Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Addressing The Physical Demands Of Caregiving Or Children With Disabilities In Nicaragua: A Quality Improvement Collaboration With Fne International, Grace Price

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Many caregivers of children with disabilities experience chronic pain and related symptoms of cumulative physical trauma. This type of phenomenon is particularly prevalent in developing, low-income countries where environmental accommodations may not be as accessible. A quality improvement program, was conducted as a doctoral capstone project to create resources addressing the physical needs of caregivers of children with disabilities in Nicaragua. Program participants included teachers at a school for children with disabilities and special needs in Nicaragua. The primary project deliverable consisted of conducting an in-person workshop to train the teachers with evidence-based methods for preventing chronic pain and other …

Modified Vs. Standard Sternal Precautions, Alex Rome Mot/S, Katie Morris Mot/S, Payton Johnston Mot/S, Cheyenne Franklin Mot/S, Rachel Jeneff Mot/S, Hannah Tackett Mot/S

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

The poster examines standard and modified sternal precautions in pediatrics following a median sternotomy and the impact on developmental outcomes. The question our poster aims to answer includes, do modified sternal precautions improve developmental outcomes in children who underwent (median) sternotomy in a hospital setting compared to those with traditional sternal precautions? Through searching databases, the authors were able to gather articles providing evidence and information regarding modified vs. standard sternal precautions. Through the research, the authors concluded that there is further research needed on this topic in pediatric populations with the recommendation to proceed using caution due to no …

An Unexpected Outcome Of A Pediatric Simulation Encounter For Occupational Therapy Students., Anne H. Zachry, K. Booker, S. B. Lancaster

Faculty Presentations

This presentation reviewed how to plan and implement a pediatric simulated educational experience to align with the targeted course learning objective(s). Participants learned how to incorporate best practices into simulation education in order to advance occupational therapy education.

Long-Term Functional Effects Of Medulloblastoma Treatments, Serena Khiantani, Pamela Ponce, Bailey Diprima, Sarika Maymoundok, Leah Murray

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

All studies relate directly to components of the evidence-based practice question and were used to understand the possible long-term effects of treatment for clients diagnosed with medulloblastoma cancer. This Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) contains 6 research articles from both national and international journals. Study designs include two cohort studies with a control group, 1 cross sectional study with a control group, 1 retrospective cohort study without a control group, 1 descriptive report on a Randomized Control Trial (RCT), and 1 descriptive study. Through these studies, we found that radiation treatment is associated with impaired IQ and academic achievement and that …

The Power To Transform Development: Benefits Of Power Mobility Devices For Children 0-3 Years, Madeleine Clements, Ots, Chalia Bellis, Ots, Audrey Zapletal, Otd, Otr/L, Cla

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

The purpose of this poster is to describe the benefits of PMD for children 0-3 years old and to provide evidence-based recommendations for prescription and usage.

Handwriting And Occupational Therapy In The Schools, Anne H. Zachry, L. Woods

Faculty Presentations

Handwriting is an important life skill, and handwriting tasks take up a significant amount of time during the school day. Research suggests that writing by hand influences reading skills, recall, academics, and motor and composition skills. Pediatric occupational therapists evaluate and treat children who are struggling with handwriting; therefore, it is important for practitioners to be aware of a variety of treatment strategies for addressing handwriting challenges. After participating in this session, the learner will be able to discuss the research on typical and atypical pencil grasps, identify and name 5 common handwriting errors, and explain 3 techniques for increasing …

Ot In Pediatric Primary Care, Anne H. Zachry, J. Flick

Faculty Presentations

This session described a program where licensed occupational therapists and master’s level OT students provide free developmental screenings to infants and young children in local pediatric medical practice. Strategies for strategies for developing relationships and bridging communication between occupational therapists, primary practice physicians, and families were reviewed.

Using Sensation In Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Kaitlin Gaspich, Sydney Anderson, Catherine Terhune, Emiline Gonzalez

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Capstone Projects (2016-2021)

Molly McBroom, OTR/L, of Mary Bridge Children’s Therapy Unit (CTU) requested University of Puget Sound occupational therapy (OT) graduate students research the following question: “What is the effectiveness of using sensory based intervention (SBI) or Ayres’ sensory integration^® (ASI)and neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) approach with children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on behavior?” A systematic review of the literature resulted in eight out of 12 studies reporting positive findings. Four of the studies examined ASI and four examined SBI. The other four studies showed inconclusive or negative results. Overall, no clear conclusions …

Interventions For Sleep Problems In Pediatrics, Chelsea Rogers, Marie Trevisan, Maureen Traxler

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Capstone Projects (2016-2021)

Julie Anderson, DrOT, OTR/L, will be conducting screenings and providing treatment for children with sleep problems in the Puyallup School District of Washington. To assist her in this emerging practice area, a systematic search and critical appraisal of research published between 2000 and January, 2017 was completed to address the question, “What is the current evidence regarding sleep intervention effectiveness in school-aged children?” The majority of research has investigated the use of behavioral interventions for improving child sleep. These studies included children with developmental disabilities (DD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), sensory …

Using A Multifaceted Approach To Working With Children Who Have Differences In Sensory Processing And Integration, Stacey Reynolds, Tara J. Glennon, Karla Ausderau, Roxanna M. Bendixen, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck, Beth Pfeiffer, Renee Watling, Kimberly Wilkinson, Stefanie C. Bodison

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Pediatric occupational therapy practitioners frequently provide interventions for children with differences in sensory processing and integration. Confusion exists regarding how best to intervene with these children and about how to describe and document methods. Some practitioners hold the misconception that Ayres Sensory Integration intervention is the only approach that can and should be used with this population. The issue is that occupational therapy practitioners must treat the whole client in varied environments; to do so effectively, multiple approaches to intervention often are required. This article presents a framework for conceptualizing interventions for children with differences in sensory processing and integration …

Differential Item Functioning In The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Short Forms In A Sample Of Children And Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy., Wendy J. Coster, Pengsheng Ni, Mary D. Slavin, Pamela A. Kisala, Ratna Nandakumar, Mary Jane Mulcahey, David S. Tulsky, Alan M. Jette

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

AIM: The present study examined the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility, Fatigue, and Pain Interference Short Forms (SFs) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) for the presence of differential item functioning (DIF) relative to the original calibration sample.

METHOD: Using the Graded Response Model we compared item parameter estimates generated from a sample of 303 children and adolescents with CP (175 males, 128 females; mean age 15y 5mo) to parameter estimates from the PROMIS calibration sample, which served as the reference group. DIF was assessed in a two-step process using the item response theory-likelihood ratio-differential …

Episodic Versus Continuous Care In Outpatient Pediatric Clinics, Rebecca Newman, Kimberly Mcgarvey, Laura Hoppe

School of Occupational Therapy Master's Capstone Projects (2016-2021)

UW Medicine Valley Medical Center, Children’s Therapy (VMC-CT) has experienced difficulties with consistent service delivery schedules for their clients. Long waitlists, absences, and scheduling and insurance constraints have impeded client ability to receive standard, continuous therapy. Thus, this critically appraised topic (CAT) paper addresses a research question developed in conjunction with Kari Tanta, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, the Rehabilitation Manager at VMC-CT, to understand the most effective methods of service delivery: episodic therapy (i.e. high frequency over a short duration) or continuous therapy (i.e., low frequency over a longer duration). The following research question was developed: Is episodic pediatric care as …

Effects Of Sertraline Treatment For Young Children With Fxs, Andrew Ligsay, Laura Greiss Hess, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Kerrie Lemons Chitwood, Jonathan Polussa, Salpi Siyahian, Randi Hagerman

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help treat many of the phenotypic manifestations of fragile X syndrome (FXS) including anxiety, sensory processing challenges, and communication and intellectual deficits. However, the efficacy of SSRIs has not been previously studied in children with FXS under five-years-old. The purpose of this study was to elucidate group differences in behavior and developmental outcome measures for young children with FXS when treated with sertraline compared to placebo.

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure And Mother–Infant Interaction: Implications For Occupational Therapy Intervention, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

The literature from multiple disciplines on in utero cocaine exposure and mother–infant interaction and attachment was examined for possible relationships and implications for occupational therapists. Maternal cocaine use and neurobehavioral deficits in neonates prenatally exposed to cocaine may result in interactional difficulties between mother and infant. Knowledge of child development, sensory regulation, and infant cues will enable therapists to assist the mother in creating positive interactive experiences between herself and her child.