Occupational Therapy Commons^™

The Perceived Benefits Of Counseling Provided To First Responders Through The Officer Craig Tiger Act, Matthew Wittwer

OT Student Capstones

Importance: Responding to traumatic incidents can cause negative effects on first responders mental and physical health. In 2018, Arizona passed the Officer Craig Tiger Act requiring state funded departments and agencies to provide sworn firefighters and police officers with 36 licensed counseling visits following a traumatic event. Objective: This cross-sectional study looks at the perceived benefits of the Act through the perspective of the first responders. Methods: A survey was completed by 65 first responders. The survey included the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and a questioner to gather …

Neuropsychological Test Performance In Individuals With Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms: A Data-Driven Method To Conceptualize Ot Cognitive Rehabilitation Toward Return-To-Work, Naomi Melendez

OT Student Capstones

Cognitive deficits, secondary to concussion, can impact return to work; people may be held from work due to symptoms. Common difficulties include trouble learning new tasks, or needing more time to perform job tasks. In 10-20% of cases, symptoms can persist for months, and are more likely to persist one year post-injury. Studies have examined cognitive performance after concussion with mixed results, warranting further research in cognitive deficits and cognitive rehabilitation. The OT scope of practice is inclusive of rehabilitation at the physical, cognitive, and affective domains; however, concussion cognitive rehabilitation services are under-represented in literature.

The purpose of this …

Strategic Planning For A Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Program: A Swot Analysis, Kellie Roy

OT Student Capstones

PURPOSE

To examine and evaluate the Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (NAVAHCS) psychosocial occupational therapy (OT) program using a SWOT analysis to inform solution-oriented strategies for future directions of the program.

A Comparison Of Populations: Formerly Incarcerated Men With Substance Use Disorder And Adolescent Psychiatric Patients, Jeanie Fairchild

OT Student Capstones

Aims of the project:

• Equip Maricopa Reentry Center (MRC) residents with life skills necessary for successful reentry.
• Utilize knowledge gained at MRC to teach life skills to adolescents patients at St. Luke’s Behavioral Center (SLBC).

Barriers In Cancer Related Experiences: Where Can Ots Fill In The Gaps, Zoe Hoberman-Kelly

OT Student Capstones

Over the last two decades, oncology has made vast improvements in the treatment and management of cancer. Medical advancements in diagnostic imaging, treatment agents and improved surgical techniques have transformed the effectiveness of cancer delivery and care. However treatment related obstacles and health concerns of survivors trails behind that of the treatment for the actual cancer. The literature identified a growing need for increased psychosocial and self-management services to help provide a more cohesive spectrum of care. The inclusion of occupational therapy services within the cancer care continuum can strengthen functional practice and help treat physical and psychosocial barriers. This …

Multidisciplinary Concussion Rehabilitation Team Referral Demographics, Assessments And Intervention Focus: A Retrospective Analysis, Angela A. Tauer

OT Student Capstones

Objective To review the demographic factors, mechanism of injury, assessments, and treatment by health professionals on a multidisciplinary concussion rehabilitation team in an outpatient clinic setting. Methods: Retrospective chart review of 360 patients attending the outpatient concussion clinic over a 15-month period. Patient data was included for 139 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Data collected on an electronic database was reviewed and analyzed. Results Patients aged 16-82 years (n=139; mean 42 years of age, 65.5% female) were evaluated on average 48 weeks following initial head injury. Patients referred by a physician had a mechanism of injury prevalence of motor vehicle accident …

Experiences Of Caregivers And Healthcare Practitioners Working With Children With Histories Of Family Trauma And Substance Abuse, Alexandra Contreras

OT Student Capstones

While the number of infants born with substance abuse exposure continues to grow, the United States lacks a national monitoring system (CDC, 2019). This may contribute to the discrepancy of services and supports available to those working with children with histories of family trauma and substance abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs and challenges of caregivers and healthcare practitioners working with children with histories of family trauma and substance abuse. To obtain a better understanding and well-rounded image of the challenges and needs, information was gathered from various perspectives of those involved. This OT doctoral …

Outcomes Of Capstone Experience: Playing Together: Outcomes Of An Online Telehealth Sensory-Motor Development Program For Parents With Children Between The Ages Of 1.0-6.11 Years, Sarah Cunningham

OT Student Capstones

Children with developmental delays or cognitive impairments are more at risk for trauma, attachment, and adverse childhood experiences. The purpose of this pilot study of the telehealth program entitled “Playing Together” is to analyze whether an occupational therapy telehealth parent-training play program is an effective way to deliver services and potentially mitigate the effects of for trauma, attachment, and adverse childhood experiences. Quantitative data was gathered via the standardized assessments of the Short Child Occupational Profile and the Canadian Occupational Profile Measure and qualitative data was gathered using parent interviews, researcher journals, and session observation notes. Participants completed five one- …

Supporting Successful Community Reintegration For Maricopa Reentry Center Residentsjustine, Justine C. Gonzales

OT Student Capstones

In 2018, the combined state and federal imprisonment rate was 431 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents (BJS, 2020). Arizona is #5 in the nation with the highest imprisonment rate, 559 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 state residents (BJS, 2020). As of May 2020, there are currently approximately 5,300 offenders under community supervision in Arizona with a majority (4,600 offenders) serving a Truth in Sentencing (TIS) (ADC, 2020).

Barriers to reintegration: laws and legal restrictions, societal stigma and employer attitudes, limited education, limited cognitive skills, limited work experience, inadequate job skills, unstable housing, inadequate social services, lack of a state-issued identification …

Occupational Therapy For A Child With Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis In An Outpatient Multidisciplinary Intensive Feeding Program: A Case Report, Kristel Ferrer

OT Student Capstones

Objective: This article presents a case report of a child with food protein induced enterocolitis,

various feeding difficulties, and poor sensory processing. It discusses the significance of occupational therapy in a multidisciplinary feeding therapy team and describes the outpatient occupational therapy-based plan and interventions during 14 weeks of an intensive feeding therapy program.

Method: Chart review of assessments and daily treatment notes and clinical observations were examined. Progress towards goals was obtained through daily treatment notes and informal parental interviews. Results: Improvement in occupational performance and participation in mealtime and play is captured through daily treatment notes and clinical observations. …

Pet Pals Program: Experiences Of Volunteer Residents Providing Friendly Pet Visits To Individuals In A Memory Support Unit, Kelsey Odell

OT Student Capstones

Studies show that animal-assisted therapy modalities have an effect on motivation for participation, behavioral or psychosocial regulation, and physical and cognitive functions in individuals with dementia. Dementia is a progressive neurocognitive disorder that affects cognition and memory. As the disease progresses, skills needed to participate in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), community engagement and socialization decrease, making maximal independence more difficult. The Pet Pals Program provides educational and teaching concepts to volunteers and their pets to provide friendly pet visits to those in the memory support units. The program emphasizes the benefits of …

Use Of Intentional Play On Emotional Self-Regulation In Children With Trauma Histories, Erin Sullivan

OT Student Capstones

The purpose of this Capstone research project was to examine the impact of intentional play as a means to increase emotional self-regulation skills in children with traumatic histories and explore how Occupational therapists (OTs) can use such strategies while working with this population. The research was conducted at an emergency children’s shelter and consisted of an educational component for staff and direct contact with the children. Eight staff members participated, and data was gathered on 22 children (N=22) over a span of five weeks. An outcome measurement adapted from the Short Child Occupational Profile (citation needed) was used to obtain …

Incorporating Functional Hand Assessments As Outcome Measures In Burn Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study, Kristin Hazak

OT Student Capstones

Purpose: To incorporate the use of two hand function assessments, the Sollerman Hand Function Test (SHT) and the Brief-Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (bMHQ), in the outcomes measure protocol at a regional burn center for improving functional assessment and recovery progress tracking of burn injured hands. Methods: Seven participants were included in this pilot study. Inclusion criteria were individuals 10 years of age and older with current admission to the Arizona Burn Center with a primary diagnosis of partial thickness (2nd degree) to full thickness (3rd degree) burn injury, including at least one hand, with no restriction on TBSA or agent. …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Self-Determination And Transition To Adulthood For High School Students In Special Education Programming, Kylee A. Read

OT Student Capstones

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 list occupational therapists (OT) as transition service providers in schools under the related services category (PL 105-117, 1997) able to provide interventions to help students develop skills to access the school curriculum and transition-related activities (Cleary, Persh, & Spencer, 2015). However, OTs are currently not fully participating in providing appropriate services in the areas of secondary education, vocational training, employment, community participation, and independent living to the extent allowed by the law (PL 108-446, 2004). Self-determination is the best predictor of successful transition to adulthood in students with disabilities. Self-determination can …

“We Don’T Like Talking About Toileting Issues In Front Of Everyone”: Parents’ Reflections On Family-Centered Care, Holli Ruiz

OT Student Capstones

Objective. The objective of this study was to describe how pediatric occupational therapist enacted family-centered care in the outpatient clinic and the resulting perception families had of this care. Method. The use of an open-ended, six question survey was administered to parents of children who were receiving occupational therapy services in an outpatient pediatric clinic. Two researchers employed thematic coding to analyze the results. Results. Five themes emerged including: styles of communication, transfer to home, environment, focusing on the child, and involving the family in goals and focus. Conclusion. There were many positives associated with family-centered care to include satisfaction …

Exploring The Refugee Occupational Experience Across The Socioecological Model, Cyrena Crockett Connolly

OT Student Capstones

The aim of this Doctoral Experiential Component was to explore the occupational experiences of refugees in engaging in cross-cultural occupations. This was done by using the person- environment-occupation model and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework as theoretical lenses to identify and map occupational barriers across the socioecological model. Identifying occupational barriers across multiple levels of prevention creates new ways to address specific occupational needs and allows for impactful change. This project explored the occupational barriers of 8 participants in Salt Lake City, UT. Participants were refugees from Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Syria, and United States-born to Sudanese …

Resiliency In School Experiences: A Dropout Prevention Initiative, Stephanie L. Smith

OT Student Capstones

The ramifications of high school dropout have significant adverse effects both for individuals and society. High school graduation is the social determinant that strongly predicts long-term health and success (American Public Health Association, n.d.). Unfortunately, more than 500,000 high school students dropout each year without the skills and credentials needed to become successful, productive members of society (Communities in Schools, 2009). The dropout numbers for ethnic minorities are disproportionately high. In 2009, the proportions of 16 to 24- year-old high school dropouts were 10.7% for African Americans, 15.9% for American Indians, and 17.9% for Hispanics (Center for Mental Health in …

Occupational Therapy In Community Corrections And Reentry: Program Implementation For Adult Males With Addiction, Cassandra E. Sankey

OT Student Capstones

The evolution of incarceration, or confinement, began in the 18th century with the Quakers, known as the Pennsylvania system, an isolation and penitence ideology (Penner, 1978). Later, the Auburn system was implemented in the 19th century, which embraced an approach of mental isolation (Penner, 1978). Today, citizens entrust the criminal justice system with the power to protect communities from individuals who commit crimes (Muñoz, Moreton, & Sitterly, 2016). Therefore, the United States criminal justice system diversified the supervision of lawbreakers based upon the severity of their crimes, such as jail, prison, probation, and parole. This has led to decades of …

Occupational Therapy And Veterans’ Resiliency Post-Amputation: Addressing Psychosocial Needs, Alexandra K. Broussard

OT Student Capstones

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project is to identify: (a) the unmet needs of veterans’ post-amputation, (b) gaps in successful promotion of resilience, recovery, and reintegration, (c) role of occupational therapy in promoting resilience, recovery, and reintegration. METHODS: Needs assessment to identify the unmet needs to address psychosocial adjustment post-amputation from the perspectives of veterans and healthcare providers. RESULTS: This project revealed several themes from the experiences of veterans’ post- amputation and healthcare providers who treated veterans’ post-amputation. DISCUSSION: There is limited research incorporating mental health occupational therapy to improve resiliency for veterans’ post-amputation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This supports the …

Multi-Limb Control And Attention During Simulated Driving In Parkinson’S Disease: Study Methods And Discussion From An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Emily Mcfadden

OT Student Capstones

Driving is an important activity that enables independence and cessation of driving leads to decreased quality of life including depression, poorer health outcomes, and decreased longevity. Distraction and multi-tasking while driving often leads to disastrous results, highlighting the importance of attention and cognition for safe driving. Drivers with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are at particular risk for driving cessation or reduced safety due to progressive difficulties in both motor and cognitive function. A characteristic feature of cognitive impairment in PD is difficulty to begin or change self-initiated movement based on implicit or contextual cues. People with PD rely more heavily on …

Healthy Brains, Healthy Bodies: A Program Designed To Address Mealtime Routines And Self- Regulation In Children With Dual Diagnosis, Heather Warner

OT Student Capstones

Trauma can be defined as an actual or posed threat that could cause or has caused harm to an individual (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2018). Situations that put a child at risk or have the perceived threat of putting a child’s life at risk are defined as traumatic and can cause serious detrimental developmental changes. For this particular doctoral project, programs were designed by an occupational therapy student for Tennyson Center for Children, a facility that works with at-risk children and their families, to address concerns in both the school and community-based setting for children who have experienced trauma. …

Sleep And Wellbeing At Phoenix Children’S Hospital, Rebecca Ls Knowles

OT Student Capstones

Background/Literature Review: Sleep and well-being have a dynamic, reciprocal relationship. A review of the literature suggests hospital night shift employees are vulnerable to health disparities due to circadian rhythm disruption, and experience low ratings of well-being. Methods: A multi-layered needs assessment included meetings with interdisciplinary representatives, review of employee satisfaction and attrition data, and interviews with night shift workers. Results: The needs assessment identified several unmet employee needs, including staffing, scheduling, and healthy food access. Insufficient staffing emerged as a barrier to employee health and well-being. Discussion: The results suggested that new graduates enter PCH enthusiastic and resilient but suffer …

An Examination Of Mothering Occupations In The Context Of Spinal Cord Injury, Gohar Ghushchyan-Tigranyan

OT Student Capstones

An examination of mothering occupations in the context of spinal cord injury across cultures, motherhood is a desired life trajectory that is strongly influenced by cultural norms and expectations. Mental or physical injuries can become a barrier to fulfilling this life goal, leaving a great sense of loss and feeling of failure for women (Albright, Duggan, and Rahman, 2009). This paper aims to understand the lives of mothers with spinal cord injury, the physical challenges and adaptation that they found around the disability, and the psychosocial impact of mothering from a wheelchair. This project will also investigate professional involvement, such …

Resiliency And Proactive Coping Methods Targeting Perceived Stress Levels In Older Adults, Katie Holmes

OT Student Capstones

Stress, or perceived stress, has the potential to be life-threatening to those that experience it on a regular basis. Community-dwelling older adults may be particularly vulnerable to perceived stress and its effects due to stressors such as negative life events, chronic disease or declining health, loss of loved ones experienced with the aging process, and social isolation. Stress and mental health and well-being are not being adequately addressed in independent and assisted living communities for older adults. An eight-week stress management program focusing on the concepts of resiliency and proactive coping was implemented at a local retirement community. An overall …

Board Games For Kids: Reducing Stress And Learning Through Play, Benjamin Wolf

OT Student Capstones

The aim of the project, Board Games for Kids was to provide an opportunity for underprivileged children to reduce stress and improve essential life skills through the occupation of play. Despite the lack of scholarly research, board games are widely considered to assist in the development of executive function skills necessary for future life skills. This program served as a pilot test and proof of concept. Clinical observation determined improvements in the development of appropriate play skills, and executive functioning skills such as planning, organizing, and sequencing. Staff observations noted improved peer to peer interactions, mood, and behaviors and abilities …

Case Report: A Modified Early Passive Mobilization Protocol For A Zone Ii Flexor Pollicis Longus Repair, Brandon Ryan

OT Student Capstones

A hand can be injured in many ways, but rehabilitation of a tendon laceration following a surgical repair can be one of the most challenging aspects of hand therapy. For example, rates of secondary repair due to complications, such as tendon rupture or tendon adhesion, have been reported to be as high as 17% (Dy et al., 2012). This can be especially problematic when considering the unique characteristics of the dynamics of thumb flexion when compared with that of the other digits. There are many different protocols for flexor tendon repairs, which can make it difficult for a therapist to …

Use Of The Alert Program® In A Sensory Room At An Emergency Children's Shelter, Sarah May Bautista

OT Student Capstones

Children who have experienced trauma have difficulty with behavioral self-regulation which effects social participation, play, and academics (Petrenchik & Weiss, 2015). Young children learn through exploration of their environment and gather information from the senses of taste, sight, touch, smell, sound, proprioception, and body movement (vestibular). As sensory information is gathered, the brain and body organize and interpret these sensations. The manner in which these senses are experienced determine which sensory experiences are preferred, and the nature of behavioral reactions. Children who have experienced trauma have difficulty managing stress, emotions, and daily routines. In the community occupational therapists can encourage …