Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Benefits Of Occupational Therapy In Concussion Treatment For Professional Athletes, Alexandria Brown, Zeida Gutierrez Ph.D., Mhs, Otr/L, James Wersal Otd, Msot, Otr/L, Cbis, Drs, Dcs

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Concussions are a significant concern in sports, with an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million cases in the U.S. annually, many of which go unreported. These traumatic brain injuries result from various impacts, causing symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and memory loss, which can disrupt an athlete's daily life. Recovery typically follows a staged protocol, with professional organizations implementing concussion management guidelines. Despite these measures, athletes often hesitate to report symptoms due to concerns about playing time or team expectations. There is a gap in treatment for concussions as activities of daily living and occupations are not addressed. Occupational therapy can help …

Adapting Classroom Activities To Increase Social Engagement, Ivie Hacker, Mary Jan Greer Ph.D., Otr

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone program focuses on enhancing the development of children with disabilities through adaptive play strategies. It aims to create a supportive, engaging environment that accommodates the unique needs of children on the autism spectrum. By incorporating individualized play techniques, the program promotes social, emotional, and cognitive skills, fostering greater communication, creativity, and physical coordination. The project explores the role of adaptive play in improving social interactions, reducing sensory sensitivities, and building self-confidence, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being and development of children with autism.

Sex Education Program For Individuals With Disabilities, Kalynne Coates, Keisa Boykin

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a program to discuss the ADL of sex education with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Early Mobility And Delirium Prevention For Intensive Care Unit Patients At Kingman Regional Medical Center, Lyndsey R. Lehman Ms, Otr/L

Masters Projects

Over five million patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) annually in the United States, with 50-70% of those developing debilitating physical, cognitive, and mental health issues. Occupational therapy (OT) is a holistic profession that provides evidence-based interventions to improve ICU patients’ function and participation in daily occupations by addressing early mobility and delirium. A needs assessment performed for the Kingman Regional Medical Center (KRMC) ICU revealed a lack of knowledge about early mobility and delirium prevention among nursing staff, underutilization and limited understanding of OT services, and KRMC-specific barriers impacting patient care. This author designed and implemented …

A Geriatric Interprofessional Education Workshop: A Mixed Method Study, Patricia Watford, Meghan Hall, Colleen Hergott, Wanda Jirau-Rosaly, Shilpa Brown, Elena Wood, Nicole Rockich-Winston

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Interprofessional healthcare teams are essential for meeting the needs of our older population. To prepare for interprofessional collaboration, educational programs should offer opportunities for interprofessional education. We created a four-hour geriatric interprofessional workshop addressing cognition, macular degeneration, dysphagia, home safety, fall risk, and pharmacotherapy to examine student perceptions of working in interprofessional teams and their attitudes toward geriatric patients. Participants included 189 second-year medical (MD) students, 41 first-year occupational therapy (OT) students, and 36 second-year physical therapy (PT) students. We utilized a sequential explanatory mixed-method approach. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, paired t-tests for the pre/post surveys, and inductive content …

Occupational Impact Of Urinary Incontinence, Hannah Case, Karen Park

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to conduct a research study to identify if children with UI encountered occupational impacts due to their condition, as well as their caregivers. Twelve caregivers participated in an online survey investigating the occupational impact (supports, barriers, and limitations) of being a caregiver to a child who encounters UI. The survey addressed how their child’s UI affects various occupations. The findings indicate a significant impact on leisure participation and home management. The qualitative data was acquired through unobtrusive methods, including narratives, blogs, and lived experiences, to provide the perspective of how UI affects children. …

Exploring The Benefits Of Blazepod Technology Through An Occupational Therapy Lens, Carson Bryan, Cynthia Haynes

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

BlazePod technology is an intervention used successfully in Physical Therapy (PT) to address motor coordination deficits, however, there is limited evidence that OTs can successfully use it as a preparatory intervention with individuals who have motor coordination and cognitive deficits and are unable to independently complete everyday occupations such as dressing, bathing, toileting, etc.

The focus of this project was to provide evidence that supports how the occupational therapy profession can utilize BlazePod technology as a preparatory intervention tool to address motor coordination and cognitive deficits that in turn will enhance ADLs and IADLs.

Development Of A Sensory-Based Intervention Manual For Educators, Bralie Dent, Zeida Gutierrez

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project focused on the development of an educational manual on sensory processing disorder (SPD) for educators. The manual was created as a resource to enhance teachers' understanding of SPD and confidence in implementing sensory-based interventions and accommodations in the classroom for students who have sensory processing difficulties.

Efektivitas Blood Flow Restriction Exercise Dalam Peningkatan Quadricep Strength Pada Pasien Post Acl Rekonstruksi : Literature Review, Auvin Joe Ginting

Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia

This article aims to evaluate the Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction Exercise in Improving Quadriceps Strength in Patients with ACL Reconstruction. This project is a literature study in narrative form. The background for conducting this research is the high incidence of ACL tears, ranging from 78 to 81 cases per 100,000 population worldwide in a year. The most common surgical treatment provided is ACL reconstruction. Quadriceps strength reduction after 6 months post-operation reaches 20% compared to pre-operation. From the symptoms and clinical complaints of quadriceps muscle weakness, one of the interventions that can be performed is Blood Flow Restriction …

The Beneficial Role Of Sunitinib In Tumor Immune Surveillance By Regulating Tumor Pd-L1, Vivian L Rose, Anaga Ajoy, Craig A Johnston, Gloria R Gogola, Pranav J Parikh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: There is a need for a pediatric hand function test that can be used to objectively assess movement quality. We have developed a toy-based test, the Bead Maze Hand Function (BMHF) test, to quantify how well a child performs an activity. This is achieved by assessing the control of forces applied while drawing a bead over wires of different complexity.

Objective: To study the psychometric properties of the BMHF test and understand the influence of age and task complexity on test measures.

Design: A cross-sectional, observational study performed in a single visit.

Setting: Clinical research laboratory.

Participants: Twenty-three participants …

Occupational Therapy In Stroke: A Case Study Using The Bobath Frame Of Reference And Task Oriented Approach, Reza Nur Arsyi, Afifah Fadhilah Nursyam, Muhammad Luthfi, Hermito Gidion, Ayleen Alicia Kosasi, Erna Faryza Mohd Poot, Rosilah Wahab, Nur Atiqah Azman

Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia

Stroke is a sudden neurological disorder caused by vascular injury to the brain, leading to significant functional limitations. This case study examines the use of occupational therapy interventions, specifically the Bobath and Task Oriented approaches, for a 43-year-old male with left hemiparesis to enhance independence in motorcycling. The patient experienced various limitations, including vestibular function, range of motion, muscle tone and strength, postural control, and fine motor skills. Using the Ashworth scale and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) for assessment, occupational therapy interventions showed progress in several aspects, although the primary goal has not yet been fully achieved. This …

Terapi Latihan Pada Fase Satu Pasca Operasi Rekonstruksi Ruptur Anterior Cruciate Ligamentum Sinistra, Aunike Arum Meta Wurgani, Irawan Wibisono

Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a surgical procedure involving the grafting of the ACL using tendon tissue. This procedure aims to restore knee stability and joint fixation following an ACL injury. Post-ACL reconstruction often leads to complications such as pain, edema, reduced range of motion, and muscle weakness. The physiotherapy program in this case aims to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy interventions, including quadriceps setting, hamstring setting, straight leg raise (SLR), heel slide, ankle pumping, bridging, and prone hang exercises, in reducing edema and pain, as well as improving the range of motion and muscle strength in the knee …

Jump To Box Kombinasi Core Plank Knee To Elbow Terhadap Power Otot Tungkai, Maya Triyanita

Jurnal Fisioterapi Terapan Indonesia

Leg power training is defined as a movement to get the jump in athletes doing the maximum jump smash. Badminton requires leg muscle explosive power because it is the muscle's ability to overcome loads and with a high speed of contraction. This study aims to determine differences in the effect of jump to box training, a combination of core plank knee to elbow on increasing leg power in badminton athletes. This study used an experimental design method with a pre-test and post-test design. The treatment group was given the Jump To Box Combination Core Plank Knee To Elbow exercise. The …

Examining The Differences In Functional Outcomes For Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury After Acute Rehabilitation And Subacute Rehabilitation: A Review Of The Literature, Michael Rangel, Ashley Kakkanatt

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the major causes of morbidity in the US [1-4]. Studies suggest TBI patients’ enrollment in a rehabilitation program strongly predicts social reintegration. The structure and outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation programs, including acute and subacute rehabilitation, are not well-delineated [5-7].

DESIGN

A structured review of current literature was conducted. Articles were screened using the search string: (post-traumatic brain injury OR post-TBI OR traumatic brain injury OR TBI) AND (acute rehabilitation OR subacute rehabilitation) AND (outcomes OR functional outcomes) NOT (outpatient OR outpatient populations) NOT (pediatric OR pediatric populations). Articles were limited to 1990 …

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-Led Tai Chi: Elevating Perceived Competence In Daily Activities Among Semi/Fully Retired Adults, Lester Buenviaje

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This doctoral capstone project explored the impact of a Tai Chi intervention led by the occupational therapy student researcher, on self-perceived competence and engagement in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) among semi/fully retired adults at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Using the Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA) questionnaire, the project measured changes in participants' confidence and abilities before and after the participation of the Tai Chi program.

The Tai Chi intervention was a six-week Tai Chi program designed to accommodate the physical and cognitive capabilities of semi-retired and retired adults. This program not only …

Improving Health And Wellness In Patients With Frailty Traits, Jessica Lyndsay Moore, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Frailty is an age-related syndrome characterized by impairments in strength, endurance, mobility, and cognitive function (Panayi et al., 2019). Studies show that frailty increases vulnerability during stressful events such as hospitalization and is linked to poor recovery (Peeler et al., 2022). In addition to poor recovery, frail patients are at risk for increased dependence, reduced occupational performance, and reduced occupational engagement (Kawaguchi et al., 2017). Purpose: This capstone project aimed to improve health and wellness in individuals with frailty traits by implementing a comprehensive program focused on improving strength, functional capacity, nutrition intake, stress management, cognitive health, and social wellness.

An Ot Program To Support Women With High-Risk Pregnancy, Mackenzie M. Morgan, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster is an overview of an occupational therapy program developed at a Women's Health OBGYN Clinic in Texas. The program was designed to address the needs of women with high-risk pregnancy and focused on mental health, physical health, energy conservation, emotional regulation, and social participation. The findings indicate the needs for further research to understand how occupational therapy can support women's health and an expansion of program offerings to increase support for high-risk pregnancy.

Fine Motor Integration For Children With Special Needs And Low Tone, Iliana V. Blancas, Rebecca King

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The topic of focus will be a Fine Motor Integration Program for Children with Special Needs and Low Tone and provide students, parents, teachers, and therapists a resource to aid with the development of these skills. This program hopes to establish the development of the fine motor skills at an early age to reduce the issues that arise later within the school years that stem from lack of fine motor skills within this population.

A Program To Help At Home: Social Skill For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Naomi Solomon, Mary Jan Greer, Justine Faghihifar

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically presents in early childhood with delayed or abnormal functioning and according to the CDC (2022), 1 in 44 children have been diagnosed across all demographics. With these high prevalence rates, occupational therapy can be an asset in ASD through a client-centered approach. The problem is the lack of generalization of skills used in the clinic to the home environment to develop and maintain social skills in children with ASD for social participation. This capstone used program development to demonstrate the impact group sessions have on social skills for a child diagnosed with autism by …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Recognition, Assessment, And Treatment Of Presbyvestibulopathy, Jennifer Hill, Ellen Hudgins, Sharon Leonard

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Sensory functions decline with age, and the likelihood of having multiple sensory impairments increases with age, potentially leading to decreased physical activity and performance, decreased social participation, poorer quality of life, and greater health care spending. Presbyvestibulopathy (PVP), a diagnosis established in 2019, is a vestibular dysfunction or loss related to the aging process characterized by mild bilateral vestibular deficits, chronic dizziness, unsteadiness, gait disturbance, and/or recurrent falls. Given the potential impact of vestibular dysfunction on occupational performance and participation in meaningful activities, occupational therapy’s (OT) role in PVP is evident; however, limited literature exists specific to OT and vestibular …

The Effects Of Cervical Cancer Diagnosis On Occupational Performance, Wynnet Sinclair, Christine Mcconnell, Emily Clark, Katie B. Mcentire, Caitlin Lewis, Lyndsi Pound, Katherine Wuertz

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: In the United States, it was predicted that approximately 13,960 new cases of invasive cervical cancer would be diagnosed in 2023 (American Cancer Society, 2023). The research question focused on identifying changes in occupational performance for patients with cervical cancer. The areas of occupational performance considered were activities of daily living, leisure, work, education, social participation, and mental health.

Methods: The respondents completed a cross-sectional, mixed methods Qualtrics survey. Likert scale questions captured the degree of functional impact of cervical cancer on the predetermined areas of occupational performance.

Results: Twenty-seven subjects (ages 18 to 70) fully …

Best Screening: Introducing The Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid To Nicus In Tennessee, Gabrielle Sledge

OTD Capstone Projects

Blind Early Services Tennessee (BEST) is an early intervention agency that serves children ages 0-5 with visual impairments across Tennessee. BEST serves over 200 children and families across the state offering early intervention (BEST Start), parent empowerment (BEST Advocate), and family support (BEST Together) programming. The purpose of this project was to assist in the implementation of an early identification initiative (BEST Screening) using the Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid (NAVEG). The NAVEG is a newborn vision screening shown to identify neurological risk for visual impairments. The long-term goal of this program is to promote the screening and early identification …

Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Navigating A New Normal In Middle Tennessee, Karli M. Beaumont

OTD Capstone Projects

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in partnership with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center offers REACH for Cancer Survivorship, a pediatric cancer survivorship clinic. REACH provides a full range of follow-up care designed to meet the physical, emotional, and practical needs of survivors and continuous surveillance of deleterious effects of cancer and its treatments. The purpose of this project was to meet population and agency needs through research of long- and late-term sequela while advocating for occupational therapy’s role in the oncology population through the proactive therapy and prospective surveillance models. The process of creating this project included synthesizing the literature, …

Awareness And Advocacy For The Needs Of Nfl Athletes: A Qualitative Study, Bianca Castro, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The presentation delves into understanding, investigating, and supporting the occupational needs of NFL athletes. Through thorough research and analysis, it was revealed that these athletes face distinct challenges and demands in their professional and personal lives, specifically in wellness, quality of life, and lifestyle balance. The study results provide knowledge and abilities to address and advocate the unique needs of NFL athletes. The evidence strongly emphasizes the advantages and benefits of occupational therapy services in non-traditional settings such as sports.

Every Moment Counts (Emc): Understanding School Stakeholder Perceptions Of Positive Mental Health Promotion In The Elementary School Setting. A Preliminary Report., Madeline Malooly, Angela Blackwell, Lauren Thomas

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

For children and adolescents, the prevalence of psychological disorders associated with mental illness continues to rise in North America and is now considered to be the leading cause of disability for this population (Bitsko et al., 2022). It was estimated that between 25 and 50% of adult mental illnesses could be prevented through early intervention and preventative measures in childhood (Kim-Cohen et al., 2003). In an effort to address mental health promotion in schools, Dr. Susan Bazyk founded and created EMC, which is a “multi-pronged mental health promotion initiative to help all children to be mentally healthy in order to …

‘Mama May I?’: A Comprehensive Guide To Inform Occupational Therapy Practitioners For The Wellness Of Black Pregnant Women, Tavia Williams, Angela Blackwell, Aminee Alexander

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Black women are facing a decline in well-being because health providers do not understand how pregnancy impacts them differently than other race in the United States. This population is dying at a rate 3-4 more times than white, Asian, and Hispanic women. These deaths are preventable as many stem from racism and bias in medicine (Markin & Coleman, 2023). Historically, occupational therapists have not been included in the care of pregnant women due to the exclusive team of obstetric providers, doulas, and midwives (Rost et al., 2023). Because the United States primarily utilizes the medical model for perinatal healthcare, pregnant …

Values Of Occupational Balance And Harmony Among Bipoc Caregivers, Vanessa Duran, Karen Park

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background. Historically minoritized populations are underrepresented within hospice care. The lack of diversity among hospice care recipients impacts the development of culturally responsive programming within hospice care for BIPOC family caregivers.

Objective. To learn of the values and perspectives of BIPOC family caregivers in hospice care regarding occupational balance and occupational harmony.

Methods. A mixed-methods study that included an online survey and an optional interview. Measurements utilized were the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ-11) and an anonymous survey. Three participants completed the online survey.

Results. Preliminary codes were determined by the student researcher from the online survey responses. Four …

Occupational Therapists' Perception Of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Sleep In Pediatric Outpatient Settings, Carina Jimenez, Susan Macdermott, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The capstone investigates pediatric occupational therapists' views on managing sleep issues in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. It highlights gaps in education and resources and emphasizes the need for evidence-based interventions. Findings emphasize the importance of enhancing occupational therapists' role in addressing sleep challenges for improved family well-being, advocating for more comprehensive education and support systems.

Care For Caregivers: Exploring Occupational Therapy's Role In Caregiver Support, Mariah Mendez, Amy Lyons-Brown, Negin Zare

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Care for Caregivers explores the challenges of spousal and remote caregivers to determine how occupational therapy can assist through program development.