Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Healing The Mind And Soul With Art And Music, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Gracie Fisher, an artist and composer based in Santa Barbara, California, provided the cover art for the Fall 2020 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “The Fruit of Spirit” is a 16” x 20” oil painting on canvas. When a rare neurologic condition left Gracie paralyzed from the neck down, art and music helped to heal her mind and soul. Upon returning home from the hospital, Gracie’s wish was to create an inclusive environment where children of all abilities could engage in art and music. She founded the Grace Fisher Foundation so others could experience the healing …

Toward A Defined Role For Occupational Therapy In Foster Care Transition Programming, Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth, Molly Hahn-Floyd, Heather J. Williamson, Catherine Lockmiller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Youth who age out of the foster care system and transition to adulthood face challenges that are exacerbated by a history of trauma, severed relationships, and instability of living and educational placements. A review of the literature demonstrates poor outcomes overall for this population. Occupational therapists are positioned to meet the needs that arise during this time; however, a review of emerging roles for occupational therapists is necessary to describe how occupational therapists can best fulfill gaps in current programming. Through a review of the literature and a preliminary mixed-methods study, this paper establishes a direction for the inclusion of …

Patient Activation And Engagement (Pae): Guidelines For Acute Care Occupational Therapy Practice, Koob Moua

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This paper provides a set of guidelines for occupational therapists practicing “patient activation” and “patient engagement” approaches in the acute care hospital setting. Patient activation and engagement (PAE) has gained attention in the health care setting as the new effective intervention. Occupational therapists create client-centered goals and treatment plans in alignment with PAE approaches in the health care system but barriers continue to exist in practice settings that prevent appropriate implementation of such techniques. This paper presents evidence that an occupational therapist’s role should not be limited to the assessment of a client’s independence with activities of daily living in …

The Development Of A Portfolio For Academic Promotion And Tenure For Occupational Therapy Educators, David Levan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Advancement of occupational therapy educators is a significant achievement and important contribution to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Vision 2025 and Centennial Vision. Successful promotion demands excellence and active engagement in faculty skill development, both of which are essential to student learning. The academic promotion and tenure process presents a new and unfamiliar expectation for entry-level and tenure-track occupational therapy educators. A multitude of institutional policies and procedures, formal and informal recommendations from administrators and colleagues, and lack of mentorship can make planning for academic promotion and tenure confusing and difficult. The purpose of this article is to provide …

Occupational Therapy Student Readiness For Transition To The Fieldwork Environment: A Pilot Case Study, Pamela Karp

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The classroom and the field represent diverse and unique teaching and learning environments that students are required to navigate successfully. Facilitating student success in these environments requires the efforts of educators and the students themselves. This qualitative pilot study sought to elucidate perspectives regarding student readiness from the viewpoint of occupational therapy academic and fieldwork educators. Data for the study was collected from interviews and a focus group. The results of the study revealed that academic and fieldwork educators value similar characteristics of student readiness for transition to fieldwork. However, there is a need for collaborative strategies between the academic …

Clients’ Perspectives Of Spirituality In Occupational Therapy: A Retrospective Study, Barbara E. Milliken

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: While occupational therapy (OT) identifies itself as a holistic profession, there is little guidance in the literature and in academia to assist practitioners in addressing spirituality. An assignment was developed to provide a platform for occupational therapy assistant students to explicitly screen for clients’ perspectives of spiritual occupations. This paper summarizes the client responses to that assignment.

Method: Occupational therapy assistant students in a Midwestern community college conducted a 5-question spirituality screening in the context of their Level I and Level II fieldwork placements. While this exercise began as a student assignment, the value of the client …

Occupational Therapy In Integrated Primary Care: Addressing The Needs Of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, Caitlin E. Synovec, Marybeth Merryman, Josh Brusca

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Current health care policy supports occupational therapy services with individuals experiencing homelessness in primary care settings. Research on the impact of interventions is needed to support this emerging practice area.

Method: A retrospective, descriptive study was completed following the initiation of full-time occupational therapy services in an integrated primary setting and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for clients experiencing homelessness. This study evaluated: (a) percentage of referred clients who engaged in ongoing intervention; (b) diagnostic demographics of those referred; (c) functional goal types and frequency; (d) a comparison of preintervention Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) scores with postintervention …

Case Report: Optimizing Daily Function For People With Below-Elbow Limb Deficiency With The Softhand Pro, Amanda Theuer, Sasha Blue Godfrey, Kristin Zhao, Ryan Breighner, Manuel Catalano, Marco Santello, Antonio Bicchi, Karen L. Andrews

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Innovation in prosthetic devices for adults with upper limb loss is necessary to meet the demand for effective devices to optimize participation in daily activity. We evaluate the SoftHand Pro (SHP) as a terminal device to determine the application of this biologically-inspired prosthetic hand for use for a person with transradial limb deficiency.

Method: This case study describes and measures the first use of the SHP by an individual with transradial limb deficiency in their home environment. This paper reports the features and functionality of the SHP prototype and provides recommendations for changes to further optimize function. …

Concussion-Related Vision Disorder Practice Patterns In Occupational Therapy: A Survey, Alicia Reiser, Greta Bunin, Mitchell Scheiman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapists are among the first providers to initiate care after a concussion; however, evidence is limited regarding current concussion-related vision disorder practice patterns. A better understanding of these practice patterns is important because of the impact of undetected and untreated vision problems on occupational performance.

Method: A mixed-methods survey was administered online to occupational therapists to explore the assessments and interventions used to address concussion-related vision disorders, occupational therapy’s perceived role, and difficulties encountered when treating these conditions.

Results: Of 23,910 occupational therapists invited to participate, 2,278 (10%) began the survey, and 1,187 (52%) met …

Exploring Associations Between Health Literacy And Visual Impairment In Older Adults With Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Amd), Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss for Americans 65 years of age and older. Central vision loss makes reading challenging. Health literacy assessments that measure skills in basic literacy are often too demanding for people with AMD. The impact of central vision loss on functional health literacy has yet to be explored in the literature.

Methods: A between-subjects study design was employed to explore associations between functional health literacy and visual acuity in older adults with AMD. The Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA) was used to measure health …

Transition In Occupations Of Refugees During Resettlement, Karen Mccarthy, Jacqueline-Elizabeth Cantrell, Jennifer Daine, Kimberley Keagan Banuelos, Adam Chan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Human displacement is a social problem that has occupational implications. There is a significant gap in the research focusing on the refugee experience and the impact of this experience on their occupations as they transition to living in the US. This study seeks to capture the experience of refugees and the impact of this transition to the US on a broad array of occupations.

Method: This research is a qualitative study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with two participants who have legal status as refugees living in the US.

Results: Thematic analysis generated three themes: …

Applying The Model Of Human Occupation During The Pandemic Stay-At-Home Order, Tiffany T. Lin, Gail Fisher

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Doing It Right: Ot Meeting Population Needs With Covid-19, Amanda Balser, Shirley P. O'Brien, Peggy Wittman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Occupational Therapy In The Time Of Covid-19, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Integrating Art Into Life In Pursuit Of Occupational Balance, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Dr. Sharon Gutman, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, an occupational therapy professor and artist based in New York, provided the cover art for the Summer 2020 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Goldfish” is a 10” x 13” watercolor painting. Dr. Gutman has nearly 30 years of experience in clinical practice, higher education, research, and service to the profession. Dr. Gutman pursued a career in occupational therapy because it was a field where she could use her creativity. This decision led to an extraordinary career and a life of service to others. When the demands of a busy lifestyle …

They Said: Perspectives On Capstone Experience And Projects In Occupational Therapy, Rondalyn V. Whitney, Guy Mccormack

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

The S.E.L.F. Approach: Systems And Experiential Learning Framework For Fieldwork And Capstone Education Development, Theresa Delbert, Kasey Stepansky, Tina Lekas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This article presents an evidence-based strategy to assist academic fieldwork coordinators and capstone coordinators with meeting the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education standards of experiential learning components in an entry-level doctoral occupational therapy curriculum. The S.E.L.F. approach core methods for pedagogical framework and manual development are based on systems theory and educational learning theories. To optimize fieldwork and capstone delivery, the recommended process should include organizational analysis, program development, manual writing, and implementation of practical learning experience. Objectives of the fieldwork and capstone experiences can effectively connect to the overall curriculum design while addressing integral credentialing standards through an …

Demonstrating Occupational Therapy’S Distinct Value: Addressing The Quadruple Aim Of Health Care Through Doctoral Capstone Projects, Ingrid Provident, Jennifer E. Lape

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The quadruple aim of health care focuses on enhancing health care systems through improving quality patient care, improving the health of populations, providing care in cost-efficient ways, and improving the experience of providing health care by decreasing provider and caregiver stress and burnout. The purpose of this retrospective review is to share how the curricular design and doctoral capstone process from one postprofessional occupational therapy doctorate program have been designed to support students in recognizing occupational therapy’s distinct value in creating sustainable practice changes to move their respective health care systems forward. The postprofessional occupational therapy doctorate curriculum over 12 …

Fieldwork Educators’ Expectations Of Level Ii Occupational Therapy Students’ Professional And Technical Skills, Jessica Mason, Cynthia L. Hayden, Renee Causey-Upton

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Fieldwork educators are critical to the development of successful occupational therapy students, and the fieldwork experience is vital to the growth of each occupational therapy student in the profession. The purpose of this research 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. This study used a convergent parallel mixed-method design and surveyed 54 fieldwork educators. The survey participants expected students to possess a variety of professional and technical skills in a multitude of areas. Fieldwork educators identified communication as the most essential professional …

Designing Effective Capstone Experiences And Projects For Entry-Level Doctoral Students In Occupational Therapy: One Program’S Approaches And Lessons Learned, Sara Stephenson, Oaklee Rogers, Cynthia Ivy, Richard Barron, Jennifer Burke

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Entry-level doctoral occupational therapy programs require students to complete a capstone experience and project that supports advanced skills through an in-depth learning experience with a student-selected mentor. Strong curriculum design and mentorship are vital aspects of successful capstone experiences and projects. Through the application of these key components, students are supported, in collaboration with mentors, to achieve mutually beneficial projects allowing advancement of the profession through dissemination of capstone work.

Ican-Play: A Practice Guideline For Assessment And Intervention Of Play For Children With Severe Multiple Disabilities, Stephanie Hui, Katherine Dimitropoulou

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The nature of play in children with severe multiple disabilities (SMD) is complex, as many have significant motor and language impairments. Through the use of assistive technology (AT), children with SMD can play more independently and provide input to caregivers on their preferred play repertoire. This author-developed guideline describes an assessment and intervention to improve play in children with SMD using AT methods. The Interactive Child Activity Narrative of Play (iCan-Play) is an assessment tool used to evaluate play in children with SMD. It provides a comprehensive understanding of children’s play preferences, social and environmental contexts, and frequency of play. …

Sensory-Based Interventions In The School Setting: Perspectives Of Paraeducators, Lyn Kaiser, Marie-Christine Potvin, Caitlin Beach

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore paraeducators’ perceptions of sensory-based interventions (SBIs). Paraeducators are frequently responsible for implementing SBIs to enhance a student’s ability to learn in school. Previous studies have explored the perceptions of teachers and occupational therapists, but as of yet, there are no published studies exploring the perceptions of paraeducators regarding the efficacy of SBIs.

Methods: An ethnographic study was conducted with paraeducators (n = 11) working with students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or emotional disturbance in a center-based special education program. These paraeducators participated in a focus group …

Bundling Payment Initiatives For Total Hip And Knee Arthroplasties: Perspectives Of Health Care Professionals, Katherine Lally, Melinda Schultze, Hannah Ehresman, Helene L. Lohman, Vanessa D. Jewell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: A broad qualitative research study explored the perceptions of rehabilitation health care professionals and administrative leadership on coordination of care for rehabilitation patients who received hip or knee arthroplasties under the bundling initiative.

Method: Data was collected through the conduction of a focus group, email communication, and individual phone interviews. Researchers analyzed data collected from five administrative personnel and eight rehabilitation health care professionals who work in a facility that participates in a bundling initiative payment model.

Results: Four major themes were identified: importance of care coordination, increased efficiency and effectiveness, establishing protocols, and challenges of …

Effectiveness Of A Metacognitive Shopping Intervention For Adults With Intellectual Disability Secondary To Down Syndrome, Katherine V. O'Neill, Sharon A. Gutman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a metacognitive strategy-training intervention on the shopping performance of adults with intellectual disability secondary to Down syndrome.

Method: A single subject ABA design across six participants was employed and included a 2-week baseline data collection period, followed by an 8-week intervention phase, and a 2-week follow-up data collection period 1 month after intervention end. Time, frequency, and level of assistance required by the participants to demonstrate targeted shopping skills were measured during baseline, intervention, and follow-up probe phases.

Results: As a group, the participants experienced …

Experience Of Stigma Post Incarceration: A Qualitative Study, Rebecca Sinko, Tina Deangelis, Bernadette Alpajora, Josephine Beker, Ilyse Kramer

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Minimal attention has been given to the perspectives and experiences of individuals post incarceration regarding stigma and its impact on reintegration and occupational engagement. This research aimed to understand how stigma is experienced among individuals who were formerly incarcerated and its influence on occupational engagement, specifically social participation, work, and school occupations. This research also examined the role of occupational therapy as an intervention in addressing stigma from the perspectives of individuals who were formerly incarcerated to inform practice and mitigate the influence of stigma.

Method: Interviews were conducted with 10 participants of a work rehabilitation program for people …

Occupational Therapy Group Programming For Adolescents With Developmental And Learning Disabilities: A Retrospective Documentation Review, Jennifer A. Merz, Bonnie Nakasuji, Kimberly S. Mollo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Individuals with learning disabilities have higher rates of unemployment, are less likely to live independently, and have lower rates of college graduation. Occupational therapists who serve this population need to capture outcomes for programming effectively to determine best practice to address these needs. A retrospective documentation review of occupational therapy transition group programming was completed to identify themes and to assess fieldwork student documentation clarity.

Method: Analysis of 162 de-identified treatment notes from the years 2014–2018 was completed for six high school students (HSS) (13 to 20 years of age) who previously participated in a high school …

Effectiveness Of Electronic Documentation: A Case Report, Christie Raymond, Susan Zapf, Ellen Hudgins

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This case report aims to inform the occupational therapist and other health care professionals of documentation best practices.

Method: This qualitative case report uses an exploratory approach to compare the quality of one participant’s handwritten documentation to her electronic documentation. Outcome measures include the Accuracy Rationale Completeness (ARC) Audit to score the quality of the notes and quantity of words, and an informal discussion with the participant about her experiences using both types of documentation.

Results: The participant’s 25 handwritten notes scored a sum of 321 and the 25 electronic notes scored a …

Capstones: Voices From The Occupational Therapy Profession, Rondalyn V. Whitney, Guy Mccormack

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Charting A New Course Through Meaningful Occupation, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Rory Odom, an artist and United States Marine Corps Veteran based in Florida, provided the cover art for the Spring 2020 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Turtles All the Way Down” is an 8”x10” oil painting on canvas. After a tragic accident changed the course of Rory’s life, painting gave him hope. During rehabilitation, Rory sought opportunities to challenge himself and build technical skill as a painter. His bold use of color and signature impressionist style convey emotion and movement. In the face of adversity, meaningful occupation helped Rory chart a new course in life.

Pediatric Heart Conditions: What Do Occupational Therapists Need To Know?, Stefanie Rogers

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.