Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Development Of The International Spinal Cord Injury Basic Data Set For Informal Caregivers, Carol Haywood, Rebecca Martin, Kathryn Dent, M J Mulcahey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

STUDY DESIGN: Mixed-methods, including expert consensus for initial development and a multi-center repeated measures design for field testing.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an International Spinal Cord Injury Basic Data Set for caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) for use in research and clinical care settings.

SETTING: International, multi-disciplinary working group with field testing in five North American pediatric rehabilitation hospitals.

METHODS: The data set was developed iteratively through meetings and online surveys with a working group of experts in pediatric and adult SCI/D rehabilitation and caregivers of individuals with SCI/D. Initial reliability was examined through repeat administration of a …

An Examination Of Emotional Resilience Among Athletic Trainers Working In The Secondary School Setting, Shaine Henert, William Pitney, Bethany Wood, Nicholas E. Grahovec, Tyler A. Wood

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Athletic training is a demanding profession that is a stressor for many practitioners. Emotional resilience allows Athletic Trainers (ATs) to persist in their roles and benefit from long and successful careers. The purpose of this study was to explore the level of emotional resilience of ATs working in secondary school settings and identify factors perceived to contribute to or mitigate one's emotional resilience. Method: A sequential explanatory mixed-method design using a cross-sectional online survey followed by in-depth interviews was used to gather information from 160 (16% response rate) secondary school NATA members - 97 (60.6%) female; 63 (39.4%) male …

Resilience Development In Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Role Of The Occupational Therapist And The Interdisciplinary Team, Kayla Frederick

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Research has revealed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have a negative effect on a child’s development and put a child at an increased risk of physical and mental health problems in adulthood including obesity, diabetes, depressed mood, and attempted suicide (Anda et al., 2006; Felitti et al., 1998; Gilbert et al., 2015; Putamen, 2006). Some children have been able to counteract the negative effects of ACEs and achieve positive life outcomes using a principle called resilience (Zolkoski & Bullock, 2012). While researchers have begun to identify the key skills and character traits associated with resilience in children, few have explored …

Enhancing Physician Perspectives Of Skilled Occupational Therapy Services For Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Valerie S. Trinidad

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project, with a focus in research, sought to identify a relationship between self-reported functional performance and participation restriction as described by satisfaction with one’s execution or participation in a described occupation. A correlational study design was employed under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Decker, EdD, OTD, OTR/L who oversaw all IRB processes, documentation, study development and deployment, as well as co-authored and provided mentorship for creation of a publishable manuscript of this project. The established Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and the newer Keele Assessment of Participation (KAP) were the two outcome measures of focus for surveying …

Dérivation De Règles De Prédiction Clinique Pour Dépister Les Patients Ayant Une Lombalgie Non Aiguë Manifestant Un Succès Thérapeutique Lors D’Un Programme D’Exercice De Stabilisation Lombaire, Christian Larivière, Marie-France Coutu, Sharon M. Henry, Richard Preuss, Nicolas Roy, Khalil Rabhi

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les exercices physiques permettent de réduire la douleur et les incapacités chez les gens souffrant d’une lombalgie non aiguë (> 3-4 semaines), mais ces effets sont limités. Pour rehausser l’efficacité de ce type d’intervention, il faut déterminer quels patients répondent le mieux à chaque modalité d’exercice (arrimage patient/intervention) et pour quelles raisons (mécanismes sous-jacents). Dans la présente recherche, l’intérêt est porté à un programme d’exercices de stabilisation lombaire (PESL), une modalité active d’exercice gagnant en crédibilité et en popularité. Deux objectifs ont été poursuivis : (1) finaliser l’étape de dérivation de règles de prédiction clinique (RPC) de succès^[1] pour …

Dance/Movement Therapy As A Transdisciplinary Approach To Treating Trauma, Destany Schadder

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis considers dance/movement therapy as a transdisciplinary approach to treating trauma in the body. It explains what the functions of the brain are, how trauma negatively affects it, and how posttraumatic stress disorder is expressed in both the body and the brain. It discusses multidisplinary approaches, it shows how these approaches leverage the body in treating trauma. Moreover, it demonstrates the benefits and advantages of a dance/movement therapist in supporting individuals who have experienced traumatic events. To achieve these goals, this thesis discusses research by neuroscientists, such as Damassio (1999), who maintain that the body and mind directly affect …

Trauma Healing With The Neurosequential Model Of Therapy And Bal-A-Vis-X, Becky Johnston

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Stigma related to childhood trauma is shifting with the help of advancements in the understanding of neurobiology and interventions that are proving to be effective for healing. There are immense costs and consequences for survivors of childhood trauma and their loved ones that were not so long ago considered irrelevant and the notion that kids bounce back from adversity was previously popular in the psychological community (Perry & Szalavitz, 2017). The broad strokes of Dr. Bruce Perry’s clinical intervention model, The Neurosequential Model of Therapy (NMT) describes a trauma-sensitive, sequential approach to changing the stress response within mental health counseling. …

Physical Activity As A Means Of Improving Quality Of Life In Individuals With Chronic Pain, Tracy Tauro

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Pharmacologic management of chronic pain has variable results, sometimes resorting to ineffective and dangerous opioids that can potentiate substance abuse in a vulnerable population.

Exercise is unique in its ability to positively impact both the molecular and psychological aspects of chronic pain. Its role in decreasing inflammation as well as improving mental health make it an excellent option for improving quality of life.

Physicians should work with their patients to develop a patient-centered exercise plan to manage chronic pain.

Early Detection Of Atypical Motor And Neurobehavior Of Infants At Risk Secondary To Opioid Exposure: A Prospective Study, Kara Boynewicz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prenatal opioid exposure has been studied in relation to infants' medical outcomes. However, large gaps exist in the literature supporting early identification of atypical neurobehavior and motor development of infants with prenatal opioid exposure. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether prenatal opioid exposure has a negative influence on a newborn infant’s neurobehavior and motor development to aid in the early identification of potential delays. Using a prospective quasi experimental design, infants motor development using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and neurobehavior using the NICU Neonatal Network Scale (NNNS) was assessed on 58 infants in a …

The Occupational Therapy Approach To Pain Treatment: A Pain Curriculum, Rosalee Howell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

It is within the scope of the occupational therapy profession to treat patients experiencing pain. The holistic approach used to assess and treat patients to improve functional performance is vital in treating pain. The focus is to decrease the detrimental impact of pain on the patient’s mental health, enhancing their ability to function in social and vocational roles. However, education is not adequately addressed in occupational therapy programs and is vital in preparing clinicians to meet the patient’s needs effectively.

This Doctoral Capstone was developed to highlight the importance and the benefit of education in preparing clinicians to treat patients …

Supporting Students After Concussion: What College Faculty Need To Know, Susan C. Davies

Thomas C. Hunt Building a Research Community Day

Returning to university life following concussion can be challenging for students. Our Brain Health Collaboratory, in conjunction with the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training, developed set of online resources to inform college faculty members about brain injuries. The module includes information about concussion effects, academic and environmental accommodations, and the role of college faculty in providing support. This session will share our research that led to development of the module, as well as our plan to evaluate its efficacy.

Sensory Integration For Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv), Nadien Albanna

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Since the start of the global pandemic, stay-at-home orders forced IPV survivors to stay in the home with abusers, increasing the risk of abuse, and the impact of psychological trauma. (Bright et al., 2020). Occupational therapists are trained professionals in incorporating sensory-based strategies to focus on the somatic manifestations experienced by the body from trauma and can help to regulate physiological and psychological responses through sensory stimuli (Mcgreevy & Boland et al., 2020). The development of this project sparked an opportunity to publish a new framework to introduce the role of sensory integration in treating survivors of intimate partner violence …

Promoting Socio-Emotional Skills Through A Strength-Based Dance Program For Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Lillian Tami Endow

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Negative outcomes as a result of trauma are multifaceted and can impact an individual throughout the lifespan. Younger children exposed to trauma are at higher risk for experiencing negative outcomes due to underdeveloped neurobiological capacities impacting their ability to appropriately respond to stressful stimuli (Price et al., 2013). Adversities including poor socio-emotional skills, mental and physical health challenges, and behavioral problems were identified among children exposed to trauma (Hovens et al., 2015). Occupational therapists are equipped to provide services for this vulnerable population by promoting socio-emotional skills necessary to cope with traumatic stressors through engagement in meaningful occupations. The occupation …

Qualitative Evaluation Of Occupational Therapy Assessments In Treating Veterans With Ptsd Who Are Transitioning Into Civilian Life, Natalia Marquez-Sterling, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this qualitative research type capstone project was to explore the strengths and limitations of an occupational therapist assessment toolkit for use with the population of veterans with PTSD who are transitioning into civilian life. OTs lack consistent assessment tools for use with this population, resulting in a lack of inclusion of occupational therapy as a consistent member of the multidisciplinary team (Kerr et al., 2020). Kerr et al. (2020) found that while OT assessments may be mentioned in research regarding veterans with PTSD who are transitioning into civilian life, there was limited or no discussion of the …

Dirfloortime: An Innovative Approach To Supporting Development Through Connection And Understanding, Jessica Townsend

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

Children with developmental delays and neurobehavioral disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), often have social, emotional, or behavioral delays. Children who are not reaching developmental milestones or are reaching them at a slower rate may need extra support and services to reach their full potential. An innovative approach to treatment of developmental delay commonly used among therapists is called DIRFloortime®. DIRFloortime® (also referred to as Floortime) is the application of the Developmental, Individual-Differences, & Relationship-Based (DIR) model in practice. The purpose of this capstone project was to explore Floortime as a holistic intervention …

Disability And Health In African Americans: Population Research And Implications For Occupational Therapy Community-Based Practice, Emily Schulz, Debarchana Ghosh, Eddie M. Clark, Beverly R. Williams, Randi Williams, Lijing Ma, Crystal L. Park, Cheryl L. Knott

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Population-based research and community-based interventions are integral to occupational therapy’s scope of practice, yet they are underdeveloped in actual implementation. Therefore, this paper focuses on some health challenges facing the African American population, guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model.

Method: Using data from an observational cross-sectional nationwide telephone survey of African American adults, we examined differences between African Americans who are receiving disability payments (RDP) and those who are employed full time (FTE) on several physical health behaviors and psychosocial health indicators. We further compared the differences between African Americans RDP versus those FTE on those physical health …

Enhancing Self-Efficacy Through Drama Therapy In A Bullying Prevention Program For Arab-Israeli Teachers: A Phenomenological Study, Iman Kheil

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of teachers in a bullying prevention program using drama therapy to enhance self-efficacy. This qualitative study was approached through a phenomenological lens. Five Arab-Israeli teachers took part in semi-structured interviews and participated in six sessions of drama therapy. Data were collected from interviews, video and audio recordings that documented the details of all the sessions. Data were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and yielded five themes and 10 subthemes. The themes suggested that drama therapy allowed the participants to experience bullying behavior and to express their feelings through …

Analysis Of Zero Balancing Case Studies Through An Occupational Therapy Lens, Deanna Waggy Otr, Msa, Czb, Csla

Journal of Transformative Touch

Does Zero Balancing positively impact occupational performance? This is a question many Occupational Therapists (OTs) ask when discerning if Zero Balancing (ZB) is an evidence-based treatment modality. Case studies from the book Experiencing the Power of Zero Balancing: Case Studies of Journeys to Health and Wholeness (Quarry & King, 2016) were reviewed and compared to the Occupational Therapy domain of practice to show clear evidence that each case study had a positive impact on occupational performance. A comparison chart shows a direct link between the occupational categories and documented evidence of improved occupational performance through practitioner observation and client feedback …

The Role Of Child Life Specialists In Community Settings: Chapter 6: Prison, Genevieve Lowry

Graduate School of Education

This chapter focuses on the role of the child life specialist working with families affected by incarceration. Children and families are at increased risk due to trauma exacerbated by arrests, incarceration, and re-entry. This chapter will focus on the ways a child life specialist working in jails, prisons, detention centers, and in communities with schools, non-profits, and faith-based organizations can provide developmentally appropriate explanations, preparation, play, expressive arts, and coping, facilitating opportunities that foster relationships and understanding while promoting resilience.

Doodling As Self-Expression: Building Self-Efficacy In Normally Functioning Adults, Journey Coward

Art Therapy | Theses and Dissertations

While previous studies identify doodling as a useful educational tool, this study sought to determine if doodling can build creative or emotional self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in their own capacity to express behaviors necessary to attain specific performance goals. The current study also sought to determine if doodling can be a form of self-care. Research collected was quantitative and qualitative using surveys to measure both creative and emotional self-efficacy along with a doodling activity. Ten participants were recruited through convenience sampling on social media and were included in the study after meeting the inclusion criteria of identifying themselves …

Educational Level As A Moderator Between Stress And Suicidal Ideation Among Law Enforcement Officers, Sittipong Permsookjit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers are exposed to occupation-related stress at a level greater than any other occupation, save war combatants, such stress can lead to suicidal ideation. There is a growing trend of suicidal ideation among law enforcement officers. This trend will threaten the stability of society if it is allowed to continue. Educational level has been shown to improve quality of life and is considered a quantitative resource. Using the theoretical framework of appraisal theory, this study’s purpose was to examine the moderating effects of educational level on stress and suicidal ideation among law enforcement officers. A total of 72 …

Exploring Vestibular/Ocular And Cognitive Dysfunction As Prognostic Factors For Protracted Recovery In Sports-Related Concussion Patients Aged 8 To 12 Years, August Price, Gregory Knell, Todd Caze, John Abt, Dustin Loveland, Scott Burkhart

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Objective: To explore the prognostic ability of the vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS), King–Devick (K-D) Test, and C3 Logix Trails A and B to identify protracted recovery from sports-related concussion (SRC) in patients aged 8 to 12 years. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis. Setting: Specialty pediatric sports concussion clinic. Participants: A total of 114 youth athletes aged 8 to 12 years who were diagnosed with an SRC within 7 days of injury. Independent Variables: A positive screen on the VOMS, K-D, and C3 Logix Trails A and Trails B. Combined positive screens on multiple tests (ie, 2, 3, or all 4 positive …

Telehealth Delivery Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy And Recreational Therapy: Supporting People With Chronic Pain During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Grace L. Roy

Honors Theses and Capstones

Chronic pain is a significant public health problem that requires person-centered and comprehensive care to address the many socioecological factors that contribute to pain. Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth options for chronic pain management can help more people access the care that they need. The purpose of the current pilot study was to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of delivering a 6-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and recreational therapy intervention via telehealth for a group of seven participants with chronic pain. It was found that TeleACT-RT was associated with positive behavioral outcomes including increased psychological flexibility, …

Mindfulness And Pain Regulation: The Role Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Individuals With Chronic Pain, Ariana C. White

Honors Theses and Capstones

Chronic pain is a significant and widely prevalent health condition which requires comprehensive care to address the many facets contributing to symptomatology. In 2016, 20% of American adults (about 50 million) reported experiencing chronic pain, of which 7.4% indicated that chronic pain frequently limited their life and participation in activities within the past 3 months (CDC, 2018). As a result, many individuals with chronic pain turn to opioid-based medication for pain relief, but long-term use of opioids actually increases pain sensation (Tobin, 2019). Moreover, opioid medication is unable to target underlying mental health components which emerge as part of chronic …

Characteristics Of Patient Encounters For Athletic Training Students During Clinical Education: A Report From The Aate Research Network, Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Julie M. Cavallario, Stacy E. Walker, R.Curtis Bay, Bonnie L. Van Lunen

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: To enhance the quality of patient care, athletic training students (ATSs) should experience a wide variety of clinical practice settings, interact with diverse patient populations, and engage with patients that have a wide variety of conditions. It is unclear in what ways, if any, ATSs have diverse opportunities during clinical experiences.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patient encounters (PEs) ATSs engage in during clinical experiences. Design: Multi-site, panel design.

Setting: 12 professional athletic training programs (ATPs; 5 Bachelor, 7 Master's).

Patients or Other Participants: 363 ATSs from the ATPs that used E*Value software to document PEs during clinical …

Organizational Commitment As A Mediator Between Organizational Climate And Employee Silence, Jennifer Sherer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unethical organizational behavior negatively impacts organizations, and despite the benefits of whistleblowing, some employees are hesitant to report employee misconduct. The specific research problem examined factors that influence employee silence when confronted with employee misconduct. Prior researchers have explored how organizational climate and organizational commitment can contribute to or inhibit the decision to report misconduct. What remained unclear is how these factors may interact on their influence on employee silence. The purpose of this study was to examine whether organizational commitment mediated the relationship between organizational climate and employee silence. The theoretical foundations for this study were the social information …

Not Just Women’S Work: Recruiting Men To Occupational Therapy, Alexandra I. Zelin, Erin Melhorn, Kristen J. Black, Nicole Harty

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Compared to women, men are less likely to become occupational therapists (OT). To have a more diverse workforce, and to relate to various patient groups, reasons men do not enter the field of OT must be better understood. Our study compares men and women in their familiarity with OT and desire to work in the field. Data were gathered using an online, self-report survey administered to students at a public university in the southeast. The sample included 334 undergraduate students who were in majors that often serve as feeder programs to OT graduate programs. The average age was 19.8 years …

Stimming Expresses Empathy, Not To Be Masked Or Persecuted: A Scoping Review And Case Study Of The “Double-Empathy Problem” Solved By Recognizing The Autism Language, Kathryn Haas

Student Capstone Papers

This article critically examines autism and autistic stimming through the lenses of neurotypicals and autistics, evaluates confines currently imposed upon autistics by neurotypical society, and synthesizes what autistic leaders have expressed about their experiences striving for inclusion (Gernsbacher, 2017; Milton, 2012). Autistic-led studies are now at the forefront of the neurodiversity movement and are growing in fervor. The following themes were identified: (a) prevalence of autism, (b) the interpretation and measurement of empathy, (c) discovery of genetic factors transformed autistics’ identity, (d) publication of non-genetic factors such as vaccines undermined the legitimacy of the autism language, (e) the problem with …

Peer-Led Building Resilience And Enhancing Social-Emotional Skills Program, Danielle K. Enrico

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of the Capstone experience was to develop and implement a five-week peer-led building resilience and social-emotional skills training program at a public high school. This program addressed high school students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding resources, social-emotional skills, and resilience. A questionnaire was administered pre and post-program to measure effectiveness. The results indicated an increase in scores, demonstrating a clearer understanding in all three areas.

Élaboration Du Contenu D’Un Site Web Portant Sur L’Incapacité Et Le Retour Au Travail, Christian Larivière, Iuliana Nastasia, Marc Corbière, Manon Truchon, Daniel Côté, Annie Mathieu, Clermont Dionne, Andrea Gragnano, Patrizia Villotti, Alessia Negrini, André Bussières, Marc-Antoine Busque, Martin Lebeau, Marie-France Coutu

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le corpus de connaissances portant sur l’incapacité au travail est exhaustif et ne cesse de croître. Toutefois, l’appropriation des connaissances par les différents acteurs de la réadaptation et du retour au travail (RT) n’est pas optimale. Une étape essentielle pour faciliter le transfert de ces connaissances est l’accès rapide à de l’information probante et pertinente, centralisée par l’intermédiaire d’un site Web. À notre connaissance, aucune ressource électronique de ce type n’est accessible, sans frais, aux acteurs du Québec. Afin de pallier cette lacune, cette initiative vise à rassembler l’information scientifiquement valide (données probantes) sur l’incapacité au travail et le RT …