Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

A Comparison Of Two Keyboarding Instruction Methods Over 2 Years For Elementary Students, Denise K. Donica, Peter Giroux, Young Joo Kim, Sydney Branson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: As computer and digital device use continues to grow in prevalence for school and work tasks, it is important for elementary-aged students to develop efficient keyboarding skills to support future academic and vocational success.

Method: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study design was used to compare the effect of two different keyboarding instructional approaches on elementary students over a consecutive 2-year period. One group used Keyboarding Without Tears (KWT; N = 592) both years while the other group used free web-based activities the first year and Keyboarding Without Tears the second year (mixed methods; N = 714). …

A Comparison Of Activity Participation Between Children With And Without Asthma, Jacqueline R. Jezioro, Sharon A. Gutman, Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, Virginia Rauh, Frederica P. Perera, Rachel L. Miller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Asthma affects approximately 6 million children in the United States and can greatly impact quality of life and occupational engagement. Although occupational therapists are well-equipped to address participation limitations, insufficient evidence exists to support the role of occupational therapists in asthma treatment.

Method: The purpose of this study was to further understand the occupational limitations experienced by children with asthma. We also explored a dual diagnosis of asthma and obesity. The participants included children with (n = 84) and without (n = 63) asthma living in New York City. The Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self Report, Brief …

Promoting Population Health In Local Communities: Parental Perceptions Of An Embedded Movement And Physical Activity Program For A Preschool Population, Jennifer Hight, Shirley P. O'Brien, Colleen M. Schneck

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Many children reach kindergarten lacking age-appropriate motor skills because of a lack of access to early intervention services or a lack of continued early intervention beyond 3 years of age. Research suggests sedentary children become sedentary adults, which contributes to a growing population of unhealthy Americans with chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and psychosocial difficulties. Parents often are not aware of the benefits of engaging in physical activity or possess a lack of awareness of their local resources. A community based preschool movement program was created to foster physical activity and promote …

Preliminary Measurement Properties Of The Early Childhood Occupational Profile (Ecope), Cary C. Moore

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study established the preliminary psychometric properties of the Early Childhood Occupational Profile (ECOPE; Moore & Bowyer, 2018) and investigated the perspectives of occupational therapists on the clinical utility of the tool.

Method: An embedded mixed methods research design was used to support the use of different research questions and unique sets of data. National and international occupational therapists administered the ECOPE on video case studies and on children from their caseload. These data were analyzed using the Rasch goodness of fit statistics to evaluate the validity and reliability of the ECOPE. The participating occupational therapists also …

Plagiocephaly Perception And Prevention: A Need To Intervene Early To Educate Parents, Sonja Burmeister, Allison N. Kayne, Ali R. Yazdanyar, J. Nathan Hagstrom, David B. Burmeister

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Plagiocephaly is a condition where the cranium has been malformed because of external forces or premature cranial suture fusion. This study’s objective was to gather and examine data regarding parent and caregiver awareness of plagiocephaly and its potential impact on development as well as to determine their rate of concern for positional flattening.

Method: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted. Categorical variables were described by frequency and proportions. The study was conducted across eight outpatient pediatric sites. Approximately 1,100 parents and caregivers were targeted. Inclusion criteria required participants to be willing to answer the questionnaire, to be …

Use Of A Caregiver Coaching Model For Implementation Of Intensive Motor Training For Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Case Study, Sheryl Eckberg Zylstra, Aimee Sidhu

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: There is extensive literature to support the efficacy of both pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy (pCIMT) and hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. In addition, there is increasing evidence to support the training of caregivers (parents and other care providers) to carry out therapy interventions in the home. The Family Activity Adaptation Model (FAAM) presents guidelines for parent and caregiver coaching for intensive therapies used in occupational therapy practice.

Method: In this descriptive case study the FAAM was used to frame caregiver training to answer the question: Is a coaching model, using a …

Observing And Promoting Normative Developmental Outcomes: Reciprocity Is Key, Nicki L. Aubuchon-Endsley, Bryan M. Gee, Heather L. Ramsdell, Nancy Devine, Hillary E. Swann-Thomsen, Nicholas Burgett, Leah R. Kollmeyer, Michele R. Brumley

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapists focus on caregiver-infant reciprocity, which is influenced by a host of biopsychosocial factors and is predictive of developmental outcomes across domains. It is important for early intervention professions to understand how different forms of reciprocity may predict infant development in salient domains (i.e., language, mobility, and co-occupation). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate associations among related measures of development in and across age, while also exploring how reciprocity influences the acquisition of developmental milestones.

Method: We examined these important areas of development in relation to novel caregiver-infant co-occupational constructs in addition to …

Occupational Therapists’ Perceptions Of Intraprofessional Collaboration When Working With Young Children Aged Birth To 3 Years, Christine Rocchio Mueller, Mindy Garfinkel

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Birth to 3 years of age is a critical period in a child’s development, and occupational therapy intervention during this period can serve many purposes. While pediatric occupational therapists may be working in different settings with different specialties, the foundational knowledge all occupational therapists possess provides a common lens through which they approach treatment. Intraprofessional collaboration is considered best practice, as it is not uncommon for young children to receive occupational therapy services by more than one therapist, and in more than one practice setting at the same time.

Method: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach. …

Adaptations To Early Intervention Service Delivery During Covid-19, Lauren Little, Ashley Stoffel

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Early Intervention (EI) systems made a rapid shift to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the limited preparation of EI providers in the telehealth service delivery model, it is unclear how providers implemented adaptations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Service Delivery Adaptations Questionnaire and examine the influence of provider type, years of EI experience, and willingness to return to in-person services on the questionnaire’s subscales.

Method: We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine the structure of the Service Delivery Adaptations Questionnaire among n = 704 EI providers. We …

Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives On Family-Centered Practices In Early Intervention, Irma J. Pereira, Francine M. Seruya

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Early intervention (EI) requires service provision in natural settings while incorporating interventions based on family-centered practice (FCP). This study sought to understand (a) how occupational therapists define and implement FCP in their daily interventions and (b) therapists’ perspectives on using this model of practice in EI.

Method: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Nine licensed occupational therapists from six states with a minimum of 3 years of working experience in the area of EI participated. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subsequently coded and analyzed for emergent themes.

Results: The therapists had an average of …

They Said: Preparing Future Ei Providers Across Disciplines Through An Academic Partnership, Beth K. Elenko

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

They Said: Coaching Alongside Families In Early Intervention, Beth K. Elenko

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Bringing The Family To The Center Of Early Intervention Practice In Occupational Therapy, Beth K. Elenko

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Examining Complementary Health Approaches And Integrative Health (Chaih) Practices Among Occupational Therapists In The United States: A Mixed Methods Approach, Sarah M. Renner

Dissertations

The use of complementary health approaches and integrative health (CHAIH) is increasing among adults and children in the United States and continues to grow within various health care settings. With Health and Wellness identified as a key practice area for occupational therapists and the American Occupational Therapy Association supporting the use of CHAIH in occupational therapy (OT) practice, practitioners must offer safe, research-driven treatments supporting this movement. Research around CHAIH continues to grow; yet the gaps in the literature make it difficult to determine how CHAIH is being used in OT practice as well as the practitioner’s perspectives on the …

Characterization, Implementation, And Impact Of Low Stimulation Precautions In Acute Neurological Injury, Alexis Kurek

Dissertations

Recommendations provided by clinical and professional organizations that encourage providing patients with a low stimulation environment following acquired brain injury are prevalent but supported by expert opinion only. Such recommendations are based on extrapolation of what is known about physiological response to environmental stimuli, however such findings are not specific to the patients with acquired brain injury. Recommendations for low stimulation environments lack guidance for their application and implementation of precautions, and there have been no studies investigating their effectiveness at improving clinical outcomes.

The objective of this study is to determine what patient characteristics are associated with prescription of …

The Impacts Of Occupational Therapy And Assistive Technology In The Lives Of Alzheimer's Patients, Hannah Wilson

Honors Theses

Occupational therapy and the assistive devices that are recommended provide an outlet to a better quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s as well as increases safety and independence in the individual. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects an individual’s memory, physical functioning, safety, and cognition. As the disease progresses, it decreases an individual’s level of independence in their environment and often calls for outside care to successfully complete the daily skills and activities needed to age successfully. The practitioners that work with individuals who have Alzheimer’s aim to improve the completion of activities of daily living …

Pain Response Of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation To Different Grades Of Knee Osteoarthritis, Emily Beer

Honors Theses

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is diagnosed worldwide and affects nearly 250 million people (Wallace et al., 2017, pg. 1). Additionally, people who are 45 years and over are prone to this degrative disease (Wallace et al., 2017, pg. 1). Knee OA can be graded into five categories (0-4) levels associated with the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scales (Kellgren & Lawrence, 1957, pg. 494). Symptoms will develop overtime; thus, it is important to find non-pharmacological ways to help alleviate pain for individuals affected. A non-pharmacological modality of interest is the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units, which can be tailored to a patient’s specific …

Life Repurposed: Finding A New Calling Through Meaningful Occupation, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Kelly Allen, an occupational therapist and artist based in Grand Rapids, MI, provided the cover art for the Spring 2021 edition of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Follow” is a 16” x 20” painting made from oil on panel. The painting, which features a coati from Central America, is from Kelly’s Animal Totem series. After more than 2 decades as a fine artist and educator, she began searching for a career change. Kelly’s background in fine art and her desire to help others prepared her for a career in occupational therapy. Certain events in Kelly’s life aligned not …

Regenerative Rehabilitation And Genomics: Implications For Occupational Therapy, John V. Rider

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The completion of the human genome project has paved the way for health care practitioners to use genetic and environmental information to tailor medical treatment. This innovative approach to health care is rapidly evolving, and occupational therapists need to be aware of the impact it will have on future practice. Regenerative rehabilitation is a product of knowledge and techniques from the fields of rehabilitation and regenerative medicine with the common goal to restore function. Occupational therapists have the potential to play a significant role in regenerative rehabilitation research and implementation. The purpose of this article is to (a) increase understanding …

Occupational Therapy And Health Promotion For Families Experiencing Homelessness: A Community-Wide Approach, Aster Gallus, Laura Schmelzer

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Families experiencing homelessness often face poor mental and physical health outcomes. Some scholars and service providers partially attribute family health outcomes to the negative impact of the social determinants of health. The social determinants of health emerge from a variety of factors in the socioecological model, a tiered model outlining the hierarchy of public health systems, making the social determinants difficult to address. To explore occupational therapy’s potential contribution to addressing these poor health outcomes, the authors centered a doctoral capstone around the question of what occupational therapy’s role would be in addressing the needs of families experiencing homelessness. A …

Functional Cognition In Critically Ill Children: Asserting The Role Of Occupational Therapy, Christina M. Dumas, Lenin Grajo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In this Opinions in the Profession article, we aim to highlight the distinct importance of functional cognition as an assessment and intervention priority in children. In this paper, we use the population of critically-ill children as a specific case example. Functional cognition is the ability of individuals to use and integrate their thinking and processing skills to accomplish desired tasks in their everyday lives in meaningful contexts. We propose three themes through which occupational therapists can assume a more active role in understanding and addressing functional cognition and its impact on occupational performance in critically ill children. Supported by literature, …

Impacting Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Knowledge About Occupation And Occupation-Based Practice, Allen S. Keener, Cynthia L. Hayden, Dana M. Howell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

It is important for occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs to teach about occupation and occupation-based practice (OBP). Few have published on this topic in relation to OTA education. This study focuses on determining if an educational module covering occupation and OBP would increase student knowledge of occupation and occupation-based practice. In this mixed-methods parallel convergent study, OTA students were immersed in an author-designed educational module to increase their knowledge of occupation, OBP, and the selection of occupation-based interventions. The students engaged in pretesting activities, prior to the module, consisting of short-answer essay and intervention selection tasks. At the conclusion of …

Understanding Therapists’ Perceptions Of Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Using The Model Of Human Occupation Screening Tool, Jaimie K. Estreet, Christine Privott

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The need for a more community-based occupational therapy approach to clients’ addiction recovery is supported by Killeen et al. (2015), who concluded that U.S. health care reform will require the delivery of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment by providers who specifically address addiction as a comorbidity. Stoffel (2013) argued this a few years earlier with a call to action for occupational therapists in behavioral health treatment and recovery. For this study, the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST) was used to explore therapists’ perceptions of competence working with patients diagnosed with co-occurring SUDs. Prior research supports concepts …

Occupational Therapy And Therapeutic Horticulture For Women With Cancer And Chronic Pain: A Pilot Study, Yuko Mori, Julie Kugel, Dragana Krpalek, Heather Javaherian-Dysinger, Lida Gharibvand

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Chronic pain among individuals with cancer can adversely affect quality of life (QOL) and physical, social, and emotional functioning. Therapeutic horticulture has been shown to be effective for treating various medical conditions; however, the focus on cancer survivors with chronic pain is marginal. This study evaluated the effectiveness of therapeutic horticulture for women with cancer living with chronic pain.

Method: A mixed methods experimental design was used to examine the impact of a 6-week therapeutic horticulture program with seven females with cancer who presented with chronic pain for longer than 3 months. Perception of pain, QOL, and …

Postsecondary Education Students With Disabilities’ Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy-Led Coaching, Erin E. Harrington, Gabriella O. Santos, Marie-Christine Potvin

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Students with disabilities attending postsecondary education (PSE) institutions have poor degree progression, retention, and graduation rates. PSE institutions are addressing these challenges in various ways, including the delivery of occupational therapy (OT)-led coaching. There is emerging evidence that coaching increases academic success and self-determination in PSE. The students’ perspectives about the benefits of OT-led coaching intervention has yet to be explored.

Method: A phenomenological study was conducted using transcribed semi-structured interviews with 18 college students with disabilities. Qualitative data analysis was conducted through an immersive inter-coder process that included independent coding, comparison of codes, discrepancy resolution to …

The Feasibility Of Taekwondo For Addressing Social Interaction And Social Participation In Children, Mariel Calinog, Julie D. Kugel, Dragana Krpalek, Arezou Salamat

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience physical, social, and emotional barriers that impact participation in extracurricular activities, such as taekwondo. Engaging in taekwondo may provide opportunities for advancing social abilities as well as developing health-promoting behaviors and routines. Therefore, the purpose of this feasibility study was to explore the effectiveness of using a form of martial arts, taekwondo, as an intervention to promote social participation in everyday life.

Method: A mixed-methods design was used. Three children between 7 and 8 years of age who met the ASD criteria participated in a 7-week taekwondo program. The …

Home Use Of An Upper Extremity Exoskeleton In Children With Sma: A Pilot Study, Tracy M. Shank, Tariq Rahman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often have arm weakness resulting in restricted independence and challenges with activities of daily living. An upper extremity (UE) orthosis, the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX), which augments arm movement by providing gravity assistance, was provided to a small cohort of subjects for 1 year. Resulting changes in the subjects’ performance were assessed.

Method: Five subjects with SMA were asked to use the WREX system for 1 year. Data were collected at baseline and at 6-month intervals. Evaluation tools used were UE range of motion (ROM), the Box and Block Test, the …

Clinical Utility Of The Adapted Biopsychosocial Model: An Initial Validation Through Peer Review, Keith K. Gentry Jr., Karen Snyder, Jennifer Jordan Utley

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The World Health Organization has called on health care providers to adopt a biopsychosocial approach to improve health and well-being and reduce disability. While a variety of holistic models exist in occupational therapy, none are explicitly biopsychosocial and use language consistent with both the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. Following the recent introduction of the Adapted Biopsychosocial Model (A-BPSM), this study served as an initial step toward validation of this model for use in occupational therapy.

Method: A qualitative descriptive design was implemented with a maximum variation …

Assessment Of Modified Patient Education Materials For People With Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Jennifer Fortuna, Anne Riddering, Linda Shuster, Cassie Lopez-Jeng

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Existing research on health literacy identifies a disconnect between the readability of patient education materials (PEMs) and the reading abilities of American adults. For people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), central vision loss creates an additional barrier to health literacy. This study explored how evidence-based guidelines for creating easy-to-understand written materials influenced the usability of PEMs in people with AMD.

Methods: Evidence-based guidelines were applied to modify one PEM. Standardized tools quantified differences in readability and suitability between the original and modified PEM. Twelve people with AMD rated the comprehensibility (design quality) and shared personal preferences during semi-structured interviews. …

A Qualitative Study Investigating Stroke Survivors’ Perceptions Of Their Psychosocial Needs Being Met During Rehabilitation, Robin A. Wenzel, Emily A. Zgoda, Mia C. St. Clair, Lisa J. Knecht-Sabres

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Depression and anxiety can negatively impact one’s recovery, outcomes, and quality of life. Even though therapists consider the mental health needs of their clients to be a priority, they are dissatisfied with their ability to completely address these needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the client’s perspective regarding the extent to which health care professionals addressed their psychosocial needs after a stroke.

Method: A phenomenological research design was used to collect data from six participants. Interviews and focus group were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Member checks, peer-review, multiple coders, triangulation, and expert …