Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Lymphatouch™ As A Preparatory Method For Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy And Radiation-Induced Fibrosis: A Case Study, Abigail Harris

OTD Capstone Projects

Quality Improvement: Aims to explore the ability to expand the services offered at the Nashville Breast Center and potentially provide improved health-related quality of life for patients in the survivorship stage of breast cancer. Case Study: To assess the LymphaTouch ™ device for use in treating Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Radiation-Induced Fibrosis.

Supporting Older Adults Through Aging In Place And Capable Programs, Laura Compton

OTD Capstone Projects

This experiential component or doctoral capstone project involved a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. Through this agency, projects were completed based on identified needs of the Aging in Place and CAPABLE programs. The Aging in Place (AIP) program provides critical home repairs to low-income adults aged 60 years and older. The CAPABLE program provides the same critical home repairs along with a select number of visits from a registered nurse and an occupational therapist to help the older adults age in place safely.

Evaluating Fitness-To-Drive Among Individuals With Sensory Deficits: A Retrospective Chart Review, Caroline Clark

OTD Capstone Projects

Objective: To explore the diagnostic validity of clinical assessments for sensation in determining fitness-to-drive recommendations in active drivers with sensory deficits.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted using a purposive sampling approach of patients’ medical records from the Vanderbilt Driver Evaluation and Rehabilitation Program in Nashville, Tennessee. Medical records for patients assessed from 12/01/2017 through 12/31/2019, ages 18 or older, with lower extremity sensory deficit(s) identified in the referring and/or treatment diagnoses, medical history, and/or the occupational therapy evaluation problem list were eligible for review. A total of 288 patient medical records were reviewed, but only 40 patient medical …

Nurses For Newborns – Incorporating An Occupational Therapy Perspective In Its Work With Women And Families In The Perinatal Period, Lynsey Beros

OTD Capstone Projects

The author partnered with a nonprofit organization, Nurses for Newborns, to incorporate an occupational therapy perspective in its work with women and families in the perinatal period as part of the OTD capstone project.

Pediatric Feeding Therapy At It's Finest: A Comprehensive Approach, Shelby Anderson

OTD Capstone Projects

The focus of this Experiential Component Project was to improve the processes and outcomes of a pediatric feeding therapy program at Sprocket Therapy Solutions, an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic located in Nashville, TN.

Advancing The Scientific Understanding Of Spiritual Care For Trauma In Combat Veterans And First Responders, Megan Broecker

OTD Capstone Projects

REBOOT Recovery is an organization that serves military service members, first responders, and their families through a 12-week faith-based trauma healing course. REBOOT is data driven and is continuously researching the short term and long term effects of the program on its participants. The purpose of this capstone project was to support REBOOT's past and current research studies and to develop content for all types of trauma incurred by the general population.

Increasing Employment Success: Helping Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At Friends Life Improve Job Readiness Skills, Madeleine Ruff

OTD Capstone Projects

This poster discusses a class developed for adults with developmental disabilities that focuses on job readiness skills and successful employment within the community. The class focuses on three different sections including job exploration, preparing to get a job and maintaining employment. Each section includes resources such as worksheets, visuals & activities that are appropriate for varying cognitive levels of the friends to facilitate participation in each section. At the end of the class, the adults at Friends Life will have identified job interests, developed personal resume/vision statements and learned about appropriate behaviors to display at both interviews and employment site.

Implementation Of The Pediatric Evaluation Of Disability Inventory (Pedi-Cat) With Equine Assisted Activity And Therapy Participants, Tori Hendricks

OTD Capstone Projects

This pilot study aimed to determine whether the implementation of the PEDI-CAT assessment could be used to measure functional outcomes in equine assisted activities and therapies. 92 parents/caregivers of riders completed the assessment for the first time, while 12 parents/caregivers of riders completed it for the second time. When comparing pre and post assessments of riders, the 11/12 riders had a raw score increase. This change suggests that the PEDI-CAT assessment can in fact measure factors that affect overall quality of life, such as improvement in communication, motor skills, ADLs, and socialization in equine assisted activities and therapies.

Development And Implementation Of Employment And Housing Power Week Curriculum For Next Steps, Kelli Mcclintock

OTD Capstone Projects

Room In the Inn is a homeless resource center located in downtown Nashville, TN. There is a need for additional programming to the existing Employment and Housing Power Week curriculums in order to facilitate more participants towards employment and permanent housing. There is also a need for a universal, intake questionnaire that can be used by all staff members with their respective groups in order to identify the needs and wants of participants.

Efficacy And Caregiver Perceptions Of Child Passenger Safety Device Interventions For Behavioral And Postural Deficits, Michaela Isenberg

OTD Capstone Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop a research design for the Special Needs Mobility Program at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Services One Hundred Oaks (MCJCHV).

Outcomes: A research design was developed that could be carried out by the Special Needs Mobility Program, concerning the transportation of children with special healthcare needs. After a written review of the related literature was completed and the research design was developed, all paperwork associated with submission to the International Review Board for Vanderbilt was completed, which included surveys that were designed as outcome measures for the …

"Mommy & Me" Constraint Therapy At Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital At Vanderbilt, Logan Herndon

OTD Capstone Projects

Goals Of Experiential Component

• Develop advanced skills in clinical excellence, program development, leadership, and advocacy

• Provide resources for Vanderbilt to implement a CIMT program in the future

• Enact change in the Nashville community that benefits others through care, service, and social responsibilit

Promoting Physical Activity & Social Participation In Young Adults With Idd With Best Buddies, Belmont Chapter, Courtney Janusz

OTD Capstone Projects

Best Buddies is the largest international organization dedicated to end social, physical, and economic isolation among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Alongside of the Belmont Best Buddies president, we assessed the club’s specific needs and developed a sustainable field-day like event to promote engagement in physical activity and social participation. Much of the research found revolved around a lack of ability to engage and participate in these kinds of activities, which resulted in poor overall physical health. Also, research stated that participation in activities (similar to the one we want to create) is the context in which we form …

Aota Continuing Education: Occupational Therapy’S Role In Addressing Sexuality And Intimacy, Tiffany E. Lee, Jacqueline M. Marquez

OTD Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to create a continuing education course for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) on the topic of OT’s role in addressing sexuality and intimacy. The topic of sexuality and intimacy is often under-addressed by healthcare professionals, despite its importance to clients. According to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, engagement in sexual activity is not only an ADL, but can be a key aspect of social participation in the context of familial and peer/ friend roles. Therefore, it is well within OT’s scope of practice to address sexuality and intimacy with clients. However, there …

Promoting Sensory Environments And Strategies For Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes, Emma Mace

OTD Capstone Projects

This project served to promote sensory strategies among youth residents and their caregivers of a children's home in Brentwood, Tennessee as well as use the lens of occupational therapy to design an on-campus multi-sensory room.

Champ's Triathlon Training Program, Rachael Sollman

OTD Capstone Projects

Champ's Triathlon Training Program was created to provide an adaptive fitness opportunity to the community of Nashville, TN. This program was specifically targeting children 8 to 15 years old diagnosed with Down's Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification Scale levels I, II, and III. Champ's Triathlon Training Program was an extension of the Champ's Tri My Best Triathlon hosted by a team of therapists and Vanderbilt's Pediatric Clinic, including Kelley Newman. The program aimed to increase the participants' strength, flexibility, and endurance through triathlon related activities such as running/walking, swimming, and biking. Outcomes of the program were to …

Curriculum Development For Group Programming At Gigi's Playhouse Nashville, Shelby Ward

OTD Capstone Projects

Creating and implementing group programming curriculum for a variety of age groups at an organization for individuals with Down syndrome.

Provider Referral Of Patients With Acute Low Back Pain To Physical Therapy: Implications For Outcomes And Costs, Corinne Griggs

DNP Projects

Because most patients with an acute episode of low back pain (LBP) enter the health care system through primary care, it is important primary care providers consider the effects of their decisions on patient outcomes and costs. Although guidelines for primary care management of acute LBP do not place emphasis on physical therapy, they have not been updated since 2007, and more recent evidence supports the use of timely physical therapy in acute LBP patients without “red flags.” Additionally, many studies indicate specialist or surgical consultation is over-utilized, inflating costs and delaying physical therapy. The aim of this project was …