Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Family-Centered Care For Preschool Children With Disabilities, Kaylee Athmann, Ashley Freund, Rachel Koenig

Critically Appraised Topics

The purpose of this critically appraised topic paper was to define family-centered care, to look at family-centered care through the model of EHP, and to show the unique role occupational therapy plays in family-centered care. More specifically, we aimed to find the effects of family-centered care on health management. While family-centered care has been cited as beneficial by occupational therapists, there is a gap in these services being provided to preschoolers with disabilities.

Effective Occupational Therapy Interventions For Reducing Parental Stress In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ann Landreville, Annah Greenmyer, Makayla Murden

Critically Appraised Topics

John et al.’s (2018) study found that over half of the mothers in the NICU suffer from moderate to severe anxiety. This anxiety negatively impacts parents’ abilities to engage in the occupation of caring for their child, which can have long-term consequences. Currently, there is a lack of research on occupational therapy-specific interventions that focus on reducing parental stress in the NICU setting. The purpose of this critically appraised topic (CAT) is to discover which stress-reducing occupational therapy interventions have a positive impact on the abilities of parents to successfully care for their infants in the NICU.

Efficacy Of Educational Programs For Homeless Adults With Mental Illness, Madison Herbeck, Samantha Proctor, Bailee Scheer

Critically Appraised Topics

Homeless adults continually face occupational deprivation. There is a lack of reimbursement for occupational therapy community-based interventions (Gutman, 2021). This critically appraised topic aims to explore how educational programs will impact and influence positive occupational engagement and quality of life for homeless adults with mental illness.

Effectiveness Of Executive Functioning Interventions Among Homeless Elementary Aged Students, Julia Warmack, Abby Jessen, Taylor Koopmeiners

Critically Appraised Topics

Elementary-aged children who are homeless face challenges in the areas of self-regulation, working memory, attention, and time management (Wanger-Fuhs et al., 2014). Currently, there is a lack of research on homeless elementary-aged children and the influence occupational therapy can have on their academic success. Specifically, there is no comprehensive source that details the effects of the role of occupational therapy interventions on executive functioning skills such as self-regulation, working memory, attention, and time management for the population of homeless elementary-aged school children. The purpose of this CAT paper was to determine the effect of occupational therapy interventions that focus on …

Effectiveness And Availability Of Occupational Therapy Interventions For Improving Quality Of Life For Families Dealing With Virtual Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic And Substance Use Issues, Madison Christian, Alexis Lehmann, Hannah Steckler

Critically Appraised Topics

Currently, there is an overall lack of evidence examining the effects of occupational therapy interventions to enhance families’ quality of life while dealing with virtual learning in school-aged children and the impacts of substance use on parents. The purpose of this critically appraised topic is to determine the availability for immediate use and the quality of occupational therapy interventions for improving the quality of life for families with school-age children dealing with school issues and virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically with parents who are also experiencing substance use issues

The Link Between Occupational Therapy Interventions, Quality Of Life, And Social And Leisure Participation In Adults With Chronic Conditions, Katie Deboer, Callie Kleindl, Monicah Nyakoe

Critically Appraised Topics

The focus population for this critically appraised topic (CAT) was adults aged 18 years and older with chronic conditions. For this CAT, chronic conditions included depression, heart diseases, diabetes, arthritis, respiratory diseases, chronic kidney disease, neurological disorders, and cancers. Chronic conditions greatly impact a large majority of the older adult population. Of the adult population, about 80% had at least one type of chronic condition while close to 70% had two or more (National Council on Aging, 2021). Diving deeper, the prevalence of chronic conditions in adults 65 years and older varied by race/ethnicity. According to Lim et al. (2018), …

How The Physical Long-Haul Symptoms Of Covid-19 Influence Occupational Performance From A Person-Environment-Occupation Perspective: A Critically Appraised Topic, Emmalee Burtsfield, Amber Matlock, Alyssia Pucel

Critically Appraised Topics

An increasing number of adults continue to experience the long-term physical effects of COVID-19. Currently, there is uncertainty regarding the best practices in occupational therapy to address long-haul COVID-19 symptomology and its effects on people as research on the topic continues to emerge (Robinson et al., 2021). The purpose of this critically appraised paper is to identify prominent areas on which occupational therapists should focus during evaluation and intervention planning while considering the person, environment, and occupation to encompass the ideals of best practice when working with adult clients who are facing disruptions as a result of long-haul COVID-19 symptoms.

Identifying The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Pediatric Palliative Care Team For Pediatric Cancer Patients, Rudessa Bedonie, Hannah Gianan, Riley Thomas, Kennedy Tooke

Critically Appraised Topics

What is the role of occupational therapy in providing effective intervention during palliative care for pediatric cancer patients and their families during the transition to the end of life?

Pediatric Telehealth Simplified: A Toolkit For The Rural Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practitioner, Stacy Michelle Buschette

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to promote occupational therapy to rural pediatric populations by means of effective and efficient telehealth service delivery via an extensive toolkit. The toolkit is meant to enhance the occupational therapy practitioner’s skills, abilities, and competencies pertaining to telehealth to ease the transition to telehealth implementation.

Methodology: An in-depth literature review of current research was conducted to determine the common barriers and supports that are experienced by occupational therapy practitioners implementing telehealth service delivery. Due to the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous occupational therapy practitioners were compelled to transition to telehealth intervention …

Meeting Sensory Needs: A Childcare Provider’S Guide To Support Sensory Strategies In The Daycare Setting, Mckenzie Dye

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Meeting Sensory Needs: A childcare provider’s guide to support sensory strategies in the daycare setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to create a supplemental sensory guide to support childcare providers in creating a sensory rich environment. This product incorporated the expertise of occupational therapy to create a sensory guide that outlines a sensory activity bank and environmental modifications.

Background: A high percentage of children in childcare experience sensory related difficulties that hinder their performance in daily activities. Many children in daycare who have sensory processing difficulties are being treated as if they have behavior problems, which can have …

Increasing Health, Wellness, And Self-Care In Older Adults Experiencing Mental Health Effects During And After A Pandemic, Hayley Blom

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic calls for new solutions in promoting increased health, wellness, and self-care in older adults experiencing mental health effects during and after a pandemic. As the virus began to spread in the United States in early 2020, social distancing measures were implemented to reduce the spread of the virus. During this time of uncertainty, assisted living facilities (ALF) put a halt to all program activities, mealtimes in the communal dining area, and any other activities or events that were face-to-face. Along with activity programming, most facilities restricted visitors from entering the building including residents’ loved ones. These factors …

Occupation, Dissociation, And Queer Identity, Katie Christopherson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Queer youth and young adults are more likely to experience trauma and are at a higher risk of developing mental health conditions and experiencing dissociation that negatively impacts occupational engagement (Keating & Muller, 2020; Tankersley et al., 2021). This disparity is attributed to environmental factors, such as discrimination (Keating & Muller, 2020). The goal of this project is to advocate for queer youth and young adults through educational resources. The resources were designed for an audience of healthcare professionals who work with queer youth in mental health settings in order to have a broader impact on the target population. The …

Wellness Education For The Food Insecure Population, Erin M. Grensteiner

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Food insecurity is a problem facing the United States that often has few solutions. Those who face the challenges of food insecurity are known as the food-insecure population. Since the persistence of food insecurity, poorer health outcomes have become positively associated with the food-insecure population. After reviewing the literature, it was found that difficulties with the occupations of maintaining personal and home hygiene and resource seeking were prevalent and found to lead to poorer health outcomes. Difficulties with maintaining personal and home hygiene were found to stem from a lack of access or money to spend on personal and home …

Pathway Through Nature: A Nature-Based Occupational Therapy Program To Support Adolescent Mental Health, Danielle Grace Halstead

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Pathway Through Nature: A Nature-Based Occupational Therapy Program to Support Adolescent Mental Health

Background: Adolescent mental health conditions have risen 13% between 2007-2017, with increased rates of untreated and unrecognized mental health challenges (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021; WHO, n.d.). Primary challenges include anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, stress, coping skills, and self-identity (Kim, 2021; Magson et al., 2021; Rapee et al., 2019). Decreased access to professionals within the mental health field have presented as a barrier to combat the rise of the challenges listed above (Asher & De Silva, 2017). Nature-based therapy provides services within the most natural context …

A Sensory-Based Toolkit For Health Management Of Patients With Aggressive Behaviors In Acute Care, Meghan Janssen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: A Sensory-Based Toolkit for Health Management of Patients with Aggressive Behaviors in Acute Care

Introduction: Patients who have aggressive behaviors in acute care have limited engagement in health management and social participation (Beattie, Griffiths, Innes, & Morphet, 2018; Harwood, 2017). There is current evidence stating aggression and difficult behaviors can be caused by a dysregulated sensory system, a specific condition or an internal/external stressor (Bowman & Jones, 2016; Harwood, 2017; Scheydt et al., 2017). The purpose of this scholarly project is to promote patient engagement in health management and social participation through the implementation of a sensory-based toolkit that …

A Research Study To Identify Gaps And Barriers To Mental Health Treatment In Natrona County, Jedekiah Zean May

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: Individuals with a mental health diagnosis in Natrona County may face many barriers to treatment, including a lack of access and a lack of providers. Furthermore, the unique cultural aspects may render available treatment undesirable to these people. Wyoming has various population level mental health challenges including a suicide rate of 24.8 per 100,000 in comparison to the national average of 14.2 per 100,000 (Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF], 2020). Mental Health America (MHA) shows Wyoming ranking 48th in the nation as a state on their access/prevalence ranking as of 2020, indicating high prevalence of mental illness with low access …

Oral Hygiene Education For Patients And Staff In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting, Cassandra L. Madsen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Individuals recovering from a stroke or hip fracture may have comorbidities, medication side effects, and symptoms that can decrease independence with self-care tasks and lead to a decline in oral health (DeBiase & Austin, 2003). Poor oral health has been associated with systemic infections, diabetes, aspiration pneumonia, and other comorbidities that negatively impact overall health and recovery from illness or injury (Danckert, Ryan, Plummer, & Williams, 2016). Few patients are aware of the importance of oral care and its impact on overall health. Even fewer patients are aware of the importance of oral care after stroke or hip fracture and …

The “Nature” Of Growth: A Virtual Education Platform For Caregivers Of Children With Trauma, Katelyn Rose Mclellan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: The “Nature” of Growth: A Virtual Education Platform for Caregivers of Children with Trauma

Background: More than two thirds of all children report having been exposed to at least one traumatic event prior to the age of 16 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2021). These children are considered at risk due to the previous trauma that they have been exposed to (Ryan, Jane, & Powers, 2017). Children exposed to trauma face significant barriers to engagement in meaningful tasks, delays in development, longterm health issues, and unpredictable emotions (Forkey et al., 2021). Caregivers of these children have …

Bridging The Gap: A Comprehensive Discharge Guide, Ashley Marie Mutziger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Much attention is paid to clients while they receive services, but after they have met their goals and are ready for their next steps, they can perceive a lack of support and feelings of uncertainty. Returning home from any healthcare setting can be a time of uncertainty for clients. There are many questions to be answered and potential unknowns surrounding the discharge processes. Literature shows there is a need for improving discharge practices to promote client understanding and follow-through to end the treatment experience with the confidence that the client has the tools and resources necessary to be successful in …

Accessibility In Rural America, Ashley Osbjornson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Individuals with disabilities are often faced with barriers when trying to access public spaces out in the community, which results in lack of inclusion (Chibaya et al., 2021; Sandwood, 2019). This is an ongoing barrier that if addressed, may expand inclusion for those with disabilities (CDC, 2020a). The purpose of this scholarly project was to increase accessibility and usability for rural shoppers. Thus, a manual was created for Minnesota stores to use as a guide when assessing accessibility and usability. In addition, this manual was created to help store owners understand disability and its impact and identify strategies store …

Transitional Caregiver Support From Nicu To Early Intervention Services., Sophia Schutt

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Transitional Caregiver Support from NICU to Early Intervention Services. Sophia B. Schutt, Dr. Julie Grabanski, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, 501 North Columbia Road, Grand Forks, ND 58202

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop an occupation-based educational product for caregivers leaving the NICU setting and transitioning into early intervention services. The project is aimed at assessing and reducing caregiver stress levels and increasing co-occupational outcomes with their infants.

Methods: A needs assessment was conducted to evaluate the gap in caregiver education during the transition in care. The educational …

Upper Extremity Evaluation & Intervention Through The Utilization Of Occupation-Based Activities Within The Model Of Human Occupation Perspective, Richard J. Seaman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Upper Extremity Evaluation & Intervention Through the Utilization of Occupation-based Activities within the Model of Human Occupation Perspective.

Background: The importance of upper extremity rehabilitation is vital for clients to be able to reengage in their valued occupations that were affected due to a recent injury, illness, or surgery. Upper extremity fractures make up approximately 590,000 fractures annually in the USA (Napora et al., 2020). Clients with these types of conditions seek therapy to help improve their ability to gain back function within their body and daily lives. Through this process, clients are asked to perform various exercises that …

A Home-Based Program To Support Parents/Caregivers Of Children With Complex Developmental Needs In Their Home Environment, Audrey Lind Soulek

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Early intervention (EI) services play a significant role to support children with developmental disabilities and delays reach important milestones as they grow and develop. A child that qualifies for early intervention services is often seen by a provider once a week, which makes it necessary to provide parents/caregivers with home activities and educational material that will both enhance their knowledge and confidence, as well as promote continual learning opportunities for their child in the home environment. Occupational therapists (OTs) working in the EI setting evaluate a child’s performance completing occupations and provide interventions that promote development and skill building in …

Building Life Skills And Reducing Recidivism, Kassandra Severson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: In the United States, about two-thirds of incarcerated women who have been released back into the community after they have served time, are re-arrested (Gordon, 2018). This scholarly project was created to help decrease the recidivism rates amongst the female population. Even though there are still more males incarcerated than females, female prisons population have increased 700% both on the state side and locally (Cowan, 2019). The purpose of developing Putting Together the Puzzle of Life is to illustrate the role of occupational therapy in the treatment of incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism rates amongst the female population.

Methods: …

Realizing, Recognizing, Responding, & Resisting Re-Traumatization: An Evidence-Based Toolkit For Occupational Therapists To Advocate For Their Role On Interprofessional Teams To Address The Impacts Of Childhood Trauma, Abby Werkmeister

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Many children in the United States experience childhood trauma and/or adverse childhood events which can have short-term and long-term impacts on a child. Childhood trauma is complex; therefore, the appropriate care needed is also complex, making an interprofessional collaborative approach necessary to address the impacts of childhood trauma, promote positive outcomes for those who have been impacted, and work towards a common goal. (Fraser, MacKenzie, & Versnel, 2019). Occupational therapists (OTs) are well suited to collaborate with other professionals such as mental health practitioners, however, OT’s role related to a trauma care team is still relatively unrecognized. There is a …

Parent & Caregiver Education And Support: A Product To Support Families Of Childrn With Senosry Processing Difficulties, Jaslyn Robb Seeley

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose Parent and caregiver collaboration, participation, education, and training has shown to improve therapeutic outcomes for the child receiving therapy services for sensory processing and integration challenges (Lin, Lin, & Yu, 2018; Miller-Kuhaneck & Watling, 2018; Schoen, Miller, & Flanagan, 2018; STAR Institute, 2021). However, parent education and training are often minimally conducted or lacking altogether in the therapeutic process (Gee & Peterson, 2016; Miller-Kuhaneck & Watling, 2018). This product was created with the purpose of enhancing parent and caregiver knowledge about sensory processing difficulties and to increase follow-through of sensory strategies across contexts, such as at home and school, …

Protecting Against Pain And Stress In The Nicu: An Evidence-Based Eye Examination Guideline, Heather Jo Bowman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create an evidence-based Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) eye examination guideline and associated resources that supported use of non-pharmacological interventions and emphasized the importance of parent education and involvement from both an interdisciplinary and occupational therapy perspective.

Literature Review: Although medically necessary, researchers and practitioners in the NICU interdisciplinary field have discussed pain and stress associated with preterm infant eye examinations (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], 2016; Fierson, 2018; Francis, 2016; Pollaci et al., 2020; Samra & McGrath, 2009). Pain and stress likely impact sensory and overall brain development (AAP, 2016; Brummelte …

Tiny Humans, Huge Environments: All The Sense’S Coming Into Play, Jessica L. Blackman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a busy overwhelming environment that differs from the womb. In the womb, an infant is protected from noises and bright lights, tasting and smelling the mother's diet, feeling movement and pushing against the mother as they grow (Altimier & Phillips, 2016). It is ideal for a premature infant's neurodevelopment to have the NICU environment mimic the womb. Two models were selected to help guide the product development, one occupation-based model and one NICU-based model.

Methodology The Person, Environment, Occupation (PEO) model Law et al. (1996) was selected to be used as it …

Interoception Toolkit: A Resource For Occupational Therapy Practitioners To Use With Children And Their Families, Heidi Lynn Janssen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Interoception refers to one’s ability to sense the internal condition of the body, including sensory messages from body parts and internal organs (Craig, 2002). In the past 30 years, scientists and researchers have discovered a powerful connection between interoceptive appraisal skills and self-regulation, emotional identification, emotional regulation, social skills, and nearly every task in daily life (Mahler, 2017). The purpose of this project is to provide practitioners with an educational platform that describes the sensorimotor skill of interoception applied throughout the occupational therapy process.

Methods: The development of this product was initiated with a thorough review of literature to …

Addressing Challenges Related To Community Reintegration Following A Traumatic Brain Injury, Alexia Rose Gallagher

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Addressing Challenges Related to Community Reintegration Following a Traumatic Brain Injury

Introduction: The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a guide of resources and tools available in and around Bismarck, North Dakota that individuals after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can utilize to assist in their successful return to their community. The Rancho Los Amigos Scale was utilized to effectively guide which resources and supports were needed based on the functional level the individual is currently presenting at. The Person Environment Occupational (PEO) Model theoretical framework was utilized to guide the creation and implementation of this community …