Parental Educational And Engagement Through Positioning And Play, Gaile E. Seay

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: This project is to increase the confidence of parents/caregivers via education about their infants that may not otherwise be provided by other health care professionals. This project also provides early intervention to the infants in efforts to facilitate their maximum development through proper positioning for sleeping and play. Purpose: The purpose of this project was a parental education class for parents/primary caregivers of babies ages 0-6 months. They were educated about their child’s development, and how to engage their baby through play and positioning for optimal cognitive, communication, and social-emotional development. This class and project sought to enhance parents’ …

An Interprofessional Learning Experience With Occupational Therapy Assistant And Physical Therapist Assistant Students Through A Simulated Educational Environment, Brooke Gentry

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study is to explore if occupational therapy assistant students demonstrate increased perceived confidence and communication skills. This was completed through interprofessional interactions during a simulated lab-based case with physical therapist assistant students. The perceived confidence and communication are measured through a pre and post survey using the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS). Each student completed the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) pretest prior to the event. The students underwent an educational lecture, lab demonstrations, and training for the performance of the practical application. The students participated in a simulated patient experience of …

Assistive Technology In Transition Programming For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Jennifer L. Veenendall

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Individuals with intellectual disabilities are employed at lower rates than those without disabilities and evidence supports the use of assistive technology (AT) to improve vocational outcomes for this population. This preliminary study investigated the impact of AT training among special educators in secondary transition programming. The results provide useful information that can be used to guide decisions regarding additional training and interventions to build capacity in quality AT service delivery for young adults transitioning into work roles within this program. Successful implementation of person-centered AT problem-solving and decision-making could positively impact the integrated employment options and opportunities for young adults …

Examining Cognitive, Social And Teaching Presence In A Virtual Professional Continuing Education Workshop, Christina Bretz

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Due to COVID 19, there has been an increase in opportunities for online learning due to the reduction of in-person trainings. As occupational therapist practitioners, we have a responsibility to complete our professional continuing education and maintain our skills proficiently, whether those trainings are in-person or virtually. Therefore, the effectiveness and quality of professional training should not decrease when the delivery system is switched from in person to online.

Purpose: This study addressed professional continuing education for occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and Pre-K thru 5th grade teachers in a virtual environment. The primary purpose of this study was …

The Role Of Rehabilitation Services In Managing Delirium In The Icu: A Retrospective Chart Review, Veronique Munier

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Executive Summary

Background: The onset of delirium during a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) is considered a sign of complication and is associated with increased risk of mortality and longer stays. Monitoring for delirium and incorporating early rehabilitation services (occupational therapy and physical therapy) are considered promising, evidence-based strategies to manage delirium.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess current practices for 1) delirium monitoring and 2) rehabilitation intervention as part of delirium management. The study verified the rate of delirium monitoring using standardized assessments, prevalence of delirium, the interval between admission to the ICU and …

Interdisciplinary Collaboration In The Homecare Setting, Erica J. Arndt

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Communication among interdisciplinary team members is a key component in providing quality care to patients. In the homecare setting, there are unique challenges to ensure effective communication occurs.

Purpose: To compare perceived interdisciplinary collaboration and work engagement between a team of homecare clinicians who were involved with identifying why critical clinical and social information is not communicated with a team of homecare clinicians who were not involved

Theoretical Framework. The Person Environment Occupation Performance (PEOP) model provided the theoretical framework for this project.

Methods. A quasi-experimental interrupted time series design with an intervention and control group was used. The …

Implications For Occupational Therapy Student Stress, Well-Being, And Coping: A Scoping Review, Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, Leah S. Dunn, Amanda M. Carpenter

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Scholarly literature and non-scholarly news sources have highlighted stressors in higher education. The rigor of occupational therapy education can compound student stress. Although the profession recognizes these stressors, insufficient literature exists regarding strategies to cope with and manage these sources of stress. This scoping review explored the literature examining stress and the implications for occupational therapy student well-being and coping, and also identified strategies for faculty to support student well-being. Using PRISMA Scoping Review guidelines, a systematic, multi-phase process was used to identify relevant literature. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, MEDLINE Complete, Web of Science, ERIC, and Education Database. …

Exploring Occupational Therapy Student Stress: Professor And Student Perspectives, Jessica Grab, Meghan Green, Julianna Norris, Kristen Pilchik, Grace S. Fisher

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to identify occupational therapy student stress levels and determine factors influencing this emotional response. The study also sought to obtain the perspective of occupational therapy professors on this issue. This mixed-methods study utilized an online quantitative descriptive survey and a telephone or face-to-face qualitative open-ended interview. Online survey respondents included a nationwide sample of 340 occupational therapy professors and 459 occupational therapy students. Additionally, nine professors and five students served as the interviewees. All professors were certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and employed either full or part time …

Assessing Information Literacy Skills And Library Anxiety Of First-Year Occupational Therapy Graduate Students, Christine Moghimi, Mary C. Rickelman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

In today’s academic environment, students equipped with self-regulated learning and information literacy (IL) skills have an excellent opportunity for professional success given the current information-based practices in health care. Purposefully providing IL instruction to students early in their coursework will help them develop competent research skills applicable to their remaining studies and scholarly projects. Along with IL challenges, students can experience “library anxiety,” which the literature identifies as a contributing factor to poor academic performance. This study explored components of library anxiety in Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) students and identified opportunities for IL training that could help students become …

Sexuality Within Occupational Therapy Education: Assessing Faculty And Student Perceived Competence, Reba R. Duran, Kristin A. Valdes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Sexuality is a valuable activity of daily living that contributes to an individual’s quality of life. Although sexuality can be addressed in occupational therapy practice, it is often overlooked due to a lack of time, comfort, and knowledge. For sexuality content to be fully incorporated into practice, it has been suggested that education will facilitate the inclusion of sexuality topics into occupational therapy practice. The purpose of this survey study was to assess occupational therapy faculty and students’ perceived competence with addressing sexuality, to determine the methods of sexuality education, and the time spent on the topic in occupational therapy …

Exploring Anatomy Coursework And Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Students: A Survey Study, Ashleigh Giles, William Conrad, Dianna Lunsford, Kristin A. Valdes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy practitioners utilize their knowledge of human anatomy to understand underlying anatomical dysfunction and how it impacts occupational performance. However, anatomy is not a required standalone course within occupational therapy curricula. This may leave students at a disadvantage throughout occupational therapy programs, fieldwork, and as practitioners. The primary purpose of this study was to explore graduate level occupational therapy students’ previous anatomy undergraduate coursework, student perceived preparedness of anatomical knowledge, and their performance in a mandatory Analysis of Human Movement course within our university’s occupational therapy graduate programs. The secondary purpose was to determine student interest in a standalone …

The Impact Of The Sensory Form On Confidence And Competence In Occupational Therapy Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Elisabeth Michail, Caroline J. Mills, Kristy Coxon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The Sensory Form is a new assessment and intervention planning tool utilized with occupational therapy students to teach and guide their professional reasoning amidst limited evidence. This study aimed to determine the impact of the use of The Sensory Form on student competence and confidence in assessment and intervention planning for children with atypical sensory processing (ASP). A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 84 third-year undergraduate occupational therapy students from a large multi-campus university in New South Wales, Australia. Tutorial classes were allocated to The Sensory Form or usual teaching conditions. Participants completed pre-class and post-class self-reported confidence rating scales …

Occupational Therapy Students’ Experiences Of Team-Based Learning: A Multi-Year Study, Bhing-Leet Tan, I-Ling Yeh, Phyllis Liang

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Many health sciences disciplines have adopted team-based learning (TBL) as part of their education pedagogy, with studies showing increased classroom participation and learner satisfaction. However, it will be beneficial to explore the learning experiences of occupational therapy students in TBL using a mixed methods approach. In an undergraduate occupational therapy program, students undertook three clinical modules using TBL in years two and three. This study explored their perceptions and experiences of TBL. This was a mixed methods prospective cohort study, during which two cohorts of students from Academic Year (AY) 2016 and AY2017 completed the Team-Based Learning Student Assessment Instrument …

Exploring How Integrative Seminars Contribute To Students’ Readiness For Level Ii Fieldwork, Robyn Wu, Chi-Kwan Shea

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The integrative seminar is an evidence-based teaching-learning approach that has recently been used to help prepare occupational therapy students for Level II fieldwork. Integrative seminars provide a dedicated context for students to synthesize their learning across various subjects in a professional curriculum. The seminars also focus on practical application of didactic learning. To explore the students’ self-perceived effectiveness of this innovation in occupational therapy education, post-fieldwork survey feedback was collected from a recent cohort of students who participated in a four-course integrative seminar series. Most students indicated that the integrative seminars contributed to their critical thinking, communication/reporting skills, interpersonal skills, …

The Occupation-Centered Intervention Assessment: Bridging Theory And Practice In Fieldwork Education, Erin Main, Carolyn Michaud, Amelia Kellar, Kate Wondra, Vanessa D. Jewell, Taylor Wienkes, Brenda M. Coppard

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy’s identity is grounded in occupation-centered care. However, evidence suggests external factors in the healthcare system burden practitioners’ time and resources, reducing attention directed toward occupation-centered practice and student learning and transfer of theoretically grounded knowledge. The departure from theory-based practice can threaten the identity and viability of the profession. The Occupation-Centered Intervention Assessment (OCIA) was designed for practitioners or students to self-rate the degree to which interventions are occupation-based or occupation-focused, creating an occupation-centered framework. In this pilot explanatory sequential mixed methods study, Level II fieldwork educators and fieldwork students in Alaska completed OCIA training and utilized the …

Developing A Conceptual Framework For Occupational Therapy Fellowship Programs: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study, Marcelo A. Silva

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Today’s health care environment calls for quality-care, the efficiency of services, a decrease in waste, and an increase in desired outcomes. This necessitates that occupational therapy (OT) practitioners engage in continuous professional development activities (i.e., continuing education, post-professional training) and lifelong learning to enhance their critical thinking and clinical reasoning. One way that OT practitioners can advance their clinical practice skills is through participating in OT fellowship programs, which are post-professional training programs aimed to advance one’s knowledge and skills in focused areas of practice. Using theory to guide practice is also essential for OT practitioners as they make evidence-based …

Collaborating With A Transitional Care Unit To Provide Student Hands-On Time: A Win-Win For Hospital And Academic Institution, Emily Grattan, Amanda K. Giles

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy students crave hands-on learning experiences that take place in authentic environments. This study describes an innovative experiential learning activity involving collaboration between an academic institution and an inpatient transitional care unit (TCU). Three cohorts of second year occupational therapy students (N=138) participated in the TCU learning activity, which involved reviewing the electronic medical record, planning and delivering a treatment, documenting the therapy session, and intentionally reflecting on the experience. Based on an optional, anonymous survey, one hundred percent of students reported that “this learning experience was valuable” and “provided opportunity to practice clinical reasoning.” Ninety-nine percent of students …

Interweaving Teaching Strategies In Interprofessional Education: A Pilot Study With Graduate Occupational Therapy And Physician Assistant Students, Eric C. Nemec Ii, Lola Halperin, Jaimee Hegge

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The importance of interprofessional education (IPE) has been emphasized by the World Health Organization and is currently required by both the occupational therapy (OT) and physician assistant (PA) education accreditation agencies in the United States. Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that IPE fosters learners’ understanding of the roles different disciplines play in healthcare delivery and prepares future health professionals for patient-centered care. Authors designed and implemented an IPE event aimed to foster the following core Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies among graduate OT and PA students: Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice, Roles and Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, and Teams and …

Using Embedded Encounters To Promote Cultural Humility In Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy Education, Allison Naber, Amanda Adamson, Patti Berg-Poppe, Moses Ikiugu, Hanz Tao, Kory Zimney

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

In the socio-cultural theoretical perspectives, learning is approached as a constructed outcome of interpersonal and intercontextual exchanges. Learners both influence and are influenced by the social and cultural milieu within which they are situated. Embedded learning draws from this perspective to prompt learning through lived experiences. Fostering cultural humility and an appreciation for cultural congruence is an important goal in occupational and physical therapy education. Embedded experiences provide rich opportunities for students to reflect on their own experiences and the experiences of others in order to understand and value differences. In this article, we report the findings of curricular shifts …

Book Review: The Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone: A Framework For The Experience And Project, Linda R. Struckmeyer, Paula J. Costello

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This paper is a book review of The Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone: A Framework for the Experience and Project (DeIuliis & Bednarski, 2019). This review includes a description of the book, content summary, and critical analysis of its educational value. Overall, this book is recommended as a resource for doctoral capstone coordinators.

Considerations In The Use Of Podcasts For Teaching And Learning In Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Study, Sarah Briand, Ingrid Malo-Leclerc, Michaël Beaudoin, Étienne Croisetière, Alexandre Tremblay, Mariane Côté-Boulanger, Annie Carrier

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Evidence-based practice integrates and supports the best interventions in clinical practice. However, a gap of about ten years may elapse between the production of evidence and integration of best practices in clinical settings. Some technologies, such as podcasting, have become increasingly popular and are emerging as an innovative teaching modality that can support knowledge acquisition and integration. This scoping study gathered and synthesized the information in the literature regarding the use of podcasts by occupational therapy clinicians and students as a means for teaching and learning evidence-based knowledge. A scoping study approach was used following the five stages defined by …

Is Compressed And Limited Synchronous Delivery Of Anatomy Content In A Hybrid Delivery Format Effective In Transitional Ot Student Learning?, Reivian Berrios Barillas, Kathy J. Lemley

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Hybrid occupational therapy (OT) students transitioning from certified OT assistants (COTAs) to OTs can successfully learn graduate-level anatomy in a compressed format with limited synchronous instruction time. The effectiveness of a human anatomy course with limited synchronous instruction time for transitional hybrid occupational therapy students was investigated. A retrospective, non-randomized study was used. A university graduate level human anatomy course for transitional OT students used prosected (previously dissected) cadavers. Students (n=46, 32 instruction hours over 16 weeks) final anatomy course grades for three cohorts were measured retrospectively. There was a 98% first-time pass rate and 100% second time …

Professional Characteristic Development Of Occupational Therapy Students In Traditional Vs. Hybrid Pathways, Kyrra Miller, Adeline Maher, Alison Puckett, Angela M. Lampe, Helene L. Lohman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The development of professional characteristics is crucial to becoming a well-rounded, competent occupational therapist. An exploratory sequential mixed method design was used to determine if there was a difference in the growth of professional characteristics of students in a three-year entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program who attended a traditional on-campus program compared to a hybrid program. Ten second and third-year occupational therapy students from the traditional and hybrid pathways participated in a focus group related to cultivating professional characteristics. The themes that evolved from the focus group included: teamwork/team player, time management, communication, self-awareness, critical thinking, and leadership. …

Outcomes And Perceptions Of Graduates Of An On-Campus And Hybrid Occupational Therapy Program, Alie Banning, Morgan Dickerson, Angelique Hill Roebuck, Lou Jensen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Hybrid education, which combines face-to-face and online learning, is being implemented in an increasing number of graduate schools. However, there is limited research on the outcomes of graduates of hybrid programs. The purpose of this study was to a) examine the employment characteristics, professional characteristics, and education perceptions of graduates from an entry-level doctor of occupational therapy program; and b) investigate differences in these variables between graduates of the on-campus and hybrid pathways. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 146 graduates of an occupational therapy program that includes on-campus (n=111) and hybrid (n=35) pathways. Data were analyzed using an …

Human Patient Simulation: Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions, Rosanne Dizazzo-Miller, Alexandra Mariani, Fredrick Pociask

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Human patient simulation uses technology to add advancements to learning that traditional learning methods cannot. Many programs are fast-paced and do not provide students with many hands-on experiences before clinical experiences. The literature notes the benefits of human patient simulation in other healthcare programs, yet limited studies exist in occupational therapy. This study examined student perspectives on the use of human patient simulators in occupational therapy curriculum. 146 first year master of occupational therapy students completed an open-ended survey after an evaluation experience with a physiologically based human patient simulator. Responses were collected during four consecutive years. Transcripts were analyzed …

Meaning And Impact Of Interprofessional Simulation Participation For Occupational Therapy Students: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Elena Wong Espiritu, Steven Busby

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy programs are incorporating simulation experiences more regularly into their curricula. However, there continues to be a need for more evidence demonstrating simulation benefits, particularly when various client populations, standardized actors, interpersonal skill practice, and multiple disciplines are incorporated into scenarios. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe the meaning and impact of participating in an interprofessional simulation for occupational therapy students as part of their current academic preparation and future clinical practice in the hopes of increasing the participants’ interpersonal and clinical reasoning skills. Study participants were entry-level occupational therapy doctoral students (N=64) and their …

Survey Of Occupational Therapy Education In Telehealth, Katrina M. Serwe, Ranelle Nissen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Telehealth delivered occupational therapy services are increasing, and students will need to be prepared to safely and ethically deliver telehealth services. Occupational therapy education standards require that students demonstrate knowledge of telehealth and related technology. However, there is a limited discussion in the literature on how programs are preparing students to deliver services via telehealth. This explanatory mixed methods study examined telehealth education in entry-level occupational therapy programs to understand if and how students are learning about telehealth. The quantitative portion involved a survey of 429 occupational therapy programs in the United States. The qualitative part involved four survey respondents …

Evaluation Of A Simulation-Based Training Program On Childhood Trauma With Occupational Therapy Students, Julie Miller-Cribbs, Jedediah E. Bragg, Mary Isaacson, Eden D. E. Nay, Daniel Howell, Kristin Rodriguez, Frances Wen, Martina Jelley, Kim Coon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

An educational and simulation-based training model, the Professional ACEs-Informed Training for Health Professionals designed for allied health students was evaluated using a pre-and-post design. The training model emphasizes trauma-informed care and uses social simulation to educate and train students with skills to address adverse childhood experiences. This study evaluated occupational therapy students’ (N=70) levels of self-efficacy and knowledge of trauma-informed care at both pre- and post-training. Analysis of variance results indicated a statistically significant improvement in students’ levels of general self-efficacy and knowledge from pre- to post-assessment (p < .01). These results are suggestive of the usefulness of brief …

Application Of Active Learning Strategies For Online Delivery In An Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Tiffany L. Benaroya, Jennifer C. George, Deborah Mckernan-Ace, Margaret Swarbrick

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact worldwide in every aspect of society including occupational therapy assistant students enrolled in academic coursework. This manuscript examines the unique experience of occupational therapy assistant faculty in a northeast state who were able to quickly modify classroom and lab teaching-learning strategies to a fully online virtual format for two semesters. Since no available information on strategies for online delivery of occupational therapy assistant education were found in the literature, their experiences implementing active learning strategies are described and discussed. Strategies covered include: the flipped classroom model; think-pair-share and jigsaw technique using breakout rooms; …

Use Of A Webinar To Assess Fieldwork Educator Readiness To Provide Occupational Therapy Services And Supervise Students Through Telehealth, Jennifer A. Calabrese, Jeanne M. Coviello, Anna Y. Grasso, Kelly A. Otchet, Erica A. Pugh, Mary Beth Thomas, Bridget Trivinia

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, many school-based occupational therapy practitioners experienced intensified job demands including a rapid shift to telehealth service delivery. Additionally, academic fieldwork coordinators sought to find effective methods of delivering fieldwork education and supporting those involved, including the occupational therapy fieldwork educators and students, as they navigated the new context imposed by the pandemic. A study was completed using a synchronous webinar format and post-webinar survey to explore school-based occupational therapy practitioners’ perceptions of readiness to provide occupational therapy services through telehealth, the perception of preparedness of potential, current, and …