Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Return To Self: Impact Of Long Term Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation On Community Reintegration, Mary Rowe

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the outcomes of a long term brain injury rehabilitation program and its impact on community re-integration. This unique facility is licensed as a Long-Term Care Facility, able to provide longer lengths of stay to treat medical and psychological needs. All residents of this facility have a diagnosis of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) as well as a mental illness. The mental illness may have existed prior to the brain injury, or may have arisen or worsened as a result of the brain injury.

This program combines traditional rehabilitation therapy (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, …

Experiences Of Balance Among Novice Occupational Therapists, Mary Nell Wagner

Online Theses and Dissertations

For new occupational therapists, finding balance between the demands of work and their personal lives is challenging. The transition from student to practitioner is filled with uncertainty as new therapists try to meet the demands of working in a continuously changing environment. Research describing how new therapists define and experience balance in their own daily lives is currently missing in the literature. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of novice occupational therapists in creating occupational balance while working in the healthcare system. Six novice therapists in their first year of practice were recruited for this …

Minimal Clinical Important Difference Of The Quick Disabilities Of The Arm, Shoulder, And Hand (Quickdash) For Post-Surgical Finger Phalanx Fractures, E. Smith-Forbes, Dana Howell, J. Willoughby, G. Pitts, T. Uhl

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Purpose: STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, multiple-group observational design.

Objective: To determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) outcome measure, for post-surgical phalanx fracture diagnosis, using a triangulation of distribution-and-anchor-based approaches.

Background: The MCID for the QuickDASH has been established using a pool of multiple conditions, and specifically for the shoulder, and other diagnoses in the elbow and wrist, but not for post-surgical finger fracture. Understanding specific threshold change values for post-surgical finger fracture can enhance the clinical decision-making process.

Perceived Stress Levels May Impact Upper Extremity Function Among Women Treated For Breast Cancer, Mary Insana Fisher, Anne Fleischer, Kimbery Parent, Renee Roberts, Megan Mcclure, Lynn Hendricks

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Women treated for breast cancer report ongoing disability in their involved upper extremity, however, often objective measures do not appear to explain the level of perceived dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived stress level, fear of physical activity and self-reported upper extremity function among women treated for breast cancer.

Optimizing Critical Illness Outcomes Through The Family Experience-A Theoretical Review, Kirby P. Mayer, Samantha A. Mancuso, Dana M. Howell

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

An estimated six to eight million patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the United States every year [1, 2]. It is possible that new and innovative medical therapies have provided patients with treatment options that enhance survival of a critical illness and allow them go home with more medical support than previously available in earlier years. This may explain why there are now millions of ICU survivors are a result of declining mortality rates (8-19%) even though there are increased ICU admissions [3, 4]. This also indicates a change in direction of the attitudes and beliefs …

Ergonomics Within The Workplace: An Occupation Based Injury Prevention Program For Computer Users, Jessica T. Maxwell

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

An ergonomic intervention increased computer workers’ knowledge of ergonomics, and improved their work station, thereby reducing risk for injury. Occupational therapy’s ability to implement ergonomic training programs for computer workers is an effective way to improve worker safety.

Examining The Impact On Praxis For Children With Sensorimotor Deficits, Sara Elizabeth Durham

Online Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to discover how a movement program, utilizing principles of dance and sensory integration, effects motor and sensory outcomes for children with sensorimotor impairments. Participants' motor performance was assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency prior to and following participation in the movement program. Additionally, sensory function was assessed using the Child Sensory Profile prior to participation, and sensory modulation was tracked throughout the program. This short-term, intensive program followed a protocol based on sensory integration principles and theories of motor learning. The analysis demonstrated the change in motor performance to be statistically significant, …

Investigating The Effectiveness Of Web-Based Modules Reinforcing Therapy Topics For Caregivers Involved In Early Intervention, Terri L. Beard Ms, Otr/L

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Research questions answered in this capstone pilot study project were two-fold: 1) determine if web-based tutorials are effective for caregivers of children in early intervention (EI) programs to reinforce general topic information and 2) examine caregiver attitudes towards using online training modules.The scientific underpinnings used were the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) (AOTA, 2014) and the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework (Brown & Green, 2011).

The study was created on CourseSites website powered by Blackboard, using technology to reinforce occupation-based EI topics, through tutorial presentations and videos. Quantitative data was collected from caregivers using pre-and post-testing measures including …

Implementation Of Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy In Upper Limb Stroke Rehabilitation In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital, Umana W. Udoeyop

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Despite increasing and strong evidence of modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT) as an effective intervention approach for patients with chronic and subacute stroke in outpatient settings, it is still not widely used for the rehabilitation of patients with acute stroke who are typically admitted to inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to implement an evidence-based approach using mCIT in the upper extremity rehabilitation of patients with acute stroke in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and to demonstrate its feasibility and efficacy in increasing the motor recovery, and the amount and quality of arm use when compared to …

Exploring Fieldwork Educators' Expectations Of Occupational Therapy Students' Professional And Technical Skills, Jessica A. Mason

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: This capstone project focused on professional and technical skills of occupational therapy students beginning Level II Fieldwork. Fieldwork educators are essential personnel to the development of successful occupational therapy students. The education provided by the fieldwork educators is vital to the growth of each occupational therapy student in the profession.

Purpose: The purpose of this capstone project was to explore perceptions held by Level II Fieldwork educators of occupational therapy students’ professional and technical skills at the beginning of Level II Fieldwork. By identifying these perceptions, academic occupational therapy educators can assist students to develop these skills while they …

Leadership Roles: Creating Inclusiveness Within A Worship Environment, Susan L. Morreau

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project sought to investigate and measure the process of social change in the community setting of a Christian church. A committee of stakeholders came together with a common passion to engage and integrate individuals of varying disabilities at all levels of church participation. As a new committee, stakeholders agreed to use the cyclical process of Participatory Action Research (PAR) to guide them in creating an action plan for promoting this congregational change. The occupational therapist served on the committee as both a co-facilitator and researcher.

While the primary purpose of the project was to objectively measure the degree …

Investigating The Effectiveness Of Web-Based Recommended Practice Tutorials For Caregivers Of Children In Early Intervention Programs, Terri L. Beard

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this mixed-method investigational pilot study is two-fold: are web-based tutorials effective for caregivers of children in early intervention programs to learn recommended practice content and 2) examine caregiver attitudes towards using online training tutorials. The problem addressed will be “Is using an online learning platform an effective adjunct way for caregivers of young children in early intervention programs to learn recommended practice information?” In early intervention programs, practitioner time, resources, and availability is often limited. Frequently, children in early intervention programs are taken care of by multiple caregivers. To improve carryover, this study focuses on determining if …

Sensory-Based Group Treatment In Reducing Physically Acting-Out Behaviors And Perceived Levels Of Distress, Tiffany Barnette

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Mental health legislation over the last several decades has focused on restricting the use of seclusion and restraints within facilities receiving federal financial assistance. Facilities serving psychiatric populations have looked for strategies to eliminate the need for these forced interventions. One strategy is the use sensory-based treatment in occupational therapy intervention. Sensory approaches that have been adopted as ‘best practice’ include the use of sensory rooms, groups and kits to help users learn how to regulate psychological and emotional states of arousal.

Purpose: The purpose of this Capstone Project was to examine the effectiveness of a sensory-based …

Workplace Factors Affecting The Delivery Of Occupational Therapy Services: Perspectives Of Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Robert J. Mullaney

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

This research is a study on the occupation of being an occupational therapy practitioner. The work-related factors of focus are change, absenteeism, productivity/performance expectations, and work-stress and have the potential to influence the delivery of occupational therapy services in healthcare settings. Collective case-study inquiry and analysis was used to determine the overall meaning of the perspectives of 21 hospital, skilled nursing, outpatient, and community-based participants who were occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants. Interviews and transcription took place, with a validation review. NVIVO-10 Qualitative Software was used to aid in the analysis and coding of the a-priori factors using deductive …

The Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapist Guided Remediation Through Handwriting Home Programs, Cindy W. Poole

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

There is extensive research on the evolution of handwriting instruction, programs, the neuromotor components, the complexity of performance, and the long term effects of both adequate and inferior performance to occupational performance. The research supports occupational therapy intervention as effective for remediation of poor handwriting. With occupational therapy services limited to only those who receive special education services in schools, supplemental handwriting instruction and remediation responsibilities fall to the teachers and parents. This also creates a large unserved segment of children who struggle under traditional instructional approaches. Parents and teachers have instructional support needs related to current evidence based practice …

Understanding The Impact Of Substance Abuse On Occupation Using The Lifestyle History Questionnaire, Mikel Stone

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Substance abuse and addiction have become serious societal problems resulting in a myriad of health, personal and relational issues (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Gutman (2006) reported that an individual involved in substance abuse and addiction may experience difficulty with purposeful time management and may neglect major life roles. The focus of this Capstone Project was to identify the occupational dysfunction experienced by individuals prior to participating in residential recovery programming.

Purpose: The purpose of this Capstone Project was to identify occupational dysfunction associated with substance abuse and addiction using the Lifestyle History Questionnaire (Martin et …

The Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapist Guided Remediation Through Handwriting Home Programs, Cindy W. Poole Mrs.

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of an occupational therapist guided, parent-taught home handwriting instruction program for alphabet letter mastery and as a potential school system service delivery model.

Methods: Sixteen teacher referred students participated in this two-group pre-test posttest design using the Test of Handwriting Skills-R and parent survey data to determine summer remediation program effectiveness.

Results: Parent survey support correlated to statistically significant intervention group THS-R mean change standard scores in alphabet letter formation from pre-test (M = 89.57, SD = 12.12) to posttest (M =101.4, SD = 10.39), t …

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Non-Contact Boxing On Social And Community Engagement For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Casey E. Humphrey

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that is characterized by a variety of physical and cognitive symptoms. Research supports the use of non-contact boxing for symptom management of Parkinson’s disease, but no research is available that examines the social and community impact of non-contact boxing on individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of individuals with Parkinson’s disease on their experiences within a community based, non-contact boxing program. Specifically, this study considered how these individuals perceived non-contact boxing to influence their social and community engagement and factors influencing ongoing participation …

The Residency Program Experience: Impact On Resident And Mentor, Lisa Hiestand

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The Occupational Therapy Residency Program developed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) aims to prepare occupational therapists after completion of their degree program through structured didactic and clinical experiences, mentoring and professional activities. This research study attempts to measure changes in the skills of the resident and mentor during the residency period in an acute care hospital setting. Using self-assessment questionnaires from the University of Wisconsin, this study will determine the perceived trajectory of skill development for the resident and the perceived changes in mentors of an OT resident in regard to mentoring and communication skill development. Qualitative data …

Exploring Clinical Fieldwork Educators’ Perceptions And Expectations Of Occupational Therapy Student Professional And Technical Skills At The Beginning Of Level Ii Fieldwork, Jessica A. Mason

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Educational programs must ensure students are prepared for clinical practice prior to initiating the mandated fieldwork experiences defined by ACOTE. This is done through a multitude of educational learning strategies including lectures, service learning opportunities, and skill competence. Occupational therapy professionals serving as fieldwork educators can offer unique insight to occupational therapy educators in how to best prepare students for clinical practice.

Sensory-Based Services In Adult Mental Health, Leslie Reed

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this Capstone Project was to evaluate the sensory room program used by occupational therapy to determine whether use of the sensory room and the elements within the room reduced perceived levels of distress and acting out and/or aggressive behaviors of patients with mental illness. Methods: This Capstone Project was an outcome evaluation of a routine clinical program using retrospective analysis of existing patient records to ascertain physical aggression episodes, sensory modulation ability, and self-ratings and staff ratings of patient distress levels pre- and post-sensory intervention. Results: Through analysis of quantitative data, the results of the project …

Opening Minds Through Art: Engaging Art Agencies To Foster Community Participation And Commitment, Ashlyn Cunningham

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Opening Minds through Art [OMA] is a visual arts program for individuals with dementia which aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals living with dementia, as well as their caregivers, through a creative opportunity held within their own community. The intent of this project was for community art agencies and galleries to participate in dementia-specific training to develop programming for individuals with dementia so that clients with memory needs can actively engage in the creative arts in St. Louis. This project used a pre-post design to analyze perceptions regarding arts based programming with people who have memory …

The Philadelphia School Of Occupational Therapy: A Centennial Lesson, Christine O. Peters, Peggy M. Martin, Wanda J. Mahoney

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy (P.S.O.T.) was one of five founding occupational therapy academic programs in the United States. The program was led by two powerful occupational therapists, Helen S. Willard and Clare S. Spackman, for nearly a half century. After 60 years, P.S.O.T. was closed. This article provides a historical overview of the progression of occupational therapy education in the United States over the last century, using the story of P.S.O.T as a case study. The historical legacy and lesson from P.S.O.T. is that excellence in today’s academy may not mean security. Historically relevant today, the interaction between …

Underperforming Students: Factors And Decision-Making In Occupational Therapy Programs, Beth Cardell, Jeanette Koski, Jessica Wahl, Wendi Rock, Anne Kirby

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to better understand factors related to occupational therapy (OT) educators’ decisions to fail underperforming students and to clarify why educators sometimes fail to fail or pass students despite sub-standard performance. Assessing student competence is an essential part of ensuring the safety of those receiving occupational therapy services and ensuring the integrity of the OT profession. Educators in academic and fieldwork settings are responsible for confirming that students who graduate from their programs are able to demonstrate skills required for entry into the profession. A total of 323 OT academic and fieldwork educators responded to …

Perfectionism In Occupational Science Students: Occupational Therapy Implications, Mary Elizabeth Wagner, Renee Causey-Upton

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to categorize perfectionism and determine how perfectionism impacts the occupations and perceived health of students in a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science program.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive study with a survey component was conducted. Participants were categorized as perfectionists or non-perfectionists using the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R). Time logs were collected to compare categories of time-use between groups over a one-week period. An online survey was conducted with a sub-sample of the perfectionists.

Findings

More students were categorized as perfectionists (N = 41) than non-perfectionists (N = 3). Both groups spent …

Safety And Improvement Of Movement Function After Stroke With Atomoxetine: A Pilot Randomized Trial, Andrea Ward, Cheryl Carrico, Elizabeth Powell, Philip M. Westgate, Laurie Nichols, Anne Fleischer, Lumy Sawaki

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

BACKGROUND:

Intensive, task-oriented motor training has been associated with neuroplastic reorganization and improved upper extremity movement function after stroke. However, to optimize such training for people with moderate-to-severe movement impairment, pharmacological modulation of neuroplasticity may be needed as an adjuvant intervention.

OBJECTIVE:

Evaluate safety, as well as improvement in movement function, associated with motor training paired with a drug to upregulate neuroplasticity after stroke.

METHODS:

In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 12 subjects with chronic stroke received either atomoxetine or placebo paired with motor training. Safety was assessed using vital signs. Upper extremity movement function was assessed using Fugl-Meyer Assessment, …

Promoting Environments That Measure Outcomes: Partnerships For Change, Roseann C. Schaaf, Amy P. Carroll, Susan Toth-Cohen, Janice P. Burke, Caryn Johnson, E. Adel Herge

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This paper describes the development of the PrEMO^© (Promoting Environments that Measure Outcomes) program. PrEMO^© is an innovative model promoting evidence-based practice (EBP) while developing capacity and quality of Level II fieldwork placements. The PrEMO^© program is described from initiation to completion, including development of site-specific learning objectives, the twelve week schedule and the role of faculty mentorship. Occupational therapy (OT) students, and university OT program faculty including academic fieldwork coordinators, partner with fieldwork educators at the site to implement EBP using a data-driven decision making (DDDM) process to guide the development of evidence-based practices. PrEMO^{© …}

Education For Occupational Therapists To Develop The Role Of Healthcare Leaders In Screening, Brief Intervention, And Referral To Treatment (Sbirt), Amy Mattila, Ingrid Provident

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This mixed methods study explored the development, content, and impact of best practice post-professional clinical doctorate education related to assisting persons with substance use disorders (SUDs) using screening, brief interventions, and referral to treatment (SBIRT). A blended learning curriculum was developed and outcomes were measured through various participant report surveys. Results indicated that participants reported positive change in their understanding of SBIRT content; however, mixed beliefs exist in attitudes and perceptions towards individuals with SUDs. This article will discuss the overall impact of the SBIRT training on the occupational therapy students enrolled in a post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program. A …

Launching The Journal Of Occupational Therapy Education, Dana Howell, Renee Causey-Upton, Cynthia L. Hayden

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

No abstract provided.

Relationships Between Student Grit And Team-Based Learning Preferences In A Master’S Level Occupational Therapy Program, Ron Carson

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This paper reports the relationship between student grit, defined as the specific characteristic of perseverance and passion for long-term goals, and perceptions of team-based learning (TBL). In a cohort of first-semester, master’s level occupational therapy students (N=29), no statistically significant relationship between grit and positive perceptions of TBL was identified in this retrospective study. Findings suggest that students’ grit levels are not predictive of positive or negative TBL perceptions. For OT faculty wishing to teach using a less-structured "flipped” classroom environment such as TBL, this study suggests that high-performing students may have positive perceptions.