Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Occupational Therapy's Role In The Transition To Employment For Youth And Young Adults, Jeanne M. Ventura

Student Capstone Papers

Employment rates for persons with disabilities are shockingly low at 30%, while 70% remain unemployed. Some of the reasons for this disparity found in the research include a lack of preparation during high school, a lack of occupational therapy involvement in the transition to work process, and limited transition resources in rural communities resulting in students with disabilities graduating from high school without the skills necessary to secure employment. The goal of this project was to create a pre-employment course at a local YMCA in Warsaw, IN with occupational therapy-based curriculum for youth and young adults with disabilities to help …

Accessibility And Inclusivity At The Frist Art Museum, Andrea M. Boyer

OTD Capstone Projects

A doctoral capstone project to provide a comprehensive look at accessibility of the Frist Art Museum and its programming. Outcomes included a review of the literature, pre-visit materials (e.g., social narratives, visual schedule), a survey on accessibility experiences in the museum, a comparison of resources offered at other local institutions, and comprehensive observations and recommendations to increase accessibility of physical facilities, digital media, and assistive technology.

Occupational Therapy Student Pro Bono Clinic: Creating A Sustainable Model, Shane Tong

Student Capstone Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a model for a sustainable student pro bono clinic with a clear mission and vision that aligned with that of the occupational therapy (OT) profession. This project consisted of interviewing founding members of similar programs, conducting an indirect needs assessment, and performing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of current pro bono clinic operations at the University of St. Augustine College for Health Sciences (USAHS). These results, combined with input from key stakeholders, were used to develop a strategic plan to support the development of future pro bono clinics by …

Exploring The Concurrent Validity Of The Indoor Mobility Pre-Driving Screen (Imps): A Comparison Of The Imps And Ef-Car Motion Driving Simulator., Nicholas T. Bolen

Student Capstone Papers

This paper details the results of a non-experimental assessment comparison study of concurrent validity in which the Indoor Mobility Pre-driving Screen (IMPS) is compared to an EF-Car Motion Driving Simulator. 36 participants completed both assessments concurrently. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's r correlations. Results show low to moderate correlations between the compared assessments.

Leadership Roles In The Field Of Occupational Therapy, Christina Pitts

Student Capstone Papers

The idea of this capstone project was to learn about leadership through expertise and experience. The first portion of the project consisted of reviewing the literature and interviewing four occupational therapists that currently have a leadership role within the healthcare industry to gain insight into leadership qualities. The second potion included being at a facility (Advent Therapy in Richmond Hill, G.A.) for 14 weeks to observe and learn about current programs, and with the guidance of the therapists and management of the facility, develop and implement a program that was deemed to be beneficial to the client population.

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

OTD Capstone Projects

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

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

OTD Capstone Projects

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

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.

Are We Missing Opportunities? How Occupational Therapists Would Benefit From Connecting Mindfulness To Occupational Participation, Barbara P. White, Paige Brousseau, Jessica Daigneault, Emily Harrison, Virginia Lavallee, Kaleigh St Cyr

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Patient Perceptions Of Acute Phases Of Rehabilitation Following Shoulder Arthroplasty, Elizabeth Horrall Stith, Lisa Borrero, Laura Santurri, Lori Breeden, Sarah Shemanski

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Shoulder arthroplasty is a common procedure, but a lack of research regarding recovery and rehabilitation limits occupational therapists from providing appropriate education and support. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the patient’s experiences in the acute recovery phase following shoulder arthroplasty.

Method: Twelve participants completed three semi-structured interviews in the first 6 weeks following surgery. A basic-interpretive approach was used before coding interview transcriptions into categories.

Results: The participants initially reported increased reliance on assistance and/or modifications in ADLs routines, such as dressing, bathing, and sleep. Interruption in sleep was reported because …

Development Of The Occupational Performance Inventory Of Sexuality And Intimacy (Opisi): Phase One, Beth Ann Walker, Kasey Otte, Kelsey Lemond, Pamela Hess, Kandyse Kaizer, Tori Faulkner, Davis Christy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The occupational therapy profession needs a framework to guide understanding of the occupational nature of sexuality and intimacy, assessment, intervention design, and measurement of outcomes. This study aimed to define the occupational nature of sexuality and intimacy and develop a theoretical and occupation-based screen, in-depth self-assessment, and performance measure.

Method: The Occupational Performance Inventory of Sexuality and Intimacy (OPISI) was developed following DeVellis’s (2017) guidelines for scale development that involved mapping the construct, generating an item pool, determining the format for measurement, and reviewing the initial item pool.

Results: The Occupational Therapy Sexual Assessment Framework (OTSAF) was developed to …

Assessing Unmet Needs Of Caregivers After Stroke: Occupational Therapist Practices And Perspectives, Deborah R. Clymer, Hadley A. Fields, Kathy Kniepmann

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Family caregivers of stroke survivors often feel unprepared and overwhelmed post discharge with numerous unmet needs. Occupational therapists can play an integral role in addressing family caregivers’ needs. Limited research exists on assessment practices of occupational therapists in identifying caregivers’ needs poststroke. This study explores the practices and perspectives of occupational therapists in assessing unmet caregivers’ needs.

Method: A cross-sectional, mixed methods research design was used to electronically survey 15 occupational therapists. Part 1 of the survey explored participant methods for identifying caregivers’ needs and their views on using formal caregiver assessment tools. Part 2 gathered participant perspectives on …

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

OTD Capstone Projects

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

Let's Talk About The Birds And The Bees: A Framework For Providing Sexual Education In Special Education, Heather Cowden

MOT Student Capstones

Background: Studies have shown that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are anywhere from three to seven times more likely to be sexual abused. These individuals are also more likely to be victims of bullying and may display maladaptive sexual behaviors due to their lack of sexual health knowledge. While provision of sexual health education has been shown to have many benefits including helping to decrease bullying and increase academic success, many students in special education, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, receiving little to no sexual education. This capstone project is aimed to raise awareness for the need …

Occupational Therapy: Breaking The Barriers With Survivors Of Human Trafficking, Leanne Bahn, Ots, Sierra Wells, Ots, Stacey Wisniewski, Ots

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

PICO Question

• What occupational therapy interventions enhance the occupational engagement for survivors of human trafficking?

Objectives

• Recognize the occupational injustices experienced by survivors of human trafficking and the effect on occupational participation
• Describe the role of the occupational therapy practitioner in enhancing occupational participation of survivors of human trafficking
• Discuss evidence-based interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice for survivors of human trafficking

Trauma-Informed Care In A School Setting: Occupational Therapy Interventions To Promote Emotional Regulation, Sarah Blaise, Ots, Sara Cohen, Ots, Maria Marcum, Ots

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

PICO Question

• What trauma-informed occupational therapy interventions improve emotional regulation and participation in school-based tasks for students?

Objectives

• Define trauma and note its prevalence among school-aged children
• Describe principles of Trauma-Informed Care and its importance in a school setting.
• Describe current research to determine best practice using a Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) approach in schools for OT practitioners

The Splashing Effects Of Aquatic Therapy For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Eric Bradway, Ots, Mikaela Mcgraw, Ots, Katie Boshoven, Ots

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

PICO Question

• What are the effects of aquatic therapy on participation in childhood occupations for children with developmental disabilities?

Objectives

• Define aquatic therapy within the scope of occupational therapy practice for children with developmental disabilities
• Discuss the current evidence on effective aquatic based interventions to facilitate participation in childhood occupations in children with developmental disabilities
• Discuss ways to apply this information to practitioners’ own clinical setting

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

OTD Capstone Projects

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

Champ's Triathlon Training Program, Rachael Sollman

OTD Capstone Projects

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

Reducing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Nursing Staff Within A Skilled Nursing Facility, Beth M. Brady

MOT Student Capstones

Among health care workers, nurses have one of the highest rates of work-related musculoskeletal injuries (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2018). Studies have identified patient handling in the form of routine bedside care, lifting, repositioning, bedside procedures, and manual transfers to be high-risk tasks associated with this increased incidence (Facility Guidelines Institute, 2010). Evidence supports occupational therapy's role in promoting health through the implementation of programs that support safe engagement in work occupations including injury prevention, ergonomics, and work rehabilitation (Bade & Eckert, 2008). As the population of the U.S. healthcare workforce ages, occupational therapy's distinct role in helping health …

The Applicability Of Occupational Therapy To Correctional Programming, Jordan Lanning

Honors Projects

Correctional facilities are a controversial topic in the United States. Whether it is prison reform policy or overcrowding issues that are being debated in a political setting or at the dinner table, it is a hot topic of conversation. The discussion goes around and around to no avail, and seemingly no one is satisfied. A detailed look at current issues facing corrections, what has been done, and then, potentially what could be done may provide some clarity for a situation that is seemingly spinning out of control. Furthermore, occupational therapy and its application to correctional programming is explored as a …

Promoting Independence Through Effective Interventions For Adults With Als, Renee Gluchowski, Ots, Hannah Harris, Ots, Jaclyn Heineman, Ots, Kimberly Kendro, Ots, Heather Malosky, Ots

Collaborative Research and Evidence shared Among Therapists and Educators (CREATE Day)

PICO Question

What are effective occupational therapy interventions for adults with ALS to improve participation in ADLs/IADLs?

Objectives

• Define amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and recognize the prevalence
• Identify and describe evidence-based interventions to promote independence for individuals with ALS in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
• Discuss how the current literature on the effective interventions impacts occupational performance and treatment of adults with ALS

Use Of Virtual Communication During Level Ii Fieldwork: A Personal Experience, Laronda Lockhart-Keene, Otd, Otr/L, Cla, Emily Spinelli, Cota/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

In fieldwork sites where no full time OTP is employed, a fieldwork student requires 8 hours a week of onsite supervision from an OTP. An onsite supervisor of another profession must be available while the OTP is offsite. The other professional is unable to answer questions related directly to occupational therapy (OT) practice. This poster describes virtual communication methods used during a level II fieldwork at a community based wellness program for older adults and how these methods translate to OT/OTA supervision in practice.

Graduate Occupational Therapy Students & Information Literacy: Does A Research Consultation Increase Information Literacy Skills While Lowering Library Anxiety?, Mary C. Rickelman, Christine Moghimi

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

In today’s academic environment, students equipped with self-regulated learning and information literacy skills have an excellent opportunity for professional success, given our current information-based practices in health care. Information literacy instruction provided to students early in their coursework will aide them in acquiring competency for the remainder of their studies, especially scholarly projects. Along with information literacy issues, library anxiety has been identified in the literature as a contributing factor to poor academic performance in students. The purpose of this study was to explore components of library anxiety, if present, as well as to help students become more comfortable and …

Experiencing Ipe: A Framework Integrating Ipec Standards In Multi-Disciplinary Education, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

Course Overview

This workshop creates an immersive experience demonstrating the effectiveness using the IPEC framework with IPE-based activities and shares outcome measures for integration into respective educational curricula. A gap exists in health-science programs regarding the effects of IPE. Novel activities include a multi-disciplinary experience of an escape room, chart review, and simulation vignettes. After the workshop, attendees will have tools to build an IPE framework in their respective programs.

Description of Content

Interprofessional education (IPE) elicits better quality behaviors amongst team players promoting improved patient safety and patient outcomes. However, there is a gap in multi-disciplinary health-science academic and …

Educational Model Integrating Ipec Collaborative Practice Competencies Across Multiple Disciplines, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen Johnson

Physical Therapy Collection

Purpose

The purpose of this project was to design an educational model that integrates the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Collaborative Practice Competency Domains into the curriculum across multiple disciplines. A faculty team from physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), medicine, and physician’s assistant (PA) programs, collaborated to create an introductory interprofessional education (IPE) framework and course module series. Currently, there are limited studies in rehabilitation education programs demonstrating the effectiveness of IPE-based activities on student outcomes. The proposed framework employs a series of novel educational activities including a multi-disciplinary escape room and scavenger hunt experience, chart review, and interprofessional (IP) …

Quilting And Sharing: Promoting Lifelong Learning And Service To Others, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Lynne Hall, an occupational therapist, educator, and quilter based in Kalamazoo, MI, provided the cover art for the Winter 2020 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Four Patch Posy” is a 45” x 55” quilt made from cotton. In her 50th year of occupational therapy practice, Lynne’s philosophy is rooted in lifelong learning and service to others. The quilt aesthetic provides Lynne a creative medium to serve in her community. With her person-centered approach, Lynne facilitates human potential in the clients, students, and community members she serves. Success in both occupational therapy practice and quilting require a …

Master’S And Doctoral Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceptions Of Research Integration In Their Programs, Jeffrey Sargent, Ashley Wermers, Lauren Russo, Kristin Valdes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This is a pilot study with the intent of identifying occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) and master’s (MOT) students’ perceptions of research in their coursework. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey of OTD and MOT students. The Student Perception of Research Integration Questionnaire (SPRIQ) was emailed to graduate occupational therapy programs in the United States. An unpaired single tailed t-test was used to compare the mean scores between the MOT and OTD student responses for each scale and subscale. Two hundred and twenty-six students filled out the questionnaire. Both the OTD and MOT students had a favorable perception …

Mapping Occupational Therapy Practice With Postsecondary Students: A Scoping Review, Karen M. Keptner, Karen Mccarthy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Legislation supports a role for occupational therapy in postsecondary settings, but this area is not a common practice area and the practice area is not well understood. This scoping review maps current literature of occupational therapists working with students in postsecondary settings in order to inform future research and practice.

Method: After identifying included articles, a narrative description of the quantitative studies along with a concept map were completed. A qualitative thematic analysis of the articles was also conducted.

Results: Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative results describe occupational therapy services as both a direct …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy For Homeless Women And Women At-Risk Of Homelessness, Kelcey Storkersen

Student Capstone Papers

This paper seeks to identify the occupational barriers and needs of homeless women and women at risk of homelessness. A qualitative research study was performed to learn more about the lived experience of two women at-risk of homelessness. Themes uncovered in this study are described in order to provide more understanding and advocacy for this population. A program proposal was delivered for future fieldwork students to provide occupational therapy students at this resource center.