Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Occupational Therapy's Role In Childcare Centers And Perceptions Of Developmental Programming, Nicholas Passarelli, Madalyn Comer, Whitney Coffield

Graduate Student Scholarship

This research study aimed to determine the perceptions of parents and teachers regarding the state of developmental programming at daycares in Morgantown, West Virginia. A case study with ethnographic methods was utilized, including face-to-face semi-structured interviews, to gain an understanding of how parents and teachers perceive the current developmental programming offered at Morgantown daycares. Data was collected and coded into eight themes, and then analyzed by student researchers. Results from the semi-structured interviews indicated that parents and teachers have positive perceptions regarding the current developmental programming at daycares, however, improvements still need to be made. Additionally, results indicated that both …

Impact Of Iadl Interventions On Discharge Readiness: Musculoskeletal Conditions In Inpatient Rehabilitation, Kasi B. Gannon

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Musculoskeletal conditions are the highest contributing cause of the need for rehabilitation globally, and are common conditions treated by occupational therapy in inpatient rehabilitation. Basic activities of daily living (BADLs) are the main focus of rehabilitation in these settings, which may leave clients unprepared to complete important higher level instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) at home.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact that instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) intervention and training has on individuals’ perceived discharge readiness and quality indicator scoring for those admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility with a musculoskeletal …

Mentored Practice In Aota Fellowship Programs: An Exploratory Phenomenological Study, Jennifer L. Bergstrom

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

American Occupational Therapy Association fellowship programs are an emerging post-professional educational opportunity aimed at developing practitioners in specialized areas of occupational therapy practice. Mentored practice is a critical and substantial component of fellowship programs; however, the experiences of mentors and fellows have not been well described in the literature. The purpose of this study was to describe the mentored practice experience from the perspectives of the fellow and mentor. This study sought to understand the perceived influence mentored practice may have on the advancement of skills and knowledge in specialty practice areas of occupational therapy. A qualitative exploratory phenomenological design …

Enhancing Simulation Fidelity In Occupational Therapy Education: Considerations For Standardized Patient Training And Implementation, John V. Rider, Linda Frasier, Jessica Parkin

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The use of high-fidelity simulation and standardized patients (SPs) in occupational therapy (OT) education is expanding. However, the implementation of simulation varies across programs, leading to inconsistent outcomes and research limitations. Furthermore, details on SP use and training are lacking in OT literature. This article aims to provide OT educators with considerations for improving simulation fidelity by effectively using highly trained SPs. For example, recruiting SPs from diverse backgrounds is necessary to improve sociological fidelity, and proper training of SPs is required to ensure psychological fidelity. This article also emphasizes the need for standardized training for SPs and recommends following …

The Student Occupational Therapist Experience Of Bullying On Fieldwork Placement: An Exploratory Study, Jeffrey D. Boniface, Donna Drynan

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Bullying is a widespread issue in higher education, notably in healthcare disciplines like nursing, medicine, and physical therapy. However, there is a paucity of research addressing bullying within occupational therapy, which is a relational healthcare discipline emphasizing meaningful relationships, mutual trust, and respect. This study investigated the experiences of student occupational therapists in Canada regarding bullying during their fieldwork placements through exploratory phenomenology. Data from nine former occupational therapy students were collected via focus groups and interviews. Thematic analysis unveiled common experiences including passive aggression, demeaning comments, and a lack of support. Three key themes emerged: the impact of power …

Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Expectations Of Entry-Level Doctorate Versus Master's Graduates, Monique C. Chabot, Sara K. Frye, Nakia Lynn, Kristy Meyer, Laronda Lockhart-Keene, Lydia Navarro-Walker, Sue Persia, Wendy Watcher-Schutz, Kevin Wegner, Michelle Gorenberg, Catherine Goodman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The dual-entry nature of occupational therapy has been a point of discussion for many years with explorations into the profession’s support for the different degree programs and definitions of entry-level practice being the primary foci in the literature. There has been no comparison of the expectations of occupational therapy educators and practitioners of entry-level doctorate and master’s students upon graduation despite differences in curricula and emphasis on advanced skills. This study utilized a descriptive quantitative survey to ask current educators and practitioners (n=124) to indicate their level of expectations of the two types of graduates for sixteen different clinical and …

Book Review: Documentation Manual For Occupational Therapy, Mary K. Thelander, Geneva L. Nolan

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The updated fifth edition of Documentation Manual for Occupational Therapy (Gateley, 2024) offers instructors of occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students familiar tools and updated content. Clear examples of every section of a SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan) note as well as steps to reach the composition of the note, such as skilled-problem statements and COAST (client, occupation, assist levels, specific condition and timeline) goals are tools that hold the client-centered and occupation focus clear. Worksheets within the chapters offer formative assessment of understanding of concepts. Specific updates to the fifth edition include expanded content on …

The Pet Principle: An Innovative Teaching Strategy To Provide Real-Time Critical Thinking Skills And Improve Self-Efficacy, Adam M. Story, Melinda Delbridge, Brandi Fulwider, Sue Dahl-Popolizio

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The person, environment, and therapist (PET) Principle is an innovative teaching strategy designed to improve recall of foundational information, facilitate critical thinking, and improve self-efficacy of student and novice therapists. Specifically, the PET Principle is a microlearning strategy that helps students and novice therapists break down segments of a treatment session using an acronym to promote a "just-in-time” thinking process. Therefore, they learn to consider all aspects of the person, environment, and therapist before, during, and after therapy sessions. To evaluate the effectiveness of the PET Principle and self-efficacy after learning the PET Principle, an 11-item survey containing nine forced-choice …

Survey Of Pain Curriculum Among Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Programs In The United States, John V. Rider, Vicki Khau, Kristin A. Valdes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy practitioners address pain management across settings, populations, and the lifespan. Occupational therapy practitioners offer unique contributions to pain management through biopsychosocial approaches, targeting supported self-management and occupational engagement. Comprehensive pain education is necessary to prepare entry-level occupational therapy practitioners to address pain in practice, yet no standards exist in entry-level occupational therapy education. This survey describes the status of pain-related education in entry-level occupational therapy programs across the United States. A total of 41 entry-level occupational therapy programs completed the survey. Total instructional time for pain content was reported to be an average of 9.68 hours, ranging from …

Occupational Balance And Temporal Satisfaction With Life Among Occupational Therapy Students Amid Transitioning To In-Campus Classes In The Philippines, Paolo Miguel P. Bulan, Nikki Y. Pestaño, John Ray O. Suerte

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

As students transitioned back to on-campus classes, challenges affecting occupational balance (OB) and temporal satisfaction with life (TSWL) influenced their overall health and well-being. This study aimed to assess OB and TSWL among 171 occupational therapy (OT) students in the Philippines and examine the correlation between them. Participants completed the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11) and the Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSWLS). The mean OBQ11 score was 16.71 ± 6.87, with a median score of 17. Based on this median score, nearly half of students 43.90% (n = 75) were classified as having low OB. The TSWLS scores indicated that …

The Health Literacy Practices Of Rehabilitation Providers Of Perioperative Orthopedic Education, Allen Keener

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Health literacy is the ability to utilize information to make decisions about one’s health or the health of others. It is estimated that a large percentage of the population has inadequate health literacy, yet healthcare professionals, including rehabilitation providers often do not have procedures in place for assessing and addressing the health literacy of their patients. Related to orthopedic patients, a large portion of the interventions are educational in nature. Therefore, it is important that the health literacy of orthopedic patients be considered when addressing their needs perioperatively. There is little currently published related to health literacy among rehabilitation providers …

Exploring The Usefulness Of Pre-Visit Materials For Children With Autism At A Public Museum, Jennifer K. Fortuna, Elaine Chamberlain, Libby Filice, Madeline Kurt, Taylor Porter, Shannon Twichell, Stephanie Ogren

Translational Science in Occupation

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participate in community-based settings at lower rates than typically developing children. Museums provide a structured, predictable, and supportive place for children with ASD to learn. Visiting a museum may create unique challenges for children with ASD and their families. Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a common barrier to participation that makes it difficult to process information coming in through the senses. For children who are easily overstimulated, crowds, noise, and long lines can be a source of anxiety and stress. Providing pre-visit materials such as social stories, accessibility maps, and communication books can …

The Role Of An Occupational Therapy Practitioner In Professional Advocacy: A Scoping Review, Sarah Mckinnon, Natalie Petrone, Amanda Tarbet

Translational Science in Occupation

Background: Participation in professional advocacy amongst occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) is necessary for strengthening the profession. Although advocacy remains essential for practice, specific activities of OTPs in professional advocacy remain inconsistent and unclear.

Purpose: To examine the activities occupational therapy practitioners are engaging in related to professional advocacy. To identify key strategies and future opportunities to strengthen OT practitioner participation in professional advocacy.

Methods: We systematically searched 4 databases and 1 search engine for relevant articles- MEDLINE via PubMed, The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete via Ebscohost, ERIC via Ebscohost, APA PsycInfo …

Examining Occupation-Based Outcome Measure Use In A Neurologic Outpatient Occupational Therapy Setting: A Knowledge Translation Initiative, Elizabeth Yost, Suzanne Trojanowski, Taylor Jarnigin, Kevin De Bear, Amy Yorke

Translational Science in Occupation

Abstract

Importance: Occupation-based outcome measures (OBOMs) are an evidence-based recommendation for occupational therapy evaluations. Knowledge translation (KT) is a process used to help integrate evidence into clinical practice. The authors identified a KT opportunity to examine occupational therapy practitioners’ (OTPs) use of outcome measures in an outpatient practice setting and assess a Know-Do Gap as the first step in the Action phase of a KT initiative.

Objective: Describe the frequency and types of outcome measures documented in occupational therapy (OT) evaluations, with a focus on OBOMs.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting: Three outpatient clinic sites (under one parent company) in …

Sensory Modulation Training To Reduce Restrictive Interventions On An Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit At A Secure Psychiatric State Hospital: A Clinical Nurse Leader Quality Improvement Project, Fionna Norman

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Symptoms of severe mental illnesses can result in Personal Safety Emergencies (PSE’s) in the acute in-patient psychiatric setting. As part of treatment of PSE’s, restrictive interventions such as seclusion are utilized in current practice to maintain the safety of the patient, peers, staff, and the environment. Evidence-based research has shown restrictive interventions can cause physical and psychological harm to both patients and staff. Reducing restrictive interventions continues to be a priority to create the most therapeutic environment possible. Evidence-based research has shown that sensory modulation is a non-restrictive intervention that can reduce the use of restrictive interventions, decrease …

Rehabilitation Therapy Versus Drug-Only Therapy In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Florin Mihai Marcu, Doriana Ciobanu, Ioan Cosmin Boca, Elena Sirbu, Paul Alexandru Deme, Nicolae Catalin Hreniuc, Dorina Ianc

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) does not cure the disease, but it is intended to reduce the intensity, duration, and frequency of symptoms. Rehabilitation therapy (RT), including an individualized physical therapy program (PTP) and adapted occupational therapy (OT), has benefits in terms of aerobic capacity, muscle strength, coordination, and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). The primary objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of RT comprising PTP, OT, and drug treatment (DT) versus DT alone in patients with MS. Another objective was to highlight the importance of continuing the PT and OT at home, …

Life After Sport: A Program Development Plan For Student-Athletes, Loryn Shawn Frame

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

College athletics stakeholders have had growing concerns regarding student-athletes’ transition out of collegiate athletics. Research specific to student-athletes following college athletics has explored mental health, role identity, and occupational participation. This program development plan addresses occupational therapy’s role in assisting student-athletes transition out of collegiate athletics. The needs assessment conducted with West Virginia University athletic staff revealed two gaps in programming: athletic identity including leisure exploration, and a program to help student-athletes who want to enter health professional programs. Life After Sport comprises two programs, one to help student-athletes transition into a health professional program, titled Athletes in Medicine (AIM), …

Evaluating Change In Skill Performance Over Time And Practice Context In Introductory Fieldwork Simulation, Kaitlin R. Sibbald, Diane E. Mackenzie

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Simulation has been recognized for its ability to develop competency-level skills and as a replacement for some introductory fieldwork (FW) hours. This study explored how occupational therapy competency-related skills developed over sequential in-person simulations across health practice contexts during Level 1 FW. Entry-to-practice occupational therapy students (N = 66) participated in six sequential, formative, Level 1 FW simulations. The first three sequential simulations (the same patient case evolves in each successive interaction) included a trained simulated patient in a community mental health context and the following three engaged a trained simulated inpatient in a physical health context. Evaluation rubric variables …

Occupational Therapy Educators’ Self-Efficacy To Teach In A Blended Curriculum, Inti A. Marazita, Amy Adcock, Mary Shotwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Educational trends have influenced occupational therapy education as evidenced by the adoption of new teaching methods such as blended learning. Blended learning is a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous learning that occurs online as well as portions of the learning occurring in a brick-and-mortar. As more occupational therapy programs design their curriculum to include blended learning, it is essential to understand occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy related to their skills and capabilities to teach in such an innovative format. Little is known regarding occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy to teach in a blended curriculum. This qualitative study aimed to examine the …

A Model For Interprofessional Education Between Occupational Therapy And Accounting Students: A Mixed-Methods Study, Angela Lampe, Brenda Coppard, Alison Maloy, Yongyue Qi

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This interprofessional education (IPE) project was designed to prepare students to work and lead in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. The purpose of this project is to describe and measure accounting and occupational therapy students’ perception and value of participating in an IPE learning activity and how the activity enriched the learning environment and identified gaps of knowledge to improve teaching. A mixed methods pre- post-survey design was used to collect quantitative data from a modified version of the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS-9a) from 115 occupational therapy and 21 accounting students. Qualitative data was collected from a post-survey …

Effective Communication With People With Dementia: An Exploratory Study Of Pre-Registration Occupational Therapy Students, Samita Kirve, Lucy Perkins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Dementia is a major global concern, with 50 million people already affected worldwide in 2018, and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Healthcare practitioners, specifically occupational therapists, are responsible for providing care and ensuring the well-being of people with dementia. However, occupational therapy students may not always have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively communicate and support dementia patients, which could negatively impact the quality of care they provide. To explore this issue, a study was conducted with final-year pre-registration occupational therapy students at a public university in England. The study used a qualitative methodology, with semi-structured …

Qualitative Evaluation Of Interprofessional Education Experiential Learning (Ipeel) For Health Professional Students, Kelle Deboth Foust, Madalynn Wendland, John Schaefer, Suzanne Giuffre, Donald Allensworth-Davies

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Interprofessional education (IPE) is critical for health professional students to form professional identities and develop collaborative skills. Although accrediting bodies mandate incorporating IPE, the effects of IPE programming on health professional students and the best pedagogical approach for achieving desirable outcomes are still unclear. In addition, specific effects of IPE within the context of experiential learning are not fully understood. That is, the literature has not presented a clear framework for structuring IPE programs, nor have outcome measures for IPE utilizing experiential learning (IPEEL) been established. The purpose of this study was to complete a grounded theory qualitative analysis of …

Fieldwork Educators’ Perceptions Of The Revised Fieldwork Performance Evaluation, Todd Sanders, Amanda M. Carpenter

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The American Occupational Therapy Association’s Fieldwork Performance Evaluation plays a vital role in occupational therapy education by guiding students and fieldwork educators in determining students' entry-level competence. This evaluation tool dates to 1953 and has undergone numerous revisions as the profession evolved and changes were made to the practice framework. Revisions have included changes to the stated purpose of the evaluation tool, items to be scored, scoring scale, and number of items on the tool. The purpose of this study was to survey Academic Fieldwork Coordinators (AFWCs) to examine their perceptions of the 2020 revision of the evaluation. We surveyed …

Building Bridges: A Mentor Education Program For Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Sara J. Stephenson, Cynthia Ivy, Montana Vonier, Danielle Sweets

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Mentoring in occupational therapy is a crucial role that many practitioners undertake and there is a paucity of mentor education specific to occupational therapists. Authors present an innovative approach to mentor education through a novel three-part online mentor training series. Developed by faculty teaching at Northern Arizona University’s (NAU) entry level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, the series incorporated adult learning theory and the stages of mentoring through the lens of occupational therapy. The training series received positive feedback from participants, who found it straightforward, relevant, and applicable to their work settings. Literature emphasizes the increasing demand for quality mentors …

Dementia Education Opportunities For Pre-Registration Occupational Therapy And Physiotherapy Students- A Scoping Review, Samita Kirve, Alice Teague

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The number of dementia diagnoses is ever-increasing in the aging population, meaning that healthcare staff need to be equipped with the appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills to care for people with dementia. However, recent research suggests that globally, both healthcare workers and students require greater dementia education opportunities to meet the needs of people with dementia. There seems to be limited research exploring dementia education opportunities within occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) programs. A scoping review methodology was chosen to explore the literature about dementia education in global OT and PT programs. There was limited literature in this area …

Fostering Entry Level Practitioner Knowledge, Confidence, And Competence In Trauma-Informed Care Application, Mollie Keyser, Mary A. Barnes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Trauma is pervasive worldwide and is associated with poor health outcomes if left unaddressed, however, a gap in practice continues to exist in the implementation of trauma-informed care (TIC). Occupational therapy practitioners will encounter individuals, communities, and populations influenced by trauma, which warrants the need for TIC to improve overall service delivery across the lifespan. However, TIC is currently not systematically integrated into any Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) occupational therapy educational standards. The purpose of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate a TIC application-based workshop for a sample of entry-level occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) students. …

Student Occupational Therapists Experience Of Bullying In Placements: Exploratory Study Across Canada, Palvi Dhillon, Lisa Mahil, Jeffrey D. Boniface, Danielle Burrell-Kim, Donna Drynan

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Bullying in placements is a phenomenon that is reported by numerous healthcare disciplines. The limited literature on occupational therapy and student bullying accounts that incivility during placement is both widespread and significantly impacts learning. This study aimed to 1) gather data on the prevalence, type, and effects of bullying that Canadian occupational therapy students experienced while on placement, and 2) explore students’ perspectives on current reporting processes and potential mitigation strategies. Using a phenomenological approach, a mixed-methods descriptive and exploratory study was conducted. An anonymous Qualtrics survey consisting of multiple-choice, Likert scale and open-ended questions was completed by past occupational …

Transitioning From Professional Practice To Teaching During Covid-19: A Participatory Research Study, Yvonne Thomas, Ciara Hensey, Claire Squires, Anna Collier, Heidi Cathcart, Lindsey Coup

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The transition from expert occupational therapy practice to academic educator is stressful and complex, involving the development of a new professional identity. In 2020-21 COVID-19 created a new challenge for recently employed academics, who were in this transition process. This study utilized participatory research to explore the impact of COVID-19 on six new occupational therapy lecturers who were employed immediately before and during the pandemic. The participatory research approach simultaneously engaged participants in research processes and aimed to promote researcher development. Three focus groups were conducted to explore participants experiences before, during and after COVID-19 restrictions. Focus groups transcripts were …

The Occupational Therapy Practitioner Experience And Practice Related To Upper Limb Loss Or Difference And Prosthetics, Amanda H. Sugar, Rebecca Ozelie, Kristi Turner

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite occupational therapy’s critical role on the rehabilitation team for individuals with upper limb loss or difference (ULL/D) and prosthetics, this population is not extensively covered in many occupational therapy (OT) program curricula. As such, many clinicians work with patients with ULL/D with little expertise or confidence for this complex population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the OT practitioner experience and practice related to ULL/D and prosthetics in their education and practice. Utilizing snowball sampling, 150 OT practitioners completed a 24-question survey, which assessed OT practitioners’ experience with ULL/D, the prosthetic education in their OT program, and …

Predictors Of General Well-Being In Postprofessional Students Of Occupational Science And Occupational Therapy, Elena Wong Espiritu

Funded Scholarship

Background: Doctoral students experience decreased well-being during their educational experience. Self-compassion, engagement in meaningful occupations, and occupational balance positively impact well-being in individuals. This study examined the relationships between these constructs in postprofessional occupational science and occupational therapy students.

Method: This quantitative cross-sectional study collected national survey data (N = 113) using the Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form, the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey, the Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11, and the 14-item Scales of General Well-Being. Multiple linear regression analysis determined how well each construct predicted general well-being and the strength of each construct’s relationship compared to other …