Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Therapy Behind The Tractor: An Occupational Therapists’ Guide For Treating Farmers, Allison Haiby

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Historically, farming is known as a highly laborious job, placing farmers at increased risk for injury. Despite an injury, the farm must continue to be cared for. Although occupational therapy cultivates client-centered care, many therapists have limited knowledge of farming culture and best practice methods to integrate the demands of farming into therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an educational guide, Built for the Farm: An Occupation-Based Guide for Therapists Working with Farmers, to support therapists treating farmers. The guide promotes culturally informed, occupation-based strategies to strengthen therapeutic relationships and improve the healthcare experiences …

Translating Pediatric Home Programming Into Daily Life, Anna Elizabeth Jones

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Caregivers play a critical role in a child’s overall development and are essential partners in the therapy process (Jaffe et al., 2020). Because of this, caregivers are in a unique position to support and reinforce therapeutic goals with daily routine and activities. When caregivers are equipped with appropriate strategies and guidance, they can help facilitate skill development outside of the formal therapy sessions, increasing opportunities for practice and generalization of skills (Lage et al., 2024). Current evidenced-based practice supports the use of caregiver coaching to increase caregiver autonomy and promote their ability to support their child’s developmental needs (Gmmash …

Empowering Caregivers: An Occupational Therapy-Informed Educational Program For Dementia Care In Rural Communities, Maria Lynn Johnson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Hospitalization presents significant risks for individuals with dementia, including increased behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD), delirium, functional decline, and reduced occupational engagement (Boltz et al., 2023; Teichmann et al., 2019; Zwingmann et al., 2020). Acute care environments are often overstimulating, unfamiliar, and task-oriented, which can exacerbate cognitive impairment and contribute to caregiver distress. Despite strong evidence supporting nonpharmacological, occupation-based interventions, structured engagement opportunities are rarely integrated into acute care workflows (Burgdorf et al., 2023; Faeder et al., 2023). This doctoral capstone project aimed to develop occupation-based dementia activities for use during hospitalization while equipping formal and informal caregivers with …

Mitigating The Effects Of Technology Use In The Classroom: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Hannah E. Ibach

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: The average child spends three times the recommended time on technology, which is leading to a wide range of consequences affecting education, such as fine motor, cognitive, and social deficits (Christensen, 2021; McGough, 2021; Qi et al., 2023). Parents and teachers play a crucial role in helping children be prepared for their education, yet many are not aware of the impacts of too much technology use (Srivastava, 2022). Developing strong foundational skills early in childhood is critical for setting the stage for long-term educational success. When skills are nurtured from a young age, children are better prepared to adapt …

Baby-Life Balance: Occupational Therapy Strategies To Support The Transition To Motherhood, Morgan Muriel Harshman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The postpartum period is characterized by significant physical, emotional, and occupational changes that can disrupt daily functioning, routines, and role transition into motherhood (Albanese et al., 2020; Baker et al., 2024). These changes impact a mother’s ability to engage in meaningful daily activities, including self-care, infant care, and participation in family and community roles. Despite these challenges, postpartum care often emphasizes infant health, leaving gaps in support for maternal occupational performance, routine development, and environmental adaptation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023; World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). Occupational therapy is uniquely positioned to address these needs through its …

Rebuilding Participation: Trauma-Informed Support For At-Risk Teens, Emily A. Funk

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Over half of our youth population have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) before they reach adulthood (Madigan et al., 2025). ACEs are major factors in increasing a child’s chances of making risky lifestyle choices that negatively affect their physical, emotional, and mental health (Atchison & Suarez, 2021; Felitti et al., 1998). Dysregulation, irrational behaviors, poor academic achievements, high levels of stress, and feeling a loss of purpose are some of the challenges that at-risk youth face (Atchison & Suarez, 2021).

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to develop a toolkit that contains indirect occupational …

Quality Of Life Of Individuals Residing In Senior Living Facilities, Meagan R. Danda

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Formal caregivers play an essential role in supporting residents’ physical, emotional, and social needs which contribute to overall health and well-being (Spilsbury et al., 2024). Due to these responsibilities, caregivers need to be properly equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform clinical duties with confidence. The purpose of this scholarly project is to develop a product that increases caregiver confidence by providing caregivers with occupational therapy informed education. By enhancing caregivers’ knowledge and skill set, this product may contribute to a supportive environment that fosters resident engagement in meaningful occupations and promotes improved quality of life (QoL) …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Vision Rehabilitation Across The Lifespan, Abigale Marie Ellenberger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Visual dysfunction is highly prevalent across the lifespan and can significantly limit occupational performance and participation. Despite this, vision-related impairments are addressed inconsistently within occupational therapy (OT) practice, with documented gaps in standardized evaluation, occupation-based intervention, and practitioner confidence (Kaldenberg et al., 2023; Weisser-Pike et al., 2023a). The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop an evidence-informed resource to support OT practitioners in the evaluation and intervention of visual dysfunction across the lifespan. A comprehensive literature review and needs assessment were conducted to examine current evidence and identify gaps in practice, including limitations in practitioner confidence, access to …

Determining Driving Ability Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Shauna M. Corrigan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be a severe injury that causes lasting effects such as visual changes, challenges with concentration and memory, and problems with coordination and balance (Centers for Disease Control, 2024). This can impact an individual’s ability to safely return to the valued occupation of driving. Occupational therapists will commonly assess an individual’s ability to return to drive following a TBI, but they experience challenges in doing so due to a lack of standard method in assessing one’s safety while operating a motor vehicle (Baker et al., 2015; Tamietto et al., 2006; Classen et al., 2009; …

Development Of Feed In Context: A Context-Responsive Pediatric Feeding Guide For Rural Practice Guided By The Ecology Of Human Performance Model, Jatin Lee Cranmore

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Pediatric feeding participation is influenced by complex interactions among sensory processing, motor coordination, emotional regulation, caregiver routines, and environmental conditions. When feeding challenges occur, the impact extends beyond nutrition and may limit participation in family routines, school environments, and community activities (St. John et al., 2026; St. John & Ausderau, 2024). Access to specialized feeding services can be particularly limited in rural communities where healthcare workforce shortages and geographic barriers reduce the availability of pediatric rehabilitation services (Tak et al., 2022). Occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely positioned to address feeding participation because occupational therapy practice examines the interaction among …

Gamifying Occupational Therapy Education: Enhancing Student Engagement And Outcomes, Payton Alise Baumann

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Occupational therapy students face high rates of burnout and attrition during graduate education due to mental health challenges, reliance on passive learning strategies, and non-learner-centered curricula. These barriers limit active learning and reduce practical readiness for independent practice. Gamification has been shown to enhance engagement and application of knowledge; however, its adoption is limited by time constraints, attitudinal barriers, and lack of implementation guidance.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop practical, evidence-based faculty training resources and gamified learning activities to incorporate gamification into occupational therapy curricula for the promotion of student well-being, engagement, and professional readiness. …

Unfolding Recovery: An Occupational Therapy Practice Protocol Manual For Dupuytren’S Disease, Rebecca Valdez

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a disease of the fibrous tissue called the fascia of the palm and fingers of the hand (Eckhaus, 2016). It develops over time, thickening the palmar fascia and leading to nodules and cords that flex the fingers (Pineda et al., 2024; Salari et al., 2020). The disease occurs mostly in men, with individuals of Northern European descent having a higher likelihood of disease development, alongside family history increasing the risk. This disease can result in disability for individuals, including difficulty performing certain activities such as picking up objects, donning and wearing gloves, putting hands in …

Family-Centered Programming For A Rural Midwest Emergency Shelter: An Occupational Lens, Ariel Kathryn Tix

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: After a period of decline in homelessness, a startling trend reversal occurred between 2023 and 2024; there was a 39% increase in families experiencing homelessness in the United States (de Sousa & Henry, 2024). Rural homelessness is less visible and often looks different from urban homelessness, which presents challenges that require a different approach (Brott et al., 2019). Individuals experiencing homelessness have challenges in every area of occupation and could benefit from novel strategies and resources. Challenges include parenting, accessing medical care, obtaining permanent housing, community mobility, and meaningful routine development (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020; Brott et al., …

Bone Healing During A Dysregulated Inflammatory Phase: Comparative Skeletal Features In 5-Lipoxygenase Knockout And Wild Type Mice, Marco Hernandez, Nidhin John, Bhuvana L. Chandrashekar, Mariza A. Matsumoto, Naohiro Shibuya, Claudia Biguetti

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Background: High-risk patients, such as those with diabetic neuropathy, often experience prolonged and dysregulated inflammation during bone healing. The 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) pathway is a key mediator of inflammation and bone resorption and may influence these outcomes. Therefore, understanding the skeletal features associated with 5LO genetic deletion may help identify therapeutic opportunities to improve healing in high-risk patients.

Objective: To determine how genetic deletion of 5LO affects skeletal structure and macrophage phenotypes, with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets to improve bone healing in high-risk patients.

Materials and Methods: A total of 10, adult (3 months old), 129/SvEv male mice were …

Radial And Carotid Arterial Pulse Signals For Assessing Cardiovascular Function At Rest And During Post-Exercise Recovery In A Heart Transplant Patient: A Case Study, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Mamun Hasan, Jennifer F. May, John M. Herre, Leryn Reynolds, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Aim: This study investigates the feasibility of using radial and carotid arterial pulse signals to assess cardiovascular (CV) function at rest and during post-exercise recovery in a heart transplant (HTx) patient. Method: Two micro-fabricated tactile sensors were used to simultaneously acquire arterial pulse signals at the radial artery (RA) and carotid artery (CA). Measurements were taken at rest and at multiple time points post-exercise on three subjects: an HTx patient, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; coronary stent) patient and a healthy control. An SDOF-TF-based time-frequency analysis algorithm was applied to extract a comprehensive set of CV parameters, including heart rate …

Non-Pharmacological Interventions For The Management And Prevention Of Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy: A Review Of The Literature, Shenelle K. Smith, Laurena E. Lepp

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia (PE), are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, rates of HDP continue to rise and are associated with preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and long-term cardiovascular disease. Current management focuses only on low-dose aspirin for prevention. Surveillance and timely delivery remain the only definitive treatment for preeclampsia. This highlights a critical gap in prevention. Emerging evidence suggests that non-pharmacological interventions–particularly nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle modification–may reduce the risk and severity of HDP. These approaches align with midwifery models of care emphasizing prevention, education, …

Fear Of Childbirth As A Perinatal Comorbidity: An Integrative Review, Michelle T. Mcmanus, Ashely N. Payne

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fear of childbirth (FOC) and tokophobia have a significant impact on one in every five pregnant women and is associated with enhanced levels of anxiety, depression, pre-traumatic stress, and has led to increased requests for elective cesarean sections. Given the influence that it has on birth mode and perceived birth experience as well as postpartum wellbeing, it stands to reason that FOC represents an often-overlooked aspect of perinatal mental health.
This capstone reviews cohort, cross-sectional, randomized, and quasi-experimental studies examining prevalence, correlations, and consequences of FOC. It evaluates antenatal education, midwife-led support, and cognitive behavioral therapy as potential interventions. Outcomes …

Integrative Approaches And Data Analysis For Single-Cell Rna Sequencing Data, Teng Long

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations

The rapid growth of single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptomic datasets has created major computational challenges in causal discovery, representation learning, and biologically faithful data generation. To address these challenges, this dissertation presents three complementary deep learning frameworks for the analysis and modeling of transcriptomic data. Together, these methods form an integrative computational toolkit for understanding complex biological systems from high-dimensional and heterogeneous gene expression data.

First, this dissertation introduces DAG-VAERL, a causal discovery framework that integrates variational autoencoders, graph neural networks, reinforcement learning, and attention mechanisms to infer directed acyclic graphs for gene regulatory network analysis. DAG-VAERL improves causal structure …

Independent Animal Chiropractic Practice: An Evidence-Based Argument For Autonomy Beyond Veterinary Supervision, Montana Adams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Animal chiropractic is a growing form of conservative care used to improve mobility, reduce pain, and support neuromusculoskeletal function in animals. Despite evidence suggesting it is both effective and low risk, access remains limited due to inconsistent state regulations. Many jurisdictions require chiropractors to obtain veterinary supervision, referral, or licensure, even when they have completed specialized training and certification in animal chiropractic. This paper evaluates the effectiveness and safety of animal chiropractic while analyzing the impact of current regulatory policies. Research indicates that chiropractic care can improve mobility and reduce spinal conditions in animals when performed by trained professionals. However, …

What Does The Quality Of Life For Congenital Heart Defect Patients Look Like Across The Lifespan?, Kaylee F. Maynor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Throughout history, birth defects have left a mark on patients and families across the world. From an infant's first few breaths to an elderly person's last breath, congenital heart birth defects play a major role in that person's life. There are many different types of birth defects that effect the heart. Each defect is unique and has different outcomes on the body. Some congenital heart diseases have multiple defects causing more than one complication. The treatment options for many of the common congenital heart birth defects have come a long way throughout decades of research. By diving into what heart …

Tele-Psychiatry Adoption And Its Effect On Rural Mental Health Service Availability, Anna Heineman, Kaylee Canterbury, Taylor Carpenter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose of study: This study examined the association between tele-psychiatry implementation and mental health service availability in rural healthcare settings. The analysis compared tele-psychiatry to traditional in-person psychiatric care among rural populations, focusing on access and utilization outcomes, including time to first psychiatric appointment, number of completed visits, and appointment no-show rates.

Methods: A qualitative literature review following a systematic approach was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2016-2026. Databases included PubMed, ProQuest Health, CINAHL, Journal of Medical Internet Research, and the National Library of Medicine, with Google Scholar used as a supplemental source. The review followed PRISMA …

Dental Implantology: A Literature Review, Kylie Taylor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Dental implant therapy is the process of replacing teeth as a form of treatment to improve quality of life, function, and esthetics. The success of the implant depends on the surgical technique, type of prosthetic, and factors related to individual patients. The most important factor for implant success is osseointegration. Osseointegration is a process in which success is determined by the bone quality, the surface characteristics of the implant and the surgical approach. Some approaches to improve the osseointegration of the implant are low-speed drilling, guided surgery, and reduced surgical trauma at the site. The impact of systemic conditions, health …

Dose-Dependent Developmental Toxicity Of Cisplatin In Zebrafish Embryos, Reagan D. Sellers, Katherine T. Doucet, Jinhee Park, Andrea Florian

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapy drug for treating various types of cancer. Although cisplatin is effective in killing cancer, it can also cause toxic side effects in normal tissues. Because cisplatin can cross the placental barrier, its use during pregnancy is generally avoided, particularly during early embryonic stages of fetal development. Exposure to cytotoxic drugs during embryogenesis may lead to developmental abnormalities, birth defects, or pregnancy complications. Understanding how cisplatin affects early development is therefore important.          
       Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an established model for studying developmental toxicity due to their rapid external development, transparent embryos, and genetic similarity to …

Effects Of Glucagon And Insulin On Sw480 Colorectal Cancer Cells In Combination With Cisplatin, Sarah M. Gabous, Andrea Florian

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Colorectal cancer is known to be one of the most common forms of cancer in the world. Over time, treatment responses are affected by various metabolic changes along with chemotherapies. Glucagon signaling and Insulin are linked to colorectal cancer and have also been shown to affect tumor growth, as well as the chemotherapy drug response.In this experimental study, the purpose was to determine whether glucagon and insulin decrease the viability of SW480 colorectal cancer cells during cisplatin (CDDP) treatment. CRC cells were treated with cisplatin alone and in combination with either glucagon or insulin, and cell viability was measured to …

Prophylactic Distal Perfusion Catheters In Femoral Va-Ecmo: Association With Lower Limb Ischemia And Major Limb Outcomes (Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis), Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Altered Natural Killer Cell Function In Children With Severe Malaria, Grace Turyasingura, Kagan A. Mellencamp, Ruth Namazzi, Robert Opoka, Chandy C. John, Geoffrey T. Hart

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Memory-like natural killer (NK) cells with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) have correlated with protection from uncomplicated malaria in prior studies. However, the role of NK cells in severe malaria (SM) has not been characterized. In Ugandan sites with moderate and low malaria transmission, we evaluated NK cell (CD56bright, CD56dim, CD56neg) phenotype and ADCC function by flow cytometry in children < 5 years of age with SM (n = 21) and control community children (CC, n = 19). Children with SM had similar total NK cell counts to CC. Children with SM had a higher proportion of LILRB1+ NK cells than CC. The level of malaria transmission …

Exploring Tonal Focus: Qualitative Perspectives And Acoustic Correlates In Slps And Singers, Lily C. Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

Tonal focus is a complex construct that has variable definitions and interpretations across professions and within existing literature. Although tonal focus is widely described both clinically and pedagogically, both fields differ in their perspectives and goals related to the concept. This study aims to understand singers’ and speech language pathologists’ (SLP) conceptual perception and acoustic demonstration of tonal focus. Eleven SLPs and six singers were recruited to participate in the study. Participants completed an interview with the primary investigator and were recorded producing forward, neutral, and backward tonal focus in various contexts. Acoustic and qualitative analysis indicated that tonal focus …

Elevated Bmi And The Effect On Breastfeeding Duration In Postpartum Individuals: An Integrative Review, Abigail E. Mobilia, Kirstin A. Wyly

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: It has been well documented that exclusive breastfeeding provides benefits for infants and postpartum individuals, yet rates remain suboptimal in the United States, particularly among those with elevated pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). Evidence suggests that elevated BMI is associated with shorter breastfeeding duration and may be influenced by physiologic, social, and structural factors. This integrative review synthesizes existing literature to clarify the relationship between elevated BMI and exclusive breastfeeding duration among postpartum individuals.
Methods: An integrative review was conducted following Whittemore and Knafl’s (2005) framework and PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Nursing & …

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus And Its Psychological Impacts During Pregnancy And Postpartum, Nehemie B. Hypolite, Charline Fast

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: This review explores the link between gestational diabetes (GDM) and psychological outcomes. GDM affects 8–10% of pregnancies and is typically diagnosed at 24–28 weeks. This burden leads to anxiety, depression, and fear. Postpartum concerns often persist for mother and infant.

Methods: Whittemore and Knafl’s (2005) method was used to synthesize data. The research databases included CINAHL and PubMed. Covidence supported screening and PRISMA diagram development. Key search terms included “anxiety and GDM,” “depression and GDM,” “GDM and postpartum depression,” “gestational diabetes,” and “pregnancy.” Inclusion criteria included full-text articles published after 2010, original studies, patients undergoing diabetic treatment (medication and/or …

The Impact Of Patient-Centered Care On Women With Infertility And Pregnancy Loss: An Integrative Review, Kaidynce R. Sweazy

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Infertility affects roughly 17.5% of adults worldwide, while pregnancy loss occurs in up to 30% of pregnancies. These reproductive traumas increase the risk of developing a mental health disorder, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this review is to identify the influence of patient-centered care on psychological outcomes and experiences of care in women with infertility and pregnancy loss.
Methods: A literature search of the PubMed and Cinahl databases was conducted for original studies published from January 2016 to January 2026 that address the psychological outcomes and/or experiences of women who experienced infertility …