Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Qualitative Study Investigating Stroke Survivors’ Perceptions Of Their Psychosocial Needs Being Met During Rehabilitation, Robin A. Wenzel, Emily A. Zgoda, Mia C. St. Clair, Lisa J. Knecht-Sabres

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Depression and anxiety can negatively impact one’s recovery, outcomes, and quality of life. Even though therapists consider the mental health needs of their clients to be a priority, they are dissatisfied with their ability to completely address these needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the client’s perspective regarding the extent to which health care professionals addressed their psychosocial needs after a stroke.

Method: A phenomenological research design was used to collect data from six participants. Interviews and focus group were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Member checks, peer-review, multiple coders, triangulation, and expert …

Gigi's Playhouse Program Development, Tatianna Balis

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed through a partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse in Nashville, Tennessee. GiGi’s Playhouse is a Down syndrome achievement center that offers free programming for individuals of all ages with Down syndrome. The focus of this project was the development of programming for adults and children with Down syndrome. One of the programs developed was GiGi Prep, a program for adults focused on communication skills, money management, fitness, and healthy cooking skills. The other program developed was GiGi Fit Kids, a fitness program for children ages 7-12. Both programs were modified to fit the local population and additional …

Withdrawing Without Withholding: A Quantitative Report Of Factors Indicative Of The Need For Early Rehabilitation Services After Intrauterine Drug Exposure, Brooke G. Bohanan

OTD Capstone Projects

Maternal opioid use is a proliferative epidemic leading to a widespread increase in cases of Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and intrauterine drug exposure (IUDE). Much information has yet to be discovered regarding best practice in treatment and the long-term effects of these diagnoses. This retrospective chart review was conducted to increase awareness and achieve a greater understanding of early developmental deficits and intervention in this population. The researchers hypothesized that there are predictive factors of a later need for therapy services. Potentially influential factors and the prevalence of rehabilitation services provided after discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) …

Integrating Occupational Therapy And Animal Assisted Therapy, Erin Trella

OTD Capstone Projects

Pet Partners is a non-profit organization that works to educate and register handlers of multiple species as volunteer therapy teams. While therapy animal programming offered by volunteer handlers provides an invaluable service to communities, there is also a growing body of practitioners who aim to incorporate the healing power of animals into their professionalized settings. The purpose of this project was to delve into the world of AAI in the professional setting and understand the current needs of practitioners in the field. Through interviewing a variety of professionals who utilize AAI in their practice, clear gaps in services were identified, …

Supporting Working Family Caregivers And Older Adults Through An Educational Employer-Based Eldercare Program, Chanté Bowens

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with AgeWell Middle TN, a non-profit agency that focuses on informed, positive aging, and being a champion, advocate, and trusted community resource for older adults. Working family caregivers of older adults are struggling to balance work and caregiving duties, while employers are experiencing loss in productivity and financial return. In response, AgeWell is developing a program called “Eldercare Coach” to provide guidance to employers and working caregivers. Thus, the primary focus of this project was to develop educational materials for AgeWell’s Eldercare Coach program. These educational materials include a list of interview …

Act To Decrease Burnout: Acceptance And Commitment Therapy As An Option To Address Burnout In Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Carissa Parrish

MOT Student Capstones

Introduction: Burnout is a mental health crisis that can occur when a person is overwhelmed and under-appreciated. The research reports that occupational therapy practitioners (OTs) may self-address burnout through yoga or self-reflection (Costa, 2018). However, the research does not support or deny the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to address burnout among OTs. ACT has been established in the research as a frame of reference and intervention to utilize with people experiencing burnout (Reeve et al, 20 I 8). This project aims to provide a basis for future research on the topic of ACT to address burnout among …

Mindfulness For The Occupational Therapy Practitioner: Enhancing Client-Centered Practice And Stress Management, Samuel Shepherd

MOT Student Capstones

Background: Occupational therapy can be an emotionally demanding profession that is not immune to the effects of stress and burnout. Studies on mindfulness have found this practice can be a useful tool to relieve the symptoms of burnout. This capstone project aimed to help therapy practitioners working in a high productivity setting of skilled nursing understand the stress and burnout related to healthcare and how mindfulness practice positively influences stress management and client-centered practice. Methods: This project involved an in-service presentation with a pre- and post-survey for therapy practitioner participants educating on research related to stress and burnout experiences for …

Does Computer-Based Classroom Instruction Impact Student Participation?, Paige Hyer

MOT Student Capstones

COVID-19 has caused a disruption of typical teaching methods forcing students to receive instruction virtually. Computer-based classroom instruction was implemented to allow for quick transition between virtual and face-to-face instruction as determined by COVID-19 cases. This research explores how computer-based classroom instruction has impacted student participation within the classroom and the role of occupational therapy to support students who utilize this method of learning. Eighteen elementary school teachers who currently utilize this method of learning were surveyed and data was collected to determine feedback on the impact of computer-based classroom instruction. Data determined that student participation is impacted by computer-based …

Capstone Project: Early Active Motion Versus Early Passive Motion Following A Flexor Tendon Repair, Matthew Angle

MOT Student Capstones

Flexor tendon injuries are relative)y rare, occurring in 7.0/100,000 people. An early active motion or early passive motion protocol have been the two primary methods used by occupational therapists for rehabilitation of a flex or tendon repair. Each of these methods have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the intervention that leads to a better outcome while maintaining integrity of the flexor tendon repair was researched. Common complications that occur during the rehabilitation of a flex or tendon that can affect the integrity of the repair included tendon lag, scar adhesions, tendon rupture, and joint contracture. Research focused on the …

Expressive Arts In Occupational Therapy: Children Traumatized From Opioid-Addicted Caregivers, Laura Maclean

MOT Student Capstones

Occupational therapy has been associated with expressive arts and the act of healing the body and mind since the inception of the profession. Children use expressive arts to self-express, explore, and enhance the development of the brain and body. Children that have experienced trauma may have trouble recognizing and expressing emotions, thus react with negative behaviors, poor social skills, and learning challenges. Trauma may occur in children from caregivers' behaviors due to opioid addiction. The use of expressive arts through occupational therapy's holistic perspective provides traumatized children with a guide to recognize and express emotions, increase attention, and improve social …

Promotion Of Fine Motor Skills Through Video Supports, Kaitlin Hasher

MOT Student Capstones

Pediatric occupational therapists working with students in a school-based setting are consistently facing challenges with time management due to their high caseload numbers and limited documentation time in school-based settings. Along with time constraint issues, schoolbased occupational therapists find it difficult to communicate with caregivers on the skills being practiced in the school setting due to limited face-to-face time with caregivers. Children continue to require therapeutic services in school-based settings, however as occupational therapists continue to take on more responsibilities in this setting it becomes more challenging to find time to provide effective and efficient means to educate and reinforce …

Addressing Adherence And Barriers To Long-Tenn Elimination Diet Therapy Through Occupational Therapy In Order To Improve Quality Of Life In Adults With Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Alexis White

MOT Student Capstones

The six-food elimination diet {SFED) is an effective treatment approach for eosinophilic esophagitis {EoE), but it can be challenging and affect patients' quality of life. The aim of this study assesses patients' potential factors influencing adherence to long-term elimination diets. This project employed participant questionnaires to measure attitudes and practice regarding living with EoE; and an education presentation ppt with a pre- and post-survey for key stakeholders synthesizing research findings while aligning patient-provider interaction to promote improved diet adherence. Using data electronic surveys, analysis was conducted using electronic statistical software to determine patient barriers; and to determine accuracy and impact …

Understanding Benefits Of A Community Garden On Those Impacted By Food Insecurity, Taylor Boone

MOT Student Capstones

Occupational therapy professionals can support individual and community interventions for improved health and wellness. Occupational therapists have the unique ability to assess the multi-faceted contexts that impact an individual's and/or community's ability to participate in daily occupations and their level of occupational performance. Addressing nutrition can improve the individual's overall health and wellness and subsequently improve occupational performance, and ability to participate in daily occupations. Many community-based programs act as resources, or access, to improved nutritional intake for community members working towards food security. Occupational therapy has a role in these community-based programs to facilitate improved nutritional intake through functional …

Environmental Interventions And Modifications For Individuals With Down Syndrome: Creating An Assessment Tool And Social Story For Increased Participation, Erica Williams

OTD Capstone Projects

This poster is part of the doctoral capstone project completed with Tucker's House, an agency whose mission is to create safer and more accessible homes and environments for children and young adults with disabilities. This project focused on creating an assessment tool for individuals with Down Syndrome to be used during the home assessment process. A social story was also created to explain the home assessment process in an age appropriate manner to children.

Culminating Capstone Project: Development Of An Experiential Learning Framework For Graduate Occupational Therapy Students, Daniel S. Pereira

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The following capstone project was completed within an educational setting, consisting of education and program development focus areas. The objective was to construct a framework outlining standards and protocols required to implement an experiential learning program. The experiential learning framework would be adaptable to ensure efficacy among various intervention courses. Entry-level doctor of occupational therapy students at Nova Southeastern University were surveyed and identified a desire for experiential learning. Experiential learning for occupational therapy students improved evaluation skills, critical thinking, and inductive and deductive reasoning (Coker, 2009; Doucet & Seale, 2012). Furthermore, experiential learning for occupational therapy students improved student …

Creating Bridges Of Interprofessional Education: Opportunities For Collaborating Across Multiple Disciplines And Campuses, Norman Cadiz Belleza, Jim Mathews, Leiselle Pilgrim, Kaitlyn Cremer, Maureen Johnson, Elisabeth Mcgee, Evan Pucillo, Kathy Wheat, Vibhor Agrawal

Education Collection

Introduction and Purpose: The purpose of this special interest report is to discuss strategies used by to integrate simulation activities across multiple campuses and programs to foster inter- and intra-professional education. Inter-professional (IP) simulations were done between multiple campuses of a large scale, multi-state, health science university. These simulations utilized Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and Master of Science Speech/Language Pathology (MS-SLP) students and faculty. IP simulations involved DPT students and faculty from the health sciences university in one state and physical therapist assistant (PTA) students and faculty from a different university in that same …

Exploring Animal Assisted Therapy As A Therapeutic Tool For Use In Occupational Therapy, Malia Proveaux

MOT Student Capstones

Occupational therapy (OT) is an evidence-based and effective therapeutic approach; however, patient compliance and participation are the most significant factors determining outcome measures. Animal Assisted Therapy (AA T) is a therapeutic approach used for various disorders and medical diagnoses and has been showing strong growth in recent years. Animal-assisted therapy is the interaction of a patient and a trained animal to aid the patients' progress toward their functional goals and is a valuable complement to OT. The purpose of this study is to examine the evidence-based research supporting the inclusion of AAT during skilled OT interventions to improve clinical impact. …

Developing Power Skills And Effective Partnerships With Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Madison Mclean

OTD Capstone Projects

This project partnered with Friends Life Community of Nashville, TN, in effort to advocate for, increase meaningful participation in, and promote independence in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the implementation of several training tools. Staff and families at Friends Life expressed a need for more classes in a virtual capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to tools to guide Friends Life staff from an occupational therapy perspective. An occupational therapy-based training module was introduced to promote inclusion and teach activity analysis, goal-setting, and how to adapt tasks and the environment to maximize engagement and independence in …

From Isolation To Connection A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Older Adults’ Social Participation Using The Cov19-Qol Scale, Kathleen Melei Otd, Jill R. Linder Dhsc, Otr

Other Specialties

Abstract

The current study evaluated the relationship between social participation and quality of life (QoL) for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Community-dwelling adults (N = 230) age 65 or older completed an online survey providing demographic data to identify changes in lifestyle routine during the pandemic using the COVID-19 Quality of Life (COV19-QoL) scores. Analyses revealed significant differences in reported lifestyle routines in relation to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and significant differences in COV19-QoL scores across various demographic groups. Results demonstrated the close relationship between social participation and QOL, assisted with identifying individuals at increased risk, and …

Advocacy For Older Adults At A State Unit On Aging, Nicki Richardson

OTD Capstone Projects

As Tennessee’s state unit on aging, the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) advocates for the health, dignity, independence, and security of older adults through an array of programs and services that address multiple population needs. This doctoral capstone internship and project primarily consisted of activities to support the implementation, management, and sustainability of TCAD’s grant-funded statewide falls prevention program. Project outcomes included but are not limited to: completion of a grant proposal, analysis of data obtained from falls prevention program participants and presentation of results to stakeholders, and creation of resources to support the recruitment and training of …

The Effects Of Teacher Education On Children With Sensory Feeding Difficulties, Heather Eager

MOT Student Capstones

Background: 3 According to recent studies, there is strong evidence to support the effectiveness for education over feeding therapy interventions and its link to promoting carryover within a client's environments. However, there is limited literature concerning the effects that teacher education over sensory feeding can provide to the pediatric population. This Capstone project was developed to provide evidence-based support for teacher education over this therapeutic concept and the positive outcomes it can have on student's goal progression. Furthermore, when a student's occupational performance is being negatively impacted by feeding aversions and behaviors, he/she is unable to successfully engage in meaningful …

Aquatic Therapy For Subacute Stroke Patients, Meaghan Buchanan

MOT Student Capstones

Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S. affecting patients physically and psychologically. A stroke can lead to significant functional deficits, depending on the location of the stroke, and level of rehabilitation. Currently, no rehabilitation protocol exists for stroke patients and often patients reach a plateau during treatment, without reaching their full potential, and with continued deficits that affect functional mobility. Interventions provided in an aquatic environment can promote continued therapeutic outcomes, not possible with land-based therapy. The purpose of this paper is to showcase aquatic therapy as a viable therapeutic intervention and to provide a …

Occupational Therapy In Youth Violence: An Occupation-Based Program For At-Risk Youth, Jasmine Shahin

Student Capstone Papers

Throughout the years, youth participating in violence has become an increased concern around the nation as there is an increase in media outlets displaying tragedies, such as mass school shootings caused by students. The at-risk youth population is a specific population disadvantaged in engaging in safe and health-promoting activities due to limited resources or opportunities. As a result, at-risk youth make decisions based on their disadvantaged environment (Farajzadegan et al., 2018; Gallagher et al., 2015a). Factors including socioeconomic status, social support from family or friends, and mental health impact an individual’s opinions, attitudes, and interests as well as their occupational …

Occupational Engagement And Integration Among Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Immigrants, Sherry Manoly

Student Capstone Papers

Background: The Egyptian Coptic Orthodox (Copt) population in America has grown exponentially due to religious intolerance in Egypt. Many Copts experience feelings of helplessness because of the stark difference in American culture compared to their home culture. Occupational therapy (OT) is a profession that can impact the experience of Copts through participation in meaningful occupations. This qualitative study sought to answer the research question, “what is the current state of occupational engagement for recently immigrated Coptic immigrants?”

Methods: Eighteen participants filled out the 9-question open-ended survey concerning overall perceptions about moving to America. Data was analyzed using thematic …

Cooper Neurological Institute, Kayla Cupano

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Creating A New Normal Through Engagement In Meaningful Occupation, Jennifer K. Fortuna Phd, Otr/L

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Katie Edick, an occupational therapist and artist based in Portland, Michigan, provided the cover art for the Winter 2021 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Katie Bird” is a 4” x 6” watercolor painting. After receiving a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), Katie set out to find a new purpose and leave a legacy. She made the decision to live with intention and choose life experiences that create joy. Through engagement in meaningful occupations, such as painting and patient advocacy, Katie is creating a new normal.

Autoethnographies Of Reading As An Occupation, Catherine Candler, Randa Mikeska, Kendall Lacy, Nancy Elliott, Audrey Huddleston

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The conceptualization of reading as an occupation is an emerging area, and guides for occupational focus in reading intervention are incompletely formed. We explored our own experiences with reading and awareness of reading as a personal occupation for perspectives to inform our practice.

Methods: We used autoethnography to capture our five separate experiences. These experiences were analyzed collectively for themes using the lens of occupation as framed by the model of occupational adaptation.

Results: Across our experiences, occupational patterns, products, and meaning were identified. Themes in patterns of reading highlighted the challenges of the academic setting …

Exploring Voice Hearers’ Occupational Experience Of Romantic And Sexual Relationships, Karen Mccarthy, Kristen Gottheil, Emilio Villavicencio, Huilim Jeong

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Limited research has been conducted that explores the occupational experience of hearing voices, including the impact it has on romantic and/or sexual relationships. This study aims to address this gap by capturing the experience of romantic and sexual relationships for those who hear voices.

Method: A phenomenological approach was used to gather data from a survey, electronic diaries, and interviews of three voice hearers who were interested or actively in a casual or serious relationship.

Results: All of the participants reported that the voices in some way impacted their past or current romantic and sexual relationships. …

Adolescents’ Daily Routines: Reliability And Validity Of The Day-Opp Questionnaire; An Exploratory Study, Yael Fogel, Hadar Gross, Moria Adler, Sara Rosenblum

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Maintaining a balanced and diverse daily routine is one way to ease adolescents’ transition to adulthood. The absence of tools that assess adolescents’ daily routines led to developing the Daily Activities for Youth Opportunity (DAY-Opp) Questionnaire. This research describes the development, reliability, and validity of DAY-Opp as a clinical assessment tool of adolescents’ frequency, independence, and satisfaction with daily activities.

Method: The sample of 117 typically developing adolescents (59 girls and 58 boys aged 11–19 years) divided into three age groups and completed the Hebrew version of the DAY-Opp. We statistically analyzed discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validity …

The Use Of Managemed Screening Tool For Directing Occupational Therapy Intervention In The Home Health Setting, Taylor J. Kouts

OT Student Capstones

Medication non-adherence has been an ongoing problematic public health issue in the United States that has resulted in negative complications such as financial expenditure, a lower quality of life, increased chronic health conditions, frequent hospital readmission, increased health care costs, morbidity, and mortality across a variety of health care conditions (CDC, 2017; Yap et al., 2016). An estimated $100-300 billion dollars is spent annually on medication adherence across the nation (CDC, 2017; Robnett et al., 2007). With costs on the rise, it has been identified that around 50% of individuals take medication incorrectly, and 14-77% actively or passively fall in …