Their Support Of Foster Youth: An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Mackenzie King, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Amy Paul-Ward

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster discusses the training needs of non-kinship foster parents and how they support the youth in their care. A quantitative survey was used to find relationships between experience fostering and foster parent preparedness or desire for additional training. The survey also included a section for participants to write down their training needs; themes from this question are found on the poster. The poster further discusses future recommendations and implications for OT practice in working with this population.

Remote Ischaemic Conditioning Combined With Bimanual Task Training To Enhance Bimanual Skill Learning And Corticospinal Excitability In Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Study Protocol Of A Single Centre, Phase Ii Randomised Controlled Trial, Swati M Surkar, John D Willson, Jessica M Cassidy, Shailesh Kantak, Charity G Patterson

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) have difficulty in bimanual coordination that restricts the child's independence in daily activities. Although several efficacious interventions to improve bimanual coordination exist, these interventions often require higher training doses and have modest effect sizes. Thus, there is a critical need to find an effective priming agent that, when paired with task-specific training, will facilitate neurobiological processes to enhance the magnitude of training effects and subsequently improve functional capabilities of children with UCP. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of a novel priming agent, remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC), combined with …

The Effect Of A Psychologically Informed Video Series To Treat Adolescents' Patellofemoral Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial., Mitchell Selhorst, Jessica Hoehn, Laura Schmitt, Jason Benedict, Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez

HPD Articles

OBJECTIVE: To test whether a series of brief, psychologically informed educational videos added to physical therapy improved function among adolescents with patellofemoral pain (PFP). The secondary aims were to assess pain and psychological beliefs.

DESIGN: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

METHODS: Sixty-eight adolescents with PFP were randomly assigned to view brief, psychologically-informed videos (n=34) or control videos (n=34) in addition to usual care physical therapy. The psychologically-informed videos targeted fear-avoidance beliefs, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing. The control videos conveyed basic anatomy, biomedical factors, and lower extremity mechanics. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, three weeks, six weeks (primary endpoint), and three …

Examining The Latent Structure And Correlates Of Sensory Reactivity In Autism: A Multi-Site Integrative Data Analysis By The Autism Sensory Research Consortium, Zachary J. Williams, Roseann Schaaf, Karla K. Ausderau, Grace T. Baranek, D. Jonah Barrett, Carissa J. Cascio, Rachel L. Dumont, Ekomobong E. Eyoh, Michelle D. Failla, Jacob I. Feldman, Jennifer H. Foss-Feig, Heather L. Green, Shulamite A. Green, Jason L. He, Elizabeth A. Kaplan-Kahn, Bahar Keçeli-Kaysılı, Keren Maclennan, Zoe Mailloux, Elysa J. Marco, Lisa E. Mash, Elizabeth P. Mckernan, Sophie Molholm, Stewart H. Mostofsky, Nicolaas A.J. Puts, Caroline E. Robertson, Natalie Russo, Nicole Shea, John Sideris, James S. Sutcliffe, Teresa Tavassoli, Mark T. Wallace, Ericka L. Wodka, Tiffany G. Woynaroski

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Differences in responding to sensory stimuli, including sensory hyperreactivity (HYPER), hyporeactivity (HYPO), and sensory seeking (SEEK) have been observed in autistic individuals across sensory modalities, but few studies have examined the structure of these "supra-modal" traits in the autistic population.

METHODS: Leveraging a combined sample of 3868 autistic youth drawn from 12 distinct data sources (ages 3-18 years and representing the full range of cognitive ability), the current study used modern psychometric and meta-analytic techniques to interrogate the latent structure and correlates of caregiver-reported HYPER, HYPO, and SEEK within and across sensory modalities. Bifactor statistical indices were used to …

Social Media Skills And Safety Education Program For Adolescents With Idds: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Janelle A. Rodriguez, Monica Watford, Nooreen Khalid, Kate Lundgren

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities are interested in using the internet and social media to maintain friendships. There is a gap in the literature exploring social media skills training programs to educate this population to safely use social media and the internet.

Initial Validity And User Experience Of A Dynamic Assessment Of Occupational Performance For Transitional Age Youth, Christine Haworth, Genevieve Cyrs, Chi-Kwan Shea

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Double OT (DOT) assessment is occupation-based and dynamic, designed with a client-centered format requiring skill demonstration. It was developed to support youth transitioning into the workplace. This research intended to analyze initial validity and users’ experience.

Method: This study includes qualitative and quantitative analyses of data collected from surveys from 169 client participants (APs) and 30 recipient participants (ARRs) from eight sites in the USA and Europe. AP were 14­ to 25 years of age and engaged in residential, educational, and vocational settings. The ARRs comprised partners who had received DOT assessment summaries about APs with …

An Occupational Therapist Role In Mental Health: Focus In Schizophrenia And Eating Disorders, Stephany Tourtillott, Lakeisa Boykin, Inti Marizita

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Occupational therapy is a field that aims to help a population gain as much independence as possible within all areas of occupation. In many cases and populations, this tends to fall within the physical limitations domain and does not often consider populations where mental health is the main domain affected. In this capstone project, the writer dove into how an occupational therapist can help those with schizophrenia and eating disorders, specifically within the adolescent population. This capstone project began with a literature review in which five significant themes arose: background on mental health, the current treatment of schizophrenia and eating …

Promoting Mental Health Of Middle And High School Students Using Universal And Targeted Strategies, Alyssa E. Brown

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background. The number of children and adolescents with mental health disorders is continuing to rise. Children with and without disabilities may experience mental health challenges. Children spend a significant amount of time at school, and therefore, it is important to address mental health in this setting. Purpose. My capstone project aimed to promote children and adolescent’s mental health using universal and targeted strategies. Methods. Students in grades six through twelve had the opportunity to participate in a seven-week cafeteria program. Students in grades nine through twelve participated in a seven-week leisure program. I distributed videos and mental health resources to …

Identifying An Association Between Sensory Processing And Food Sensitivities, Taylor Tonks

OT Student Capstones

Introduction: Feeding difficulties are quite common in children and can lead to a multitude of poor health outcomes. Children with sensory processing difficulties can present with feeding difficulties. The relationship between sensory processing and feeding difficulties in children has been previously researched. However, most of the existing research focuses on children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: The purpose of the present study was to identify the association between sensory processing and food sensitivities in children of varying diagnoses using retrospective data. In the study, the researcher included 47 children who presented to an outpatient pediatric clinic for a feeding …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Reducing Barriers For Team-Based Sports Participation For Adolescents, Dennis Nguyen, Karen Park, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Participating in team-based sports has numerous benefits that includes not only increased physical fitness, but also cognitive abilities and academic performance. With the many benefits of participating in team sports can provide, it will be significant to understand adolescents' specific barriers and assist in reducing the barriers for successful participation. The purpose of the capstone project was to identify and understand adolescent barriers to bridge the gap between conventional rehabilitation and team sports participation. Multiple barriers and motivators were identified including financial management, time management, and physical/athletic skill. Facing these determinants may possibly support in increasing team sports participation and …

Transitional Vocational Program For Persons With Low Vision And Other Visual Impairments, Andria Lubben, Karen Park, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Low Vision is a life-altering visual disability (CDC, 2015). OTs work with individuals with low vision and work in the workplace and education, however, there is no research on OTs working with individuals with low vision in work or post educational settings (Butler, 2016). Vocational and educational needs are often not being met for individuals with low vision (Barbieri et al., 2019).

Problem: OTs have a limited role in adolescent transition to the workplace and higher education in individuals with low vision and other visual impairments.

Purpose: To understand transitional programs that support vocational and educational development of individuals …

Health Concerns Of Adolescents And Adults With Spina Bifida, Jessica A. Starowicz

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The Transitional and Lifelong Care (TLC) program is a multidisciplinary clinical service providing comprehensive, coordinated care to adolescents and adults with spina bifida (SB). This study sought to identify the most common health concerns among this population at initial consultation and identify patient factors related to these concerns to ultimately improve health care delivery. A retrospective chart review was performed. Descriptive analyses were completed and associations between concerns and patient factors were determined using Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients. A multiple linear regression was performed to estimate the relationship between patient factors and total number of concerns reported. Ninety-four patient charts …

“I Am The Expert” : The Process Of Adolescent Transition In The Self-Management Of Hearing Healthcare. A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study, Christine N. Meston

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Adolescence is a time when adult behaviours become established and adolescents are more able to manage aspects of their healthcare. Research has examined adolescent transitions to self-manage their personal healthcare needs associated with chronic diseases. Providing children and adolescents with information about their health is an ongoing process and, as they mature, they should be allowed to take on more responsibility for their healthcare management. The purpose of this study was to explore the transition for adolescents who are deaf and hard of hearing toward the self-management of their hearing healthcare. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to develop …

Brachial Plexus Injury In 16 Year Old Football/Soccer Player, Becca Goldman

Graduate Research Showcase

Background: This subject of this case is a 16-year-old football offensive tackle/defensive end and soccer player. The subject is undersized for his position, weighing in at about 190 pounds. The injury occurred during the football season but was not reported to the athletic trainer until after the football season was over. The actual moment the injury occurred is unknown. During a weight training day after the end of the season the subject complained to the athletic trainer that he was unable to bench press because of pain in his right shoulder. Upon further examination, the athletic trainer discovered significant atrophy …

How Community-Based Nutrition Education Impacts Health Disparities Among Black American Adolescents: A Scoping Review, Kelly Joy Armstrong

Occupational Therapy: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Purpose: There has been increasing concern about the level of health and food literacy among Black adolescents. Food literacy and nutrition interventions have been studied in an effort to improve health outcomes among this population. This study aimed to explore which interventions found success in increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) intake which included culturally relevant education material. Method: Five databases were searched using terms related to racial ethnicity, diet and age. Thirteen articles met inclusion criteria of including majority minority participants and the majority citing community based interventions focusing on dietary change including FV intake. Results: This scoping review revealed …

Mapping Occupational Therapy Practice With Postsecondary Students: A Scoping Review, Karen M. Keptner, Karen Mccarthy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Legislation supports a role for occupational therapy in postsecondary settings, but this area is not a common practice area and the practice area is not well understood. This scoping review maps current literature of occupational therapists working with students in postsecondary settings in order to inform future research and practice.

Method: After identifying included articles, a narrative description of the quantitative studies along with a concept map were completed. A qualitative thematic analysis of the articles was also conducted.

Results: Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative results describe occupational therapy services as both a direct …

A Comparison Of Populations: Formerly Incarcerated Men With Substance Use Disorder And Adolescent Psychiatric Patients, Jeanie Fairchild

OT Student Capstones

Aims of the project:

• Equip Maricopa Reentry Center (MRC) residents with life skills necessary for successful reentry.
• Utilize knowledge gained at MRC to teach life skills to adolescents patients at St. Luke’s Behavioral Center (SLBC).

Impact Of Psychological Factors On Adolescents With Anterior Knee Pain, Mitchell Selhorst

Department of Physical Therapy Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem and purpose: Psychological factors impact self-report measures of pain and function among adults with anteriorknee pain (AKP), but we do not know (1) if psychological factors also impact pain, self-reported function, and objective measures of function among adolescents with AKP and (2) if a psychological intervention would affect function. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine the impact of psychological factors on pain, self-reported function, and objective measures of function in adolescents with AKP.

Methods: This dissertation was prospective, with three separate studies. Two were cross-sectional observational studies, and the third was a randomized-controlled trial. Patient questionnaires were …

Engaging Caregivers In Family-Centered Pediatric Occupation Therapy, Sidney Carlson, Sarah Schwartz

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose Family-centered care is considered the gold standard when working with children and their families (Darrah, Wiart, Magill-Evans, Ray, & Andersen, 2010). Despite there being a strong push toward family-centered care, there remains a disconnect in outpatient pediatric settings when working with children ages 3-18. The purpose of this scholarly project is to raise awareness of the need for caregiver engagement in pediatric, outpatient occupational therapy and identify best practice principles for caregiver engagement.

Methods An extensive literature review was conducted in order to understand caregiver engagement in pediatric occupational therapy. The information obtained from the literature review was analyzed …

The Epidemiology Of Pediatric Sports And Recreational Injuries Reporting To The Emergency Department In Grand Forks, Nd, Erin Arndt, Sterling Hubbard

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PROBLEM: Sports and recreational injuries among youth is constantly being reviewed, and ways to prevent or decrease their incidence is an ongoing goal. The purpose of this study was to examine and provide information regarding the epidemiology of sports and recreation-related injuries in the pediatric population (ages 0-19) in the Grand Forks, ND area. This study is a continuation of a previous 10-year study; adding data retrieved within this current study would combine for 15 years of epidemiological data of those that presented to the Altru Emergency Department in Grand Forks, ND.

METHODS: This retrospective study involved examining Altru Department …

Life Skills Program For Youth Who Have Experienced Homelessness, Michael Black, Ariel Campbell

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: According to the United States Department of Education (2017), for the 2016-2017 school year, there was an estimated 1,924 students enrolled in public schools in Wyoming experiencing homelessness, with an estimated 295 of these students unaccompanied by a family member or guardian. Homeless youth comprise one of the most vulnerable and medically underserved populations in the United States (Ammerman et al., 2004) and are also substantially more likely to have mental health concerns as a result of their past traumatic experiences (Davies & Allen, 2017). Homeless youth typically develop identities and habits that enable them to negotiate and survive …

Outcomes For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) Utilizing Adolescent Adaptive Life Skills Groups, Elizabeth A. Grant

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

This capstone project brings to our attention the importance of occupational therapy’s role in meeting the continued and ever changing service needs of individuals with ASD as they transition into adulthood. Adaptive life skill groups fill a gap in services for adolescents and support learning and performance of everyday occupations necessary for independent living. The purpose of this project was to determine if occupational therapy adolescent adaptive life skill groups are an effective method for improving adaptive life skill and maintaining that skill in individuals with ASD over time. This project provided insights into differences in assessment scores for participants …

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation In A Male Wrestler Post Type Ii Slap Lesion Surgical Repair, George Eskander, Matthew L. Daugherty

St. Augustine, Fall 2018

The primary purpose of this case report was to assess the effects of a specific progression of PNF and Rhythmic Stabilization Exercises (RSE) in conjunction with traditional physical therapy for a seventeen-year-old wrestler post Type II SLAP lesion surgical repair.

This case report indicated that the utilization of PNF and RSE is a beneficial component to physical therapy treatment of a seventeen-year-old wrestling athlete with a Type II SLAP lesion surgical repair. Designing a treatment plan with emphasis on PNF and RSE is cost-efficient, as it does not require expensive equipment or additional certifications. Also, physical therapists utilizing PNF and …

Adapted Dance Class And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lindsay Gutting, Carly O'Brien, Kelsey Moggie

Pediatrics

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral symptoms. Although a variety of interventions for those with ASD are available, Adapted Dance Class (ADC), also called Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), is a relatively understudied intervention that has the potential support social skill development for this population.

Method: This is a descriptive, exploratory case study in which researchers aimed to discover whether DMT is effective in promoting social and communication skills in adolescents with ASD. We viewed 16 videos of four students who participated in two DMT classes and procedurally documented social …

Occupational Deprivation In Adolescents From Low-Income And Food Insecure Homes: A Screening Tool And After School Program, Claire Eidenschink

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Adolescents who experience food insecurity are exposed to an increased risk of health disparities related to cognitive, psychosocial, and physical functioning (Cook & Frank, 2007). Each of these domains of functioning impacts occupational performance in all roles that an adolescent assumes. Of note, the role of a student is drastically impacted. Therefore, a program to address strategies for meeting basic needs within a familiar setting, such as a school, is relevant and necessary for this population. Such a program would offer an opportunity to close the gap in disparities and increase health outcomes of adolescents who experience food insecurity as …

A Vocational Training Program For High School Students With Disabilities On An Alternative Track To Graduation, Natalie Jennings, Michael Lehnerz

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2017), in 2016 the employment rate for persons with a disability was 17.9 percent compared to 65.3 percent for persons without a disability. The discrepancy between the employment rates can partially be contributed to a lack of high school readiness preparation as evidenced by Evert Cimera, Gonda, and Vaschak (2015) who found that the referral rates of transition-aged youth decreased from 62.3 percent in 2004 to 50.0 percent to 2013.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to minimize the gap during the transition from high school to vocational …

The S.P.I.R.I.T. Program: Spirituality Promotion Interdependence Resiliency Inclusive Therapy, Alycia Heisler, Brianna Safranski

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Native American children and adolescents are some of the most underserved people in the United States (Warzak, Dogan, & Godfrey, 2011). Common mental health problems this population typically experiences are depression, suicidal thoughts or ideation, traumatic experiences, substance use, and results of historical trauma (Brockie, Dana-Sarco, Wallen, Wilcox, & Campbell, 2015). They have the highest rates of these mental health problems, more than any other ethnic group (Evans-Campbell, Walters, Pearson, & Campbell, 2012). There is a need for preventative programs to be implemented with elementary school-aged Native American children and adolescents (Ohl, Mitchell, Cassidy, & Fox, 2008; Stigler, …

Occupational Therapy Practice Trends For Occupations Impacted By Puberty In Children With Asd, Sydney Larson, Kelsey Hemberger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Adolescents face physical, social, cognitive, and emotional changes during the developmental stage of puberty. Pubertal changes can be difficult for neurotypical adolescents to cope with, but especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specifically, adolescents with ASD experience challenges with adapting to physical and emotional changes, managing new hygiene routines, abiding to social norms, and inappropriate sexual behaviors (Beddows & Brooks, 2016; Cridland, Caputi, Jones, & Magee, 2015; Cridland, Jones, Caputi, & Magee, 2014). While occupational therapy plays a role in helping adolescents with ASD, a lack of occupational therapy literature on this topic leads to unknown …

An Epidemiological Study Of Pediatric Sports And Recreational Injuries Reporting To The Emergency Room In Grand Forks, Nd, Carly Bertsch, Lucas Dolan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

PROBLEM: The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the emergency room records from Altru Health System in Grand Forks, ND from 2011-2015 to find trends in pediatric injuries from the ages of 0-19. The justification for the study is to provide Grand Forks with information about the frequency and distribution of pediatric sports and recreational injuries. No injury surveillance system has been implemented to monitor youth injuries, but his study is a continuation of a previous 10-year study and the combining of the two time frames would result in a 15-year compilation of data. By using descriptive data …

An Occupational Therapy Perspective Of A School-Based Suicide Prevention Program With A Peer-Mentorship Emphasis, Maddie Bjornstad, Karyssa Kimery

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescents today (Pisani et al., 2012; Katz et al., 2013). Zalsman et al. (2016), reported the recognition of suicide prevention as a public health priority has helped to encourage research, detection, treatment, and management of individuals at risk for suicide, however the implementation of proven, evidence-based, and cost-effective strategies are the duty of public health policy makers and healthcare providers. Occupational therapists are trained to help individuals determine what occupations are meaningful and completed in order to feel a sense of self-efficacy, therefore occupational therapy can play a critical role …