Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Enhancing Self-Esteem In Adolescents During Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Mixed Methods Study, Praveen Injeti, Julie D. Kugel, Dragana Krpalek, Liane Hewitt, Lida Gharibvand

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Low self-esteem (LSE) can negatively impact adolescent mental health, leading to suicidal ideation (SI). Social stressors, such as peer rejections, are considered a source of stress that can contribute to LSE, SI, and subsequent admission to psychiatric facilities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an occupational therapy intervention to improve self-awareness and self-esteem during short-term hospitalization.

Method: The research used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the impact of a psychoeducational intervention by an occupational therapist on 16 adolescents. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) was used before the intervention (pretest), immediately after the intervention (posttest …

Organizational Support And Burnout In Occupational And Physical Therapists: A Quantitative Correlational Study In The Acute Care Setting, Brenda Ballou-Boyd Mrs.

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: The United States is positioned for an upcoming healthcare crisis with an estimated deficit of 100,000 healthcare professionals by 2028 (Mercer, 2024). Burnout is well documented among the healthcare community and is a major contributing factor to an ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals, including occupational and physical therapists. Most prior research has focused on burnout from a personal level, but addressing burnout from an organizational level may be more effective in reducing this phenomenon among occupational and physical therapy providers.

Purpose: Despite the high levels of burnout reported, a substantial gap exists in research dedicated towards the …

From Fog To Function: An Occupational Therapist's Guide To Evaluating And Treating Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairments, Lauren E. Toner

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Cancer – related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a common side effect of cancer treatment that interferes with cancer survivors’ occupational performance, independence, and quality of life. Despite its high prevalence, CRCI remains under recognized and inconsistently addressed within oncology care. About 70% of individuals diagnosed with cancer report cognitive changes during or after treatment, yet many do not receive treatment. Occupational therapists are clinically trained to evaluate and treat functional cognition, activities of daily activities, instrumental activities of daily living, and client centered goals, positioning them as key providers in addressing CRCI. However, limited occupational therapy specific resources have hindered …

Post-Stroke Depression (Psd) And Occupational Therapy (Ot) Intensity: A Retrospective Medicare Claims Analysis, Lauren H. Allen

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Purpose: Post stroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent and burdensome mental health complication following a stroke, affecting approximately one third of survivors. Examining how PSD relates to outpatient occupational therapy (OT) utilization may help identify gaps in post-stroke mental health care and reveal whether current billing practices adequately capture OT services.

Project Goals: This project aimed to determine whether an early PSD diagnosis predicts outpatient OT treatment intensity and describe patterns of OT billing related to mental health, including mental health current procedural terminology (CPT) code use and CPT code distributions.

Site: This project was conducted in collaboration …

Integrating Pilates Into Outpatient Occupational Therapy:A Complementary Approach To Traditional Rehabilitation, Ellie Drechsler

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Reformer Pilates, originally developed by Joseph Pilates as a holistic method to enhance strength, alignment, and mind–body integration, has gained increasing recognition for its therapeutic potential in rehabilitation settings. Despite evidence supporting its benefits for balance, chronic pain, functional mobility, and mental wellbeing, its use in outpatient occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) remains limited. The purpose of this quality‑improvement project aimed to bridge that gap by developing an accessible, reformer‑based educational resource for clinicians with minimal Pilates experience and by evaluating client and clinician perceptions of its therapeutic value.

METHODS: Using mixed-methods surveys, qualitative and quantitative feedback …

Collaboration In Acute Care: Enhancing Occupational Therapy Outcomes Through Canine Therapy Integration​, Deanna Hamke

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The utilization of animal-assisted therapy has the potential to increase patient participation, motivation, and help simulate real-life experiences to promote a successful discharge from therapy services. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to: 1) expand collaboration between occupational therapists & canine therapy handlers through use of a communication platform and 2) to create a resource outlining in-session responsibilities to facilitate partnership between occupational therapists and canine therapy handlers. Occupational therapy treatment sessions were completed using canine therapy interventions targeting mobility, engagement, and emotional regulation. The final deliverables included multiple educational resources and a platform for communication. These deliverables …

Enhancing Occupational Therapy Education In Cancer Rehabilitation​, Elizabeth A. Dorn

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project aimed to enhance entry-level occupational therapy (OT) education by developing and evaluating evidence-based instructional materials addressing musculoskeletal and oncology rehabilitation within a doctorate curriculum. Designed as an oncology-focused experience, the project involved a two-phase approach: (1) testing educational techniques by implementation and evaluation of an elbow pathology lecture and lab, and (2) development of an asynchronous oncology rehabilitation unit informed by outcomes from the initial phase. The project was guided by the ASSURE instructional design model and emphasized active, visual, and case-based learning strategies to support clinical reasoning.

Student outcomes were assessed using pre- and post-lecture …

The Relationship Between Phone Usage, Activity Participation, And Hand Strength, Debra Gibbs, Will Best, Raegan Adams, Amanda Finke, Rachel Pierce, Salem Swallows, Alisha Yoo

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Smartphone use among university students in the United States is steadily increasing. Longer duration of smartphone use has been associated with increased risk of smartphone addiction, reduced musculoskeletal strength, and engagement in meaningful activities. While prior research has examined these variables separately, limited evidence exists on the associations between smartphone use, hand grip and pinch strength, and extracurricular and leisure activities among U.S. university students. To address this gap, a correlational study was conducted using the Spearman rank correlation to analyze the relationship between phone use, activity participation, and hand strength. A Qualtrics survey including demographic information, phone usage, and …

Occupational Therapy: There Through It All, Leanne Bates

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

'Occupational Therapy: There Through It All' is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy Capstone project in collaboration with VNA Health at Home in London, Kentucky. The Applied Leadership Experience focused on patients, and their family members or caregivers, receiving home hospice care. The primary ACOTE focus areas were education, advocacy, and clinical practice. The purpose of the project was to facilitate an increased quality of life in home hospice patients by determining the gaps of care present for patients that do not receive occupational therapy (OT) services, provide education about OT’s role in hospice care, and creating educational resources for patients …

Project Connect: Social Participation For Deafblind Individuals In Kentucky, Rebecca Jade Riegler

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

For my capstone project, I collaborated with Kentucky DeafBlind Project (KDBP) to develop Project Connect, a pilot initiative aimed at encouraging social participation by creating regional social opportunities for DeafBind individuals across Kentucky. As my primary ACOTE focus area was program development, the goal was to create an accessible, sustainable model for ongoing social engagement and reduce isolation through structured community-based events.

A literature review and needs assessment identified a need for accessible, ongoing social opportunities for DeafBlind individuals across Kentucky, supporting the development of Project Connect.

Project Connect was designed as a replicable framework for regional Connect Day events. …

Occupational Therapy Led Data Analysis And Intervention Development For Injury Prevention In Automotive Manufacturing, Bailey N. Thompson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

A capstone project and ALE at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky plant focused on hand injury prevention through program analysis.  Work related injuries remain one of the biggest concerns for companies as it results in reduced quality of life for employees and economic burden. Data analysis revealed that new hires were disproportionately affected by hand injuries. This led to three key deliverables. First, a hand risk assessment tool was developed to evaluate injury risk per process, preventing new hires from being assigned to high-risk tasks consecutively while building skills. Second, a hand strengthening program was created to support new hires as they …

Eku Os/Ot Adult Population Video Library, Abigail E. Coffey

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Developing clinical reasoning and analytical skills can be challenging when learning is limited to theoretical case studies. Exposure to real-world clients allows occupational therapy students to observe how clinical principles and interventions are applied while adapting to each individual's unique needs. The purpose of this project was to begin developing a video library demonstrating activities of daily living (ADLs) and occupational therapy's role with adults to strengthen students' clinical reasoning and connect classroom instruction with authentic practice experiences. This project also addresses a gap in the literature regarding the use of real-world learning experiences in occupational therapy education.

A survey …

Eku Os/Ot Adult Population Video Library, Abigail E. Coffey

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

As a student in the classroom setting, it can become very difficult to expand clinical reasoning and analytic skills using theoretical scenarios and clients. Real-world individuals/clients allow the student to see how certain principles, frameworks, or techniques are truly applicable and how to adapt to each scenario as is often in occupational therapy. The purpose of this project is to increase analysis skills in future occupational therapy practitioners by beginning to create a video library about activities of daily living and OT's role or lack of thereof in adults. Goals included expanding access to real-world learning opportunities to connect classroom …

Improving Feeding Outcomes: Occupation-Based Feeding Interventions From Nicu To Outpatient Pediatrics, Bailey Ciardelli

OTD Capstones

A researcher from an entry-level doctorate program examined gaps in feeding and sensory-based care for premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and outpatient pediatric feeding setting. The Improving Feeding Outcomes project aimed to improve feeding readiness, sensory regulation, and caregiver confidence through the development of occupation-based, family-centered interventions. This report evaluates the implementation of evidence-based resources, including caregiver education handouts, a NICU staff training presentation, a caregiver tummy time group, and a standardized infant feeding assessment tool integrated into outpatient pediatric therapy practice. These interventions were designed to address gaps in OT-led infant feeding and sensory care, …

Bridging Clinic To Home: The Development Of A Caregiver Education Program To Support Home Carryover Of Feeding Interventions, Rachel Adams

OTD Capstones

Abstract

Objective Caregivers of children with pediatric feeding disorders or difficulties face stressful emotions within the context of feeding. There is an identified gap in pediatric outpatient occupational therapy and the educational resources they provide to caregivers related to feeding. To address this, the capstone project aimed to develop and integrate an evidence-based caregiver education program into the capstone site’s feeding therapy model to make a more well-rounded and all-inclusive feeding therapy program. Methods Two caregiver surveys were sent out along with a staff survey to identify the needs of the site and the caregivers of the clients and to …

A World Of Connection: Asd, Morgan M. Gayton

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a diagnosis that affects many school-aged children (CDC, 2025). Autistic children can have more difficulties engaging with both their peers and their families, which can lead to a lack of social participation. A World of Connection: ASD was a doctoral capstone project centering on social participation for autistic youth. The project blended the capstone student’s expanded knowledge in performing arts with their education in Occupational Therapy to create a 4-part capstone experience. A scoping review targeting the question “what are the most effective performing arts methods to enhance the social participation of autistic children” yielded 9 …

Little Minds, Big Emotions, Marissa Fattorusso

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Little Minds, Big Emotions is a doctoral capstone project designed to support the development of emotional regulation skills in preschool-aged children through the areas of program development, education, and clinical skills development. Emotional regulation is an essential component of children' s participation, social interactions, and overall well-being, yet many young children experience difficulties identifying emotions and using effective calming strategies. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and implement a developmentally appropriate, play-based emotional regulation curriculum for preschool children while also providing educational resources for caregivers. This program was implemented three days a week for 14 weeks at …

Holistic Healing Through Horses: An Evaluation Of Interdisciplinary Collaboration In Equine-Assisted Services And Associated Pilot Program, Catherine M. Balestrini, Kathleen Hughes-Butcher

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Holistic Healing through Horses: An Evaluation of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Equine-Assisted Services and Associated Pilot Program was an occupational therapy doctoral capstone project conducted through Misericordia University. This project involved the implementation of equine-assisted services to improve occupational capabilities of physically disabled community-dwelling adults and research related to interdisciplinary collaboration in the equine-assisted service industry. The education component of this capstone disseminated information regarding safe techniques and procedures for volunteers involved in the Holistic Healing through Horses program. The program component of Holistic Healing through Horses involved 12 weekly sessions designed to target goal areas of the respective participants. Progress …

Let's Go Play: Creating Adaptive Play Opportunities For Children, Haleigh J. Merriman

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Children experiencing chronic conditions or life-threatening diseases are at a significantly greater risk of having poor mental health, with symptoms including anxiety, depression, aggression, physical impairment, and problems with academics and socialization (Nijhof et al., 2018). The Let’s Go Play project focuses on program development and education to provide children with disabilities opportunities to play. Play is an important occupation that children engage in. Play is a way that children learn new things, including developing resiliency, overcoming challenges, cooperating, and negotiating with others in a social sense. This program includes weekly video modules on hospital play and switch-adapted toys. This …

Harmony In Health: Supporting College Students Through Multidimensional Wellness, Hannah Strong

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Young adults entering college face a critical developmental transition in which they assume greater responsibility for managing their health and wellness, often without adequate guidance or supportive structures. National data indicate rising rates of mental health concerns, sleep deprivation, and food insecurity among college students, highlighting the need for holistic, context-specific wellness initiatives. The Harmony in Health doctoral capstone project was developed to address this gap by applying occupational therapy’s holistic, occupation-based perspective to promote balance across the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Eight Dimensions of Wellness within the Misericordia University community. The purpose of this capstone …

Emerging Through The College Experience: Supporting The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Higher Education Institutions, Kaitlyn Dixon

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Emerging Through the College Experience was a doctoral capstone project designed to support students during the pivotal transitions of college while substantiating the role of occupational therapy (OT) in higher education. Inspired by the Emerging statues by Dugan located on Misericordia University’s campus, this project focused on developing institutional resources to support college students as they adjust to the college lifestyle. A scoping review was conducted to explore the role of OT in supporting college students with emphasis on adult life skill training. Results from the scoping review identified life skills development as foundational for increasing confidence, academic success, and …

Transformative Paths: Advancing Inclusive Healthcare Education, Morgan Young

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Transgender individuals continue to experience significant healthcare disparities, provider bias, discrimination, and barriers to accessing affirming healthcare services (White Hughto et al., 2015; World Professional Association for Transgender Health [WPATH], 2022). Despite increasing awareness of these disparities, healthcare education often lacks comprehensive training related to gender-affirming care (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2021; Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], n.d.; White Hughto et al., 2015). A concurrent scoping review was conducted to answer the research question: Among healthcare providers, how do educational strategies grounded in transgender perspectives and lived experiences affect provider competence in transgender healthcare? The review …

Embracing The Green Thumb: Occupation-Based Resources For Stroke Recovery, Brianna Padovano

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Stroke recovery requires ongoing effort from survivors, caregivers, practitioners, and communities to promote meaningful participation in long-term engagement in daily life. Despite the growing amount of evidence supporting continued recovery beyond the acute stages of stroke, accessible resources that address the needs of these stakeholder groups remain limited (Chen et al., 2019). This doctoral capstone experience aimed to bridge these gaps through the development and dissemination of educational, clinical, and advocacy-based resources designed to support stroke rehabilitation across various stakeholders. An evidence-informed, occupation-based stroke recovery guide, which includes relevant theories, decision-making flowcharts, sample protocols, and resources, was created for new …

Impact Of Occupational Therapy Within The Rosenbaum Family House: How Program Development Supports Health And Well-Being For Caregivers And Care Recipients, Zaccardi P. Muniz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Healthcare hospitality houses (HHH) are designed to accommodate patients and caregivers receiving medical treatment far from home. The Rosenbaum Family House (RFH) acts as the HHH adjacent to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. The RFH offers amenities that meet the basic needs of guests; However, there is an opportunity for occupational therapy-based program development to help further assist caregivers and care recipients both inside and outside the RFH. During the doctoral capstone experience (DCE), a three-phase project was developed to support the health and well-being of guests and WVUMedicine clients through group programming, resource guide development, and …

Advancing Occupational Therapy In Sports: Bridging The Gap In Mental Performance, Gianna N. Scarantino

Occupational Therapy Student Scholarship

Occupational Therapy’s (OT’s) role in sports mental performance remains an underrecognized and emerging area of practice, with limited awareness among OTs, a lack of available educational resources, and currently no established pathway into the field. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to increase awareness of OT’s role in sports mental performance through the development and evaluation of a comprehensive educational resource. The educational resource included a digital portfolio, recorded PowerPoint lecture, educational Instagram content, and a Linktree that organized all project materials into one accessible location. Four licensed OTs completed a Qualtrics pre-resource knowledge checklist, reviewed the educational …

Connecting Through Art: A Collaborative Art Program For The Deaf Community, Andrey Meg Bacal, Cristina Dumitrescu, Gary Dennis, Regina Brejda, Maija Vizvary, Jacie Schneider

Occupational Therapy Student Scholarship

This doctoral capstone project developed, implemented, and evaluated a Deaf-centered, ASL-accessible community art program at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts in Augusta, Georgia. The project addressed communication and environmental barriers that may limit participation in meaningful leisure and community-based occupations. Two ASL-interpreted art sessions and a community art show were completed, with evaluation using adapted PROMIS-based survey items, implementation observations, and quality improvement feedback. Because only two usable anonymous survey responses were available at each time point, findings were summarized descriptively and interpreted as feasibility and implementation information rather than evidence of effectiveness. The project supported the feasibility …

School-Based Sensory Room Education Program: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Makenzie Stiles, Bonnie Fischer-Camara, Tracie Ostrander, Elizabeth Young, Sophia Theodorou, Jacie Schneider

Occupational Therapy Student Scholarship

Sensory rooms are commonly used within school settings to support students' self-regulation, behavior, and participation in educational activities. However, evidence suggests that special education teachers and teacher aides often receive limited training on the appropriate use of sensory rooms, including identifying students who may benefit and selecting activities based on individual sensory needs. The purpose of this mixed-methods, pre-experimental capstone project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a school-based sensory room education program for special education teachers and teacher aides at Deposit Central School District. Guided by Ayres Sensory Integration® and Adult Learning Theory, the project included a needs assessment, …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals In The Workplace, M'Kenna J. Henson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

My doctoral capstone was completed in partnership with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and focused on the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) areas of education and program development. The project involved developing a nationally-accessible asynchronous continuing education e-course, The Role of Occupational Therapy in Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals in the Workplace, to increase occupational therapy (OT) practitioners' and students' knowledge of neurodiversity, workplace inclusion, and evidence-based employment supports.

Current literature highlights significant barriers to employment for neurodivergent individuals. Approximately 20% of people are neurodivergent, yet nearly 80% of neurodiverse adults are unemployed, demonstrating the need for greater …

Simulated Traffic Stops For Neurodiverse Drivers, Addie Wilson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The goal of this capstone project was to create a simulated traffic stop event for neurodiverse drivers to decrease anxieties and promote positive interactions with local law enforcement. This project was completed under the ACOTE standards of project development and clinical skills, and in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Driving Rehabilitation Program and a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist. Previous simulated traffic stops have been completed specifically for the ASD population and showed improvements in anxiety and understanding of traffic stops. Additionally, resources like the Blue Envelope Program have been implemented across the country to allow for interactions between autistic …

First Responders' Best Friends: A Mental Health And Trauma-Informed Care Program For First Responders, Jordan Postiglione

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

First responders experience consistent exposure to traumatic events in their day-to-day profession, placing them at increased risk for mental health challenges, including stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  The First Responder’s Best Friends doctoral capstone quality improvement project aimed to increase mental health and well-being in first responders as well as to bring awareness to the importance of mental health and the impact of trauma.  The capstone project consisted of three different areas of focus: program development and implementation, advocacy, and clinical practice skills.  Program development and implementation was a 12-week mental health program at the Kingston Fire …