Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Informal Leadership In The Clinical Setting: Occupational Therapist Perspectives, Clark Patrick Heard, Jared Scott, Tanisha Mcginn, Emily Van Der Kamp, Amjad Yahia

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Leadership is vital to clinical, organizational, and professional success. This has compelled a high volume of research primarily related to formal leadership concepts. However, as organizations flatten, eliminate departmental structures, or decentralize leadership structures the relevance of informal leaders has markedly enhanced.

Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological methodology consistent with interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study examines the impact of informal leadership in the clinical setting for occupational therapists. Data was collected through the completion of semi-structured interviews with 10 peer-identified informal occupational therapy leaders in Ontario, Canada. Collected data was transcribed verbatim and coded for themes by …

Psychometric Properties Of An Instrument Derived From The Intentional Relationship Model: The Self-Efficacy For Recognizing Clients’ Interpersonal Characteristics (N-Seric), Victoria C. Ritter, Farzaneh Yazdani, Tove Carstensen, Mikkel M. Thørrisen, Tore Bonsaksen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Intentional Relationship Model conceptualizes the therapeutic use of self in occupational therapy. To increase motivation for and success in establishing therapeutic relationships, therapists need self-efficacy for using the self in therapeutic practice. However, attempts to combine this model with self-efficacy theory are rare, and instruments by which to measure self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self are in a developing stage. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and internal consistency of the Norwegian Self-Efficacy for Recognizing Interpersonal Characteristics (N-SERIC).

Methods: Occupational therapy students (n = 100) from two education programs completed the instrument and …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Needs And Supports For Handwriting Instruction In Kindergarten, Jill A. Nye, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study was designed to explore the perceived needs of kindergarten teachers as well as the supports they require in preparing children for success in the area of handwriting.

Methods: A phenomenological research design was used and nine kindergarten teachers employed at four elementary schools in a school district in Illinois participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were completed to discuss the perceptions of teachers related to challenges they face and the supports they require in promoting the occupational task of handwriting among the children in their classrooms.

Results: The results from this pilot study revealed that overall …

A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Developmental Milestones And Parental Experiences In Ghana, Kate G. Barlow, Stacey Reynolds

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Ghana currently lacks a systematic method for identifying children with developmental delays, and there do not appear to be any culturally sensitive assessment tools available. The objectives of this mixed-methods research study were to explore normal developmental milestones and parental practices in the Ghanaian population. The study also aimed to identify and describe culturally specific factors that should be accounted for on assessments used in the Ghanaian culture.

Methods: Twenty-eight Ghanaian parents were interviewed and asked to participate in a developmental milestone picture-identification task. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were performed.

Results: The interviews revealed several cultural factors that …

Understanding Therapists’ Use Of Play With Children With Life-Threatening Conditions: A Qualitative Study, Rachel L. Bambrick, Carole W. Dennis, Kimberly Wilkinson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study examined how occupational therapists use play in their treatments when working with children with life-threatening conditions.

Methods: This narrative qualitative study used an interpretive phenomenological approach to data analysis. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with each therapist; interviews were designed to gather an understanding of how these occupational therapists work with children with life-threatening conditions and the ways in which they use play.

Results: Four major themes arose from the interviews along with two sub-themes. The four major themes were: play as a means, playful moments, condition-dependent limitations, and reimbursement. The two sub-themes were the importance of …

Normative Or Heavy Clouds? Early Indicators Of Nonverbal Learning Disability Based On Mothers’ Reports, Sara Rosenblum, Michal Piran, Sonya Meyer, Dalia Sachs

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD) are verbally competent and particularly weak in nonverbal, visuospatial, and social abilities. Most of the literature about NVLD discusses the all-around functioning and diagnosis process during school years. In this qualitative study, the perceptions of mothers of children with NVLD were explored in the context of their children’s daily functioning characteristics during their first 3 years. The aim was to identify early indicators and warning signs of NVLD during the developmental process.

Method: Five mothers participated in two in-depth, semi-structured retrospective interviews.

Results: Two main themes were identified: (a) “Everything …

The Clinical And Classroom Utility Of The Inventory Of Reading Occupations: An Assessment Tool Of Children’S Reading Participation, Lenin Grajo, Catherine Candler, Patricia Bowyer, Sally Schultz, Jenny Thomson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the initial clinical and classroom utility of the Inventory of Reading Occupations (IRO), a new tool to assess children’s reading participation.

Method: The study used phenomenological qualitative and descriptive methods. The participants included 38 occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, classroom teachers, and parents who completed or reviewed responses of children on the IRO. To provide triangulation, 20 of the children who completed the IRO were interviewed. Data were thematically analyzed and then categorized using a central Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats premise.

Results: The majority of the participants indicated favorable response to the …

The War On Words, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

News From The Graduate School - Allied Health, Otterbein Office Of Graduate Programs

Graduate School

Newsletter that provides updates from the Graduate School and the Allied Health Graduate Program.

Therapeutic Riding And Psychological Health In Older Adults, Alyssa Pattison, Craig Ashford

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

This project explores the available quantitative and qualitative research to see if there is a link between therapeutic horseback riding and the reduction in symptoms of depression in older adults. Currently, there is a gap in evidence based research surrounding older populations with depression and therapeutic riding. However, research gathered on adolescents and adults suggest that therapeutic riding may alleviate depressive symptoms in persons over 65 years of age. Studies included in this project reveal groups of themes. The first is assessments, tools and evaluations. The second is animal assisted therapy, equine assisted therapy, therapeutic riding, and the barn environment. …

Discharge To The Community From An Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital: Factors To Consider, David Byerly, Jennifer Caswell, Erin Brooks

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Nationally, inpatient psychiatric settings average a 5% readmission rate for their patients, within one month of discharge. A search for articles published within the past 20 years, uncovered critical themes and led to recommendations for practice from 15 articles. Impacting an individual’s readmission are 1) length of stay at the facility, 2) employment opportunities and support after discharge, 3) social and family support, impacting feelings of exclusion/inclusion (stigma), 4) the extent to which the individual embraces the AA recovery philosophy, 5) the specific characteristics of the immediate geographical location of housing, 6) adherence to medical plans, and 7) the availability …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Empowering The Oldest Old Population, Lauren Conigliaro, Nicole Wingfield

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Question: Does occupational therapy promote occupational engagement and increase confidence in mobility in the oldest old population residing in assisted living facilities?

Treatment Interventions For Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, Nathan Cook, Alexa Srolovitz

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) or more commonly referred to as “shin splints” is characterized as an overuse or repetitive stress injury that causes vague pain over and around the tibia. Researchers are yet to determine a definitive cause though numerous risk factors have been noted. They are as follows; over training,type of surface, poor footwear, muscular imbalances at the ankle, over tight or weak triceps surae muscles, imbalances at the thoracolumbar complex, other muscular imbalances and BMI above 30. Rehabilitation and treatment interventions often call for a pause in training entirely or at the very least an immediate scaling …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Transition To Higher Education And Employment For Individuals Living With Austism Spectrum Disorders, Kelsey Covert, Samantha Mathieu

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The focus of this evidence-based project was on the transition process for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to higher education and employment; specifically, how the University of Southern Maine can support individuals with autism spectrum disorder as they transition to higher education and employment. Those with ASD have several risk factors such as decreased communication and executive functioning skills. These skills and further related skills are linked to negative post school outcomes. An increasing number of the population with ASD are enrolling in post-secondary education, but many do not finish due to a lack of support at this …

Pes Planus (Flat Feet) In Relation To Knee Pain, Timothy Conley, Joseph Davenport Ii

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Pes Planus (Flat Foot) disorder has been found to be associated with frequent knee pain and medial tibiofemoral (TF) cartilage damage. The flattening of the foot causes this pain and damage within the knee by forcing the tibia to rotate internally increasing the rotational pressure on the TF joint. We will be discussing a few factors that may contribute to pes planus such as equines foot deformity, tibial torsion, tarsal coalition, ligamentous laxity and congenital vertical talus. Amongst some of these contributions, a reduction in physical activity at a young age can also be a root cause to flat feet …

Breaking Down Barriers: Technology And Dementia, Jamie Sullivan, Kristin Desrochers

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Clinical Question Does the use of person-centered, interactive, computerized technology in a facility setting improve health outcomes within the scope of occupational therapy for persons with dementia? This clinical question was informed in partnership with our community partner it’s Never 2 Late (iN2L), a company focused on providing person-centered accessible technology to persons with dementia. After an extensive review of the literature it was found that person-centered interactive computerized technology can be used to improve cognition, social participation, mental health, well-being and engagement. The authors concluded that technology like iN2L should be implemented in residential facilities to improve health outcomes …

Driving Predictability For Individuals With Neurological Disorders: Occupational Therapy Services, Julie Roy, Caroline Dunn

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Driving is an essential occupation of most individuals; from work to school to medical needs and everyday activities, people need to drive, safety and predictably. This evidence-based project utilized published, scholarly and peer-reviewed studies, both quantitative and qualitative, to attempt to answer the question, ‘Do Occupational Therapy services for people with dementia or progressive neurological conditions predict the ability for the individual to remain safely engaged in the occupation of driving?’ Exclusion material was any articles found that were driving programs. This evidence-based projects ended up with a total of 11 articles; four level I articles, three level II articles, …

Family-Centered Care Outcomes In A Preschool Setting, Victoria Schalk, Cathy Lane

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Family-centered care (FCC) is recognized as an inclusive service delivery model based on the theory that more parental involvement will result in more relevant outcomes for the child and family. It has become the preferred method of service delivery for pediatric providers, including occupational therapists. Although FCC has become the standard, it is unclear how effective it is as a model. We conducted a review of available and best evidence concerning the impact of FCC on children’s outcomes in preschool, in order to provide recommendations for occupational therapists practicing in preschools using FCC. We found that the majority of research …

Assessing Dementia And Mild Cognitive Impairment Within The Home, Kate Sobanik, Melinda Blais

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

What are useful assessments which can be administered by occupational therapists for homebound adults with dementia or mild cognitive impairment that will influence practice patterns?

Does The Application Of Kinesiology Tape Aid In Increasing Venous Flow, K. Fitzgerald, Victoria Saunders

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Kinesiology tape has become extremely popular among athletes of all ages. It’s bright colors and the unique patterns created by the tape have gained an astonishing amount of attention. KT tape is a highly elastic tape that is advertised to increase muscle proprioception, reduce pain, and increase the space between fascial layers for higher venous flow. There has been a large amount of controversy surrounding KT tape and the placebo effects its usage may have. The purpose of this study is to determine if kinesiology tape actually increases venous flow which will result in a reduction of edema and ecchymosis …

Occupational Therapy Led Handwriting Programs In General Education, Angela Hamel, Collin Skilling

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

PIO: Does integrating occupational therapy led handwriting programs into a classroom’s curriculum improve overall handwriting in all children?

“Older Adults And Their Experiences With Home Care And Assisted Living”, Faith Robinson

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

As the state of Maine and the U.S. population at large continues to age, discussion about future care and living arrangements for older adults has become an increasingly relevant issue. Older adults are often faced with a range of options for housing, including staying in their home in their community while receiving home care services, or moving to an assisted living facility.

Currently a gap in the research exists as to the attitudes, perceptions, and lived experiences of the older adults themselves around these decisions, experiences, and the meaning of “home” in our older years. This study aims to provide …

Expanding The Concept Of Play, Allison Vachon, Kylie Lyon

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The focus of this presentation is on medically fragile children. Through our searching process, we found that play is essential for typical development in children. When a child has a complex condition, play is often compromised. Through our evidence, we found that medically fragile children experience barriers engaging in play and social encounters while at school. Medically fragile children spend most of their day interacting with teaching staff or nurses due to the demanding needs of their disabilities. With the help of assistive technologies such as a powered mobility chair, a single switch output communication aid and movement to music …

A Qualitative Study Of Asylum Seekers Experience As Mentees With The Welcoming The Stranger Program, Deborah H. W. Hamilton

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Asylum seekers are foreign nationals who enter the United States legally fleeing danger in their home country. Over 26,000 individuals were granted asylum in 2015, with 3.4% of the State of Maine’s population identifying as immigrants. Portland Maine’s General Assistance (GA) office reports nearly 40% of GA recipients were visa holders seeking asylum during fiscal year 2016. Asylum seekers arrive with psychological and physical burdens and then face hurdles trying to gain legal status while attempting to get their basic needs met in the social service systems. Organizations have been created on a grassroots level to provide support and bypass …

What Is The Relationship Between Sensory Processing Deficits And Schizophrenia?, Jenna Carlson, Nandikesha Jungwirth

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

This evidence-based study investigated the relationship between sensory processing deficits and schizophrenia. A literature search of 7 databases using 9 search terms resulted in 10 high quality articles which best shape and illustrate the current information regarding the link between sensory processing and schizophrenia. Themes therein included atypical sensory processing, sensory gating deficits, auditory processing deficits, visual processing deficits, and smoking. It was found that people with schizophrenia process sensory information differently than neurotypical people, demonstrating deficits in the ability to filter out sensory stimuli. These deficits were correlated with a range of functional impacts, including decreased social participation. Surprisingly, …

Animal Assisted Therapy For Adult Domestic Violence Survivors, Kaden Flynn

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The focus for my research project for my Women and Gender Studies, Capstone course has revolved around Domestic Violence and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). AAT has been around since the 18th century but the benefits of it, aren’t talked about enough; when looking at what it does for adult DV survivors. I will determine if AAT, in conjunction with other therapies, is beneficial for DV victims. To determine how beneficial AAT is, I will be reviewing current literature on AAT, the results of different types of therapy and how it effects the victim’s PTSD, trauma, stress, and anxiety levels. If …

Ot Department News- Issue #3

Department of Occupational Therapy Newsletter

In this Issue:

• Alumni Spotlight
• Alumni Highlights
• Faculty Spotlight
• International Experiences
• Advanced Practice Certificate
• New Faculty Spotlight
• Research Highlights
• Student Volunteers
• CREATE Day
• Department Chair Update
• Faculty News

Military Sexual Trauma: A Thematic Analysis Of Impact And Interventions, Rebecca Cornell Du Houx

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Media driven awareness of military sexual trauma (MST), meaning sexual harassment or assault that occurred while serving in the US Military, may have increased since the term was first coined in 2004, yet the services available for survivors of MST could still be lacking. Percentages of MST prevalence range, with one research study finding 80% of women serving in the military have experienced some type of sexual harassment or assault (Meade, Glenn, & Wirth, 2013). Previous research has also shown that MST is connected to depression, suicidal ideation, and PTSD, along with other mental health conditions.* During the present study, …

Acl Conservative Rehab Vs. Surgical Reconstruction, Logan Gailtis, Joshua Stetson

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

If you have ever been around sports you’ve probably heard of the ACL or anterior cruciate ligament. The ACL, responsible for preventing anterior displacement on the tibia, usually tears from non-contact pivoting motions. There are two options for an athlete with a full ACL tear, either to undergo reconstructive surgery of the ligament which will put the athlete out for months or look to conservative rehab by strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee in order to compensate for the integrity lost with the torn ACL. Deciding which route to go is the tricky part. Physicians may start with conservative treatment …

Transitioning To The Role Of A Professional Physical Therapist Through Community Engagement, Brittany L. Wentzel

VA Engage Journal

This article recounts the author's experiences observing and interning with physical therapists in a variety of settings.The hands-on experiences the author describes allowed the author to learn the specific procedures and requirements in a typical day as a Physical Therapist, and to gain knowledge on the protocol for different injuries, the muscles that each exercise strengthens, and how to properly perform exercises to prevent further injuries. The author also explores how these experiences fostered observational and interpersonal skills and solidified the decision to pursue Physical Therapy as a career.