Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Empowering Pregnancy And Postpartum: Supporting Motherhood Through Occupational Therapy Education, Alison Drexler

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

During pregnancy and postpartum, women are at increased risk for physical and psychological health concerns due to the changes and challenges that come with the transition. The purpose of this 14-week capstone was to develop and implement educational sessions using occupational therapy concepts and integrate them into a community parenting program to ease the transition during the perinatal period. It also aimed to advocate for the role of occupational therapy in pregnancy and postpartum. Methods included preparing and sharing supplemental educational materials, developing and implementing occupation-based sessions, creating a folder of resources, and developing a manuscript advocating for occupational therapy …

Facilitating Community Integration Following Inpatient Rehabilitation: The Importance Of Caregivers, Alysa N. Jensen

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Community integration (CI) is a significant benchmark for successful rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this capstone was to utilize occupational therapy assessments, interventions, and resources to support patients and their caregivers during the transition from the clinical setting to the community. Methods included assessment and intervention for patient function, cognition as it relates to burden of care, patient discharge statistics, development and implementation of caregiver resources, and semi-structured caregiver interviews. The outcomes of this project indicate that although TBI survivors are discharging home, they continue to require substantial caregiver support. Outcomes also indicate that there is …

Filling The Gap: Educating Caregivers And Patients Post Stroke In An Acute Care Setting, Gabrielle A. Blecke

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2022), every 40 seconds someone in the United States experiences a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), also known as stroke. A recent study suggests that 63% of these individuals will need informal caregiving from family, friends, or loved-ones throughout their rehabilitation process in order to safely transition home. Research suggests that patients and caregivers post stroke are not receiving enough education to prevent concerns such as caregiver burden, decreased caregiver wellness, and decreased patient outcomes, all which are within the scope of occupational therapy. Methods: Experiences at MyMichigan Midland Hospital drove …

Play, Splash, Ride: A Multidimensional Approach To Occupational Therapy Intervention For Sensory Processing Difficulties, Britney A. Bradwisch

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Sensory processing disorder affects between five and 16.5 percent of the population and up to 90% of individuals with disabilities. Occupational therapists are equipped to treat sensory processing difficulties using occupation-based, sensory-based, and client-centered interventions. There is limited evidence on how occupational therapists can use multiple intervention environments including typical sensory gyms, aquatic therapy, and equine-assisted therapy to specifically target sensory processing. Therefore, the purpose of the capstone project was to explore the effectiveness of multiple occupational therapy interventions for children with sensory processing difficulties. The capstone project focused on advanced clinical practice while incorporating education and program development to …

Enhancing Resident Engagement: Optimizing Meaningful Occupations In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Drew J. Couch

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Older adults residing in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) face a multitude of challenges in engaging in meaningful occupations. They are at risk of occupational deprivation due to the regulations of the facility, physical limitations, and restricted choices of activities (Keane et al., 2023). Though the occupational therapy profession acknowledges the impacts this has on older adults little has been done to combat these issues. The purpose of the 14-week capstone project was to promote meaningful occupational engagement for residents residing in an SNF. Additionally, this project advocated for occupational therapy’s distinct role in identifying and promoting meaningful occupations. Multiple goals …

A Peer-Mediated Art Program For Secondary Education Students: An Occupation Based Approach, Kjersten B. Sievers

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this 14-week capstone project was to explore the impact of a peer-mediated art program on the social and occupational experiences of students with disabilities. This program was designed and implemented to promote inclusion of students with disabilities by providing an opportunity to interact with typically developing peers within their school-context. The 7-week peer-mediated art program was embedded into a startup peer-program at a high school. A total of 10 participants (4 from special education) were recruited to complete the study. Students met for three 45-minute sessions and one 90-minute session each week as part of the program’s …

Occupational Therapy Intervention To Promote Recovery Of Individuals Impacted By Human Trafficking And Service Provider Well-Being, Carlyn J. Paxton

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Individuals impacted by human trafficking experience prolonged traumatic experiences and a lack of personal autonomy. Literature indicates that after exiting trafficking situations, individuals face barriers re-integrating into the community. Additionally, workers and advocates who provide after-care services experience increased occupational hazards impacting the quality of care provided and personal well-being. This capstone project aims to increase student’s clinical skills for providing trauma informed occupational therapy to individuals exiting trafficking and to expand OT’s role in combating occupational hazards for providers through self-care-based occupations. Using a previously conducted needs assessment and a conceptual framework comprised of evidence-based models, this project includes …

Promoting Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Development For Children In A School Setting Using Targeted Occupational Therapy Intervention, Mykenzie N. Hall

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children who have experienced trauma often have poor emotional regulation skills which can lead to peer rejection, decline in engagement at school, and poor academic performance. Occupational therapists have the knowledge and skills to create a client-centered approach when working with children who have experienced trauma. This emotional regulation program is guided by a trauma-informed care approach and a public health approach to mental health. The program consisted of 59 students between transitional kindergarten and 5th grade meeting in small groups once a week for 30 minutes over 11 to 12 weeks. The sessions included activities related to emotional regulation …

Promoting Wakefulness To Increase Occupational Engagement In Military Service Members Experiencing Insomnia Following Mtbi, Leah N. Myers

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Sustaining a traumatic brain injury of any severity is associated with an extremely high prevalence of insomnia. Military service members, being exposed to hazardous equipment and conditions, are one of the most likely populations to sustain sleep concerns following TBI. This student capstone project aimed to support military service members experiencing sleep disturbances due to TBI through direct advanced clinical skill attainment, Light Therapy program development, and by initiating research and clinic resource creation relating to shift work and sleep. To target this population, the project was completed at the Fort Carson Intrepid Spirit Center in Colorado where outpatient concussion …

An Eye-Opening Capstone: A New Perspective On Occupation-Based Treatments For Neurologic-Based Visual Deficits, Katlyn J. Knakmuhs

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this 14-week capstone experience was to gain hands on in depth clinical experience working with individuals post neurologic injury, specifically post-concussion, who were experiencing a visual perceptual deficit. Additionally, the focus of this capstone was to implement occupation-based skills and activities into therapy sessions for individuals experiencing those visual perceptual deficits post-concussion. This capstone experience took place at the Sanford Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was completed under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist who is a certified brain injury specialist. Eight individuals post-concussion with visual perceptual deficits who were patients of …

Implementing The Copm To Create Occupation-Based Interventions In Outpatient Adult Rehabilitation, Kelcee A. Bacon

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Worldwide, people continue to live longer, with the number of people over the age of 60 predicted to double by 2050; many of those people also have chronic diseases that could benefit from rehabilitation services. Outpatient rehabilitative services, including occupational therapy, have increased occupational performance, strength, mobility, and coordination for those diagnosed with musculoskeletal or neurological conditions. This capstone focused on three components: 1) in-depth clinical practice using occupation-based assessments and interventions with the adult population, 2) understanding the administrative roles of private practice therapists, and 3) creating educational materials to increase knowledge and skills surrounding outpatient occupational therapy for …

Healing Horses: An Occupational Therapy Approach In An Equine Environment, Ashlyn Renee Yoder

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Aim: This project focused on the development of advanced clinical skills of OT-based hippotherapy in a pediatric setting and program development of the Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center. Information was gathered from primary and secondary sources to promote student skill acquisition, client goal progress, and parent-caregiver education of at-home interventions.

Objective: Goals focused on gaining knowledge and competencies of OT-based hippotherapy, key clinical information, and interdisciplinary roles. The purpose of this project was to highlight the impact of staff responsibilities and OT-based hippotherapy on physical and cognitive deficits.

Method: OT hippotherapy session observation and facilitation, extensive literature review, and multidisciplinary interviews …

Promoting Life Skills Through An Occupation-Based Program For Youth In The Juvenile Justice System, Maggie L. Dejong

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Youth who have experienced trauma are at risk for negative developmental changes to their brain, which may lead to poor health outcomes, involvement in the juvenile justice system, and early death. This population may experience a lack of occupational engagement, decreased self-regulation strategies, and difficulty forming life skills that are necessary for carrying out everyday tasks. Having trauma-informed awareness in the contexts of these individuals is essential when providing care and meeting their needs. The doctoral capstone project aimed to promote life skills through an occupation-based program for youth in the juvenile justice system. Current literature supports the need for …

Sensory Processing Difficulties In Children Born Preterm And The Needs Of Their Families, Shelby J. Buie

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children who are born preterm frequently experience sensory processing difficulties due to their underdeveloped brains and the atypical early sensory experiences that are associated with increased medical needs. These factors impact the development of a child’s sensory system, which ultimately influences how a child participates in daily activities. Having a child born preterm that requires increased medical attention causes stress on the family. Increased stress and a decrease in mental health can disrupt the parent-child bond. This project aimed to provide sensory-based occupational therapy treatment sessions to children who were born preterm to improve their sensory processing skills. Furthermore, the …

Animal-Assisted Therapy In An Outpatient Pediatric Occupational Therapy Setting, Peyton N. Stolle

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The use of animals to assist in the healthcare industry has been around for some time now, however, only recently have those in the occupational therapy industry begun looking at the effects that it would have on patients within their scope of practice. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has various uses, and recent studies have shown that the use of dogs within a healthcare setting can greatly increase patient motivation and well-being. However, prior literature shows that there are limited studies on the effects of AAT in a pediatric occupational therapy (OT) setting, specifically an outpatient setting. My capstone project aimed to …

Beyond Rehabilitation: Exploring The Field Of Occupational Therapy And The Transformative Impact Of Care, Sierra C. Fox

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

As a profession that implements unique approaches to empower people of all ages and abilities to actively participate in activities that are meaningful to them, occupational therapy is an essential service for providing holistic healthcare (Darawsheh, 2018). As an undergraduate approaching graduation, the process for applying to graduate school programs has finally begun, and it has become obvious the lack of public knowledge there is regarding the profession. Even among other healthcare professionals, there is often an inadequate understanding of the field, which can be problematic and result in patients not being referred to receive the services that may benefit …

Restoring Meaning Through Leisure: Exploring The Benefits Of Leisure-Focused Occupational Therapy For Individuals With Neurological Diagnoses, Elizabeth Rose Stoutland

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

There are limited findings in occupational therapy literature on leisure, despite being a highly meaningful area of occupation that has implications for both physical and mental health. This poster describes an occupational therapy Capstone experience in adaptive sports and inpatient rehabilitation at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center related to leisure restoration. The student investigated the role of occupational therapy in restoring leisure and recreation for individuals with neurological conditions and achieved the following main goals: (Goal 1) to gain skills in adaptive recreation for individuals with neurological conditions, and (Goal 2) to determine how leisure exploration can be implemented in …

The Importance Of Preferred Meaningful Occupations For Children With Medically Complex Conditions, Kaylee S. Schmit

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children with medically complex conditions experience limitations in their ability to engage in preferred meaningful occupations. Additionally, when these children are in the hospital setting, the environment poses another barrier to accessing preferred meaningful occupation opportunities. This capstone project aimed to explore how preferred meaningful occupations could be utilized with children with medically complex conditions in the pediatric inpatient setting. The literature and needs assessment indicated the need for preferred meaningful occupations to be used as a motivator and a way to target specific skills a patient wanted to regain. With the focus of occupational therapy on return to occupation …

Occupational Therapy Services In Pediatric Mental Health, Hallie Jerome

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children and youth experiencing mental health concerns often have limited or decreased engagement in meaningful occupations. Additionally, children and youth who experience mental health concerns at an early age are more likely to experience negative health outcomes such as poor occupational engagement, academic achievement, adverse childhood experiences (ACES), maltreatment/abuse/neglect, family and peer conflict/rejection, low self-esteem, early substance use, and many others impacting their overall health and well-being. My capstone project aimed to administer occupation-based interventions in a pediatric mental health program while I advance my skills working with an interdisciplinary team. The literature and needs assessment indicated a need for …

Incorporating Occupation-Based Activities Into Treatment For Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders To Increase Self-Efficacy, Brea E. Westberg

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

In 2022, over 48.7 million people aged 12 and older reported having a substance use disorder in the past year. Adolescents are increasingly becoming involved in substance use behaviors that impact their lives daily. There is limited evidence for providing mental health interventions, including those provided by occupational therapy practitioners, to adolescents with SUDs within the substance use treatment setting. Self-efficacy is an important part of the substance use recovery process. Therefore, the purpose of the capstone project was to determine the effects on self-efficacy after incorporating occupation-based activities into programming for adolescents in treatment for SUDs. The Model of …

A Program Based On Meaningful Occupations To Improve Perceived Health And Well-Being For People Experiencing Homelessness, Annika Overgaard

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Individuals experiencing homelessness face a variety of barriers to occupational performance and participation, thereby negatively impacting their quality of life, health, and well-being. Occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to address the health and well-being needs of individuals experiencing homelessness due to their holistic client-centered approach, their efforts in promoting occupational participation, and providing opportunities for occupational empowerment. Occupational therapy with this population is a growing area of practice, and there is a lack of literature focusing on interventions related to meaningful occupations. My capstone project aimed to create a meaningful occupation-based program for individuals experiencing homelessness at a drop-in day …

Can Occupational Therapy Take A Hit? A Guide To High-Intensity Training In Stroke Rehabilitation, Jared Demke

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: Stroke has been considered a leading cause of functional impairment (Tsao et al., 2022). Recent evidence has supported a treatment approach that increases dosage (Scheets et al., 2021). High-intensity training (HIT) has shown promising evidence for functional recovery poststroke (Crozier et al., 2018). There have been minimal programs related to Occupational therapy (OT) and HIT have been created (Lamoureux, 2023). This doctoral capstone focused on program development of the OT-based HIT program. Theoretical frameworks included the Model of Human Occupation and Motor Learning Theory to provide a foundational structure.

Methods: A needs assessment was performed at the Saint George …

Improving Occupational Therapy Student Utilization Through A Community Engagement Program For Individuals With Dementia, Andrew Stevenson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The contents of this doctoral project include an introduction to some of the difficulties people with dementia face in regard to engaging in the community, and how that may impact their health. It goes on to support how occupational therapists (OTs) have the skills to provide treatment addressing this issue but have faced difficulty entering settings such as memory care. A literature review demonstrates some of the positive benefits that can result from providing people with dementia opportunities for community engagement and reveals some of the difficulties associated with providing quality dementia care. This helps to explain the purpose of …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Developmental Programming At Early Childhood Education And Childcare Centers: A Qualitative Study, Alexis N. Foehrkolb, Jenna Lenhart, Hayley Woods, Madison Wetzel, Breanna Adkins, Sueann R. Woods

Graduate Student Scholarship

This research study aimed to discover what strategies of developmental programming are integrated into early childhood curriculum, whether occupational therapy had a role in the formation of the guidelines, and the importance of early intervention on child development. A case study with ethnographic methods was used, including observations and interviews, to gain an understanding of how sociocultural phenomena affect rural childcare centers in Morgantown, West Virginia. Data was collected and coded into 14 themes, and then analyzed by student researchers. Results from interview data found that daycare teachers are given the choice to follow provided lesson plans or individualize their …

Pain Management Series For Stroke: Identifying Teaching Methods To Increase Clinical Self-Efficacy For Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students, Apasara Jittprasert

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose

Post-stroke pain has been identified as a significant challenge for individuals experiencing a stroke. Occupational therapists play a crucial role in the complex treatment of post-stroke pain but often face challenges due to a lack of self-efficacy in implementing treatments for stroke-related pain. This project’s purpose was to,1) to identify which teaching methods are effective for increasing clinical self-efficacy in doctoral occupational therapy students for implementing pain management treatment for individuals’ post-stroke and 2) to increase reported clinical self-efficacy levels among these students following the completion of a pain management educational program for stroke pain.

Methodology

This project recruited …

Interdisciplinary Education On Using The Combilizer For Grooming Tasks In The Intensive Care Unit, Bonnie Lei

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide a teaching and learning program to the interdisciplinary team on how to use the Sara Combilizer with critically ill patients to increase efficacy for early progressive mobility (EPM) by facilitating grooming tasks. Methods: A teaching and learning program on using the Sara Combilizer to facilitate grooming tasks was provided to the acute care therapy team at a hospital. The program included an evidence-based lecture, a practice case study, and a digital instructional manual. The program was evaluated through a pre- and post-survey, and a quality improvement survey. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test …

Increasing Swim Instructors' Perceived Knowledge Of Sensory-Based Strategies When Coaching Children Who May Have Sensory Differences, Gabrielle Palmer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Although swim instructors are solely taught water safety regulations and correct swimming techniques, they are nonetheless viewed as mentors by the kids they work with. They are required to finish both their basic swim instructor (BSI) course and their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification, which primarily covers the fundamentals (American Red Cross Training Services, 2023; Kraft & Leblanc, 2018). However, neither provides a method of teaching swimming to children who might have sensory processing differences. This lack of education may affect both the child's participation and the swim instructor's capacity to impart knowledge. Research revealed that swim instructors are not very …

Development Of A Health Management Program For International Students And Scholars Using Occupational Therapy Lens, Bo Park

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Health management (HM) is essential to staying healthy. Many parts involve internal abilities, such as the cognitive ability to detect illness internally. However, knowing external sources is equally necessary to perform HM independently, such as knowing how to use health insurance and which healthcare services to use for specific symptoms. As HM is closely related to health and independence, occupational therapy recently expanded the practice by including the occupation of health management.

The International Students and Scholars (ISS) population has been often discouraged from performing parts of HM due to many cultural barriers and differences that exist in HM across …

The Impact Of Educating Interprofessional Healthcare Workers On The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Cardiac Acute Care Setting, Jennifer L. Taosuvanna

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The acute care setting has been a vastly growing practice area for the occupational therapy profession. Occupational therapists assist clients in the acute care setting with activities of daily living retraining and functional transfer training to increase independence. Each client demonstrates a different discharge course from the acute care setting and occupational therapists play a key role in assisting the clients the most appropriate rehabilitative setting. All professionals in the acute care setting work cohesively to provide clients with the best outcome.

The doctoral project explored the importance of interprofessional healthcare worker education about occupational therapy practices in the acute …

Parent Perceived Facilitators And Barriers To Implementation Of Ayres Sensory Integration® (Asi) Parent Education Modules For Autistic Children, Emily E. Lowry, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) is an evidence-based intervention for children with challenges in sensory integration. Parent education is an integral part of ASI (Parham et al., 2011). To address parent education, researchers developed the ASI Parent Education Modules, developed by a team of researchers (Schaaf et al., 2015) and embellished by others (Roan et al., 2022) designed to educate parents about their child’s sensory integrative challenges, ideas for addressing these at home, and to promote collaboration between therapists and parents.

Objective: To examine parental perceptions of the facilitators and barriers impacting the implementation of ASI Parent Education Modules for …