Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Book Review: The Path To Private Practice, Mary K. Thelander

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The Path to Private Practice: A Roadmap for Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists Considering Private Practice (Castro-Casbon, 2023) invites clinicians to consider the benefits of entrepreneurship. The book discusses concerns in the medical and educational systems that may cause occupational therapists (OTs) and speech and language pathologists (SLPs) to experience burnout. The text encourages the reader to consider entering into part-time private practice. Though the book is authored by a SLP, the concerns and strategies discussed in the book are easily compatible with the OT profession. This review details the content of the individual chapters and offers a critical analysis …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Student Assessment Methods In Occupational Therapy Education, Breanna Adkins, Josh Bernstein

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The supporting evidence for student-centered assessment practices is well-documented in the literature for higher education, but not in the field of occupational therapy (OT) education. There is no agreed-upon best practice for student assessment in OT education from any professional OT governing body, nor is there current OT education research evaluating the relationship between types of assessment methods and their effectiveness. The purpose of the study was to determine OT educators’ perceived effectiveness of student assessment methods they used to measure student competency. A correlational design determined the strength of the relationship between these variables. Differences between OT Doctorate (OTD) …

Enhancing Student Perceptions Of The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Intensive Care Unit: An Interprofessional Simulation, Elizabeth Yost, Julie Jacob, Denise Campbell, Nicholas Prush, Leslie M. Smith

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Early mobility in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can improve a multitude of patient outcomes, and occupational therapists (OTs) play a valuable role as part of the interprofessional team, with the ability to address activities of daily living, functional cognition, psychological and communication needs, and more. In 2022, the first iteration of an ICU interprofessional education simulation (Sim-IPE) yielded poor outcomes for OT students. This study aimed to modify existing pre-learning activities in the Sim-IPE’s second iteration to improve OT students’ perceptions and professional role awareness in interprofessional ICU care. Students from Doctor of OT, Bachelor of Science Nursing, Doctor …

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 …

Life Balance, Stress, And Occupational Burnout In Occupational Therapy Assistant Students: An Exploratory Study, Olivia Hammond, Pamela Talero Cabrejo, Laura Cruz, Linda Lilly

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Research indicates that United States healthcare workers face significant burnout. College is a crucial period for preparing occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students to manage life balance, stress, and burnout as they transition into the workforce. However, there is limited understanding of these factors within this population. This study examined the relationship between OTA students' life balance and their perceived stress and occupational burnout, considering variables such as employment status, residential status, years of study, and age. A cross-sectional Qualtrics e-survey was administered to OTA students aged 18 and older, comprising a demographic survey, Life Balance Inventory (LBI), Perceived Stress Scale-Short …

Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: The Prevalence Of Trauma Among Students In A Master Of Science Program In Occupational Therapy, Amelia Wilson, Ruth Chen, Michelle P. Phoenix, Sarah Wojkowski, Sandra Vanderkaay

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Trauma impacts learning at all stages of education and can be particularly problematic at post-secondary levels and for people from equity-deserving groups. Understanding trauma can support effective teaching and learning. Research suggests that students who have experienced trauma may be more likely to enter healthcare professional programs. Research specific to occupational therapy (OT) students who have experienced trauma is limited. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of trauma among Master of Science (MSc) OT students at a Canadian university. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was selected for data collection. CTQ is a validated retrospective, self-report tool …

The Potential Of Learner-Generated Podcasts For Reading In Occupational Therapy Education, Claire Giefer, Whitney Henderson

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Research suggests that reading compliance among higher education students is low, warranting enhancement of educational practices to support reading, especially for students enrolled in health professional programs. Researchers used a cross-sectional study design to explore the effects of a learner-generated podcast assignment as a reading supplement in occupational therapy education using two different survey instruments assessing student perceptions and learning styles. Forty-three Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students participated in this study. Descriptive statistics indicated positive attitudes towards creating and preparing the podcasts but remained mostly neutral towards listening and watching podcasts. Tukey’s HSD test for multiple comparisons detected tactile learners …

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 …

The Capstone Fair For Promoting Initial Generation Of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Ideas, Laurie D. Stelter, Sandra M. Whisner, Cynthia Tiongco, Laura Alexander

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Entry-level occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) programs across the United States navigate the challenge of designing doctoral capstone (DC) processes to provide students with adequate scaffolding to plan, implement, evaluate, and disseminate their capstone projects. The DC process starts with the daunting tasks of student generation of capstone interests and connecting with mentors for collaborative guidance. The purpose of this program evaluation project was to assess a comprehensive process, known as the Capstone Fair, for effectively and efficiently facilitating students’ initial generation of capstone ideas and the match between student and Faculty Capstone Mentor. A fixed convergent, parallel mixed methods design …

A Survey Of Occupational Therapy Program Leaders: Perceptions Of The Essential Elements For Early Career Faculty, Kathleen Cummer, Angela Maccabe, Kurt Hubbard, Tracy Jirikowic

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The rapid growth of academic occupational therapy programs in the United States, combined with an increase in senior faculty retirement, requires a new, growing, robust and well-prepared faculty workforce. In addition to the growth of programs, faculty shortages necessitate proactive strategies for preparing transitioning clinicians for successful academic careers. Faculty development training should be a part of preparation to ensure success of early career faculty. However, it is unknown what the perceptions of occupational therapy leaders are towards faculty development training, what components should be included in training, and the importance of these components. Through this survey research, key findings …

An Evaluation Of The Rural Gobabygo Program At West Virginia University, Shayna Rexrode, Alexa Morgan, Haleigh Parsons, Holly Raines

Graduate Student Scholarship

The GoBabyGo program is a powered mobility program for young children with mobility and/or cognitive deficits that aims to increase their social participation, environmental exploration, and overall play abilities. This study aims to evaluate the rural GoBabyGo program at West Virginia University through caregiver and therapist perceptions. Traditionally, the GoBabyGo program process occurs primarily in person and includes consultation, builds, modifications, and delivery. Due to the rural nature of West Virginia, environmental barriers have led to the use of virtual services with the GoBabyGo program at West Virginia University. Evaluating these novel services is essential to successfully continuing the GoBabyGo …

Increasing Quality Of Life And Well-Being Among Older Adults Living In An Assisted Living Facility Through Engaging In A Wellness Program., Hannah Steckler

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The focus of this scholarly project was to create a group protocol to increase the quality of life and well-being of older adults living in an assisted living facility (ALF). Furthermore, it promotes increased engagement in meaningful activities to combat health disparities and provide education on various areas of wellness. Older adults' quality of life and well-being are impacted when residing in an ALF due to decreased engagement in wellness activities (Bartley et al., 2018; Morgan et al., 2016). Furthermore, risk factors and health disparities increase among the older adult population, which causes a negative impact on everyday routines …

Addressing Burn Scarring And Contractures While Measuring Range Of Motion, Josie F. Sylte

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: In the community of healthcare professionals that work with individuals who have survived a burn injury there has been a shift in the way that range of motion (ROM) is being measured taking into consideration the use of cutaneous functional units (CFUs), multi joint movements, and burn scarring and contractures (Parry et al., 2019). Working with a burn intensive care unit therapy team a need was identified to address therapist education and the integration of revised positioning for measuring ROM following a burn injury and throughout the rehabilitation process.

Method: To determine the needs of the burn facility a …

Navigating The Wheelchair Recommendation Process: A Preventative Approach For Rural Providers, Kelsey M. Rajewsky

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Navigating the Wheelchair Recommendation Process: A Preventative Approach for Rural Providers

Background: Wheelchair procurement is a complex process that begins with patients seeing their physician for a prescription and guidance on where to go for step two. It is this critical second step that can make the difference for someone receiving a basic wheelchair meant for short-term use, or a referral to a practitioner specializing in seating and wheeled mobility. While getting to a physician's office can be challenging for all wheelchair users, a rural wheelchair user experiences additional barriers such as limited resources available locally, culture, and difficulties …

Engage As You Age: An Interprofessional Toolkit To Increase Meaningful Activity In Long-Term Care Facilities, Annah Greenmyer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Engage as You Age: An Interprofessional Toolkit to Increase Meaningful Activity in long-term care Facilities

Background: When making the major life transition of moving into a long-term care facility, older adults have an increased chance of experiencing negative mental health symptoms. During this life transition, older adults may experience loss of self-efficacy, because of the shift from their preferred roles and activities. When older adults do not engage in their preferred activities and/or roles, they may experience loss of motivation or energy which can eventually lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. For residents in rural long-term care facilities, …

Supporting Occupational Performance For Children With Cancer, Rachel Elise Koenig

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this doctoral experience was divided into two categories: a) advanced clinical practice and b) needs assessment and completion of project. The advanced clinical practice objectives were to implement evidence-based evaluations and interventions to children with cancer, collaborate with parents and interprofessional team members, and adhere to safety precautions for children with cancer. The project-based objectives focus was to translate knowledge to practice by aiding in the transition process of children with cancer when leaving the hospital.

Method: The primary author completed a literature review of best practices for children with cancer prior to their arrival on-site. …

Covid-19 Pandemic’S Effect On Occupational Therapy Students’ Time-Use And Occupational Engagement On Returning To In-Person Learning, Jhannell Hannah D. Ocampo, Susan Macdermott, Karen Mccarthy

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Scholarship

The COVID-19 pandemic emotionally and physically impacted students in occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs. College students lost autonomy and access to meaningful occupations and environments. As students returned to campus, they struggled to navigate and adapt to in-person occupations and how they use their time. This study uses a mixed method descriptive research design to understand how the pandemic affected occupational therapy students' time-use and occupational engagement during the transition to in-person learning. Seventy-three students completed an online survey, while 12 of those students additionally participated in a follow-up time-use diary and interview. Eighty-three percent of the participants …

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 …

The Influence Of Music On The Performance Of Graduate Occupational Therapy Students During Practical Examinations, Chris Mulligan, Marybeth Hoefs, Bonnie Fischer-Camara, Donald F. Graves

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Test anxiety is alarmingly rising and has been shown to correlate with academic performance and affect occupations and well-being. Graduate occupational therapy (OT) students encounter a rigorous workload and pressure to become entry-level practitioners. Higher levels of baseline graduate student anxiety is correlated with increased test anxiety. Practical examinations are essential for assessing graduate OT students' higher learning and entry-level clinical skills. Educators are often challenged with identifying coping strategies to assist graduate OT students in reducing their test anxiety. Substantial research supports the use of music to reduce anxiety in adults. Seventy-five OT graduate students participated in this quasi-experimental …

Enhancing Health Professions Students’ Attitudes And Self-Efficacy To Care For Unhoused Populations, Jacob T. Greenfield, Brad Phillips, Kathryn L. Hoffman, Gina M. Baugh

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Health professions students, including occupational therapy students, often have limited exposure to unhoused populations, which may alter their attitudes and self-efficacy to participate in their care. In turn, this could reduce access and quality of care for these marginalized groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a phased multimodal learning approach on interprofessional health sciences students’ attitudes and self-efficacy in providing care to unhoused individuals. A pre-posttest single group design was used to evaluate a didactic presentation, poverty simulation, and street-based experiential learning experience. Findings revealed significant differences in students’ (N=257) attitudes and self-efficacy in …

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 …

A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Occupational Therapy Pratice And Multiple Sclerosis Specialization, Dana Alghadban

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

The aim of this dissertation is to increase the body of research of how occupational therapists can address multiple sclerosis rehabilitation through occupational therapy services. Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that creates challenges for individuals to engage in meaningful occupations and significantly affects many areas of their lives. Occupational therapists play a role in the rehabilitation process for people with multiple sclerosis by providing occupation-focused interventions that may improve the health and well-being of clients living with the disease. As a result of the unpredictability of symptoms experienced by this population, individualized approaches to addressing participation and occupational performance …

Sensory Processing And Trauma: A Practical Approach In A Clinical Context, Katya Kivi

Occupational Therapy Capstones

A large majority of people who are receiving mental health services have experienced a form of trauma (Arnaly et al., 2019; Champagne et al., 2010). Individuals who have experienced trauma-related sensory processing issues often have decreased occupational performance because of avoidance of the occupation or dysregulation during the occupation (Cerny, 2019; Gerney & Muffly, 2015). PTSD can affect an individual's overall quality of life and the creation and maintenance of social relationships, resulting in social isolation (Arnaly et al., 2019). The product is a guide to inform care within the adult mental health setting following sensory-based information and trauma-informed care. …

Stroke Rehabilitation Through The Continuum Of Care: Integrating Evidence And Occupation-Based Practice, Emily L. Geissler

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to provide patients with knowledge on the rehabilitation process and practitioners with a resource to assist in implementing occupation and evidence-based practice in stroke rehabilitation throughout the continuum of care.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted using articles, textbooks, and expert opinions regarding evidence-based and occupation-based interventions within stroke rehabilitation. The author partnered with a midwestern healthcare agency to experience stroke rehabilitation as an occupational therapy practitioner across the continuum of care. Through a needs assessment, it was found patients lack knowledge regarding the rehabilitation process and that practitioners lack knowledge of …

Helping Hands: Self-Managing Chronic Upper Extremity Pain, Kaylee Mae Athmann

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: This scholarly project aims to provide education on self-management techniques for chronic upper extremity (UE) pain. There are currently limited resources that properly educate clients on self-management techniques for chronic (UE) pain. Nevertheless, there is a need for a chronic UE pain self-management program because chronic pain affects individuals’ performance of all their occupations and has the potential to lead to social limitations, a decline in work ability and productivity and a decrease in quality of life. Furthermore, it is currently the leading cause of disability worldwide. Occupational therapy practitioners who focus on the UE are known as hand …

A Conservative Treatment Protocol For Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis, Adam Waggener

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project sought to construct a written conservative treatment protocol for thumb CMC OA, emphasizing evidence-based practices. As a hopeful hand therapist, clinical observations led me to realize thumb CMC OA was a common condition present in many cases. A written protocol would be beneficial to both client and practitioner to increase knowledge and awareness of best practice while educating clients as they seek treatment. Initial development of the protocol included communication with current hand therapists to better understand needs of both client and practitioner. Following this, a thorough analysis of current literature was completed for best evidence based …

Aging At Home, Breanna Putnam

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project, "Aging at Home," explores the role of occupational therapy (OT) in facilitating aging-in-place. Motivated by the challenges a 95-year-old family member faces, the project aimed to equip aging adults with OT resources to support their desire to remain in their homes. The project was conducted primarily at the Lexington Senior Center and involved two key phases: Leadership through Inquisition and Program Development and Education. The first phase included meetings, workshops, and experiences with senior living organizations to understand the needs and concerns of aging adults. The second phase focused on developing and delivering the "Aging at Home" …