Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Supporting Elementary Educators Through A Nervous System Regulation And Social-Emotional Learning Skills Workshop Intervention: An Musc Capstone Project, Lily Morgan

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Teachers have a great influence on developing children’s emotional intelligence, regulatory capacity, and occupational engagement. These professionals also happen to report some of the highest rates of stress, mental health challenges (Agyapong, B. et al, 2022), and burnout (Xie, M., et al, 2022). Providing teachers with education and support on nervous system regulation, social-emotional learning skills, and related topics can improve their ability to manage job stress, enhance modeling and interactions with students, and improve their quality of life. This project aimed to enhance knowledge, provide access to resources, and serve to support elementary educators at an inner-city school in …

The Neonatal Care Project: Empowering Parents Through Education And Support, Waverleigh Jenkins

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and provide an informational and evidence-based resource for parents to utilize after discharge from the Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital (SJCH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). An in-depth needs assessment showed a need for increased parental support and better resources to improve parent mental health outcomes due to feelings of unpreparedness following a NICU stay. To support this goal, and in collaboration with the occupational therapy team at SJCH, two informational websites were created, one in English and the other in Spanish. The website is entitled “The Neonatal Care Project” and contains …

Developing A Scheduling Method For Animal-Assisted Therapy In Acute Rehabilitation, Abbegayle Sutterfield

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) provides meaningful benefits in rehabilitation, including reduced anxiety and improved motivation and physical outcomes (Burres et al, 2016, Denzer-Weiler & Hreha, 2018). However, barriers such as inconsistent scheduling and limited clinician experience hinder implementation in fast-paced healthcare settings. This project took place at a large inpatient acute care hospital where therapy staff sought to integrate AAT more effectively into rehabilitation sessions.

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop a sustainable scheduling method to facilitate coordination between therapy staff and volunteer animal-handler teams. Goals included improving interdisciplinary communication, enhancing patient engagement through AAT, and creating …

What About Participation? Using Key Form Mapping To Emphasize Community Participation In Stroke Survivors, Sarah E. Humphrey

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this MUSC Occupational Therapy (OT) Doctoral Capstone project was to determine if stroke survivors demonstrate participation gains resulting from Rasch-derived, patient-spectice practice, i.e., “keyform mapping,” program by evaluation participation at 3 levels. Approximately 50% of stroke survivors have participation restrictions that may impact their engagement with fulfilling, meaningful activities. This is a secondary analysis of data collected from a stroke rehabilitation RCT parent study which tested the effect of a tailored. task-practice program using Rasch-derived keyform map of the individual’s FMA-UE item responses. Participation levels were evaluate by the Activity Card Sort Low-Demand Leisure and Social Acitivites …

Enhancing Understanding Of Infant Cues And The Role Of Rehabilitative Therapies In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Lexie Jones

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Research emphasizes the importance of early rehabilitative therapy involvement in the NICU to improve outcomes for preterm infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the presence of occupational therapy (OT) and speech-language therapy (SLP) services in Level III NICUs to enhance neurodevelopment, promote feeding success, and support interdisciplinary collaboration (AAP, 2020). Cue-based feeding approaches have been linked to improved weight gain, reduced hospital stays, and decreased physiological stress in preterm infants compared to volume-driven approaches (Pados et al., 2020). However, limited staff understanding of infant behavioral cues and the distinct roles of OT and SLP can lead to missed …

Enhancing Quality Of Life Through Participant-Led Programming For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Hannah Bolton

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

There are currently over 6.5 million Americans living with an intellectual disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019). Research shows that individuals with intellectual disabilities are more likely to experience a lower quality of life (QOL) compared to those without disabilities (Hughes-McCormack et al., 2017). Eight core domains have been identified as essential to quality of life: emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, personal development, physical well-being, self-determination, social inclusion, and rights (Lachapelle et al., 2005). In response to these needs, this capstone project aimed to implement customized, supported, participant-led programming at a day program for adults with …

Implementing A Palliative Care Approach In Acute Care Occupational Therapy Practice, Gianina Concepcion

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and provide an educational resource for acute care occupational therapists to improve knowledge and confidence in treating patients with serious illnesses using a palliative care approach. Through the needs assessment taken by the rehabilitation team, it was discovered that occupational therapists overall were least familiar with palliative care, but at least one occupational therapist reported feeling confident in addressing functional mobility, feeding, mental health, functional abilities, leisure activities, cognition, and communication to improve quality of life. While palliative care is a sub-specialty, the principles and many practices should be employed …

Development Of A Mental Health Screening Protocol And Educational Materials For Cares Therapy Clinic, Darlene C. Horn

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

In the United States, 26% of individuals report living with mental illness each year. Those with a disability are 5 times more likely to report symptoms of mental distress. Additionally, underinsured individuals are at increased risk of going undiagnosed and untreated.

A student-run free clinic that provides occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy, and speech therapy services to underinsured individuals implemented a new initiative to screen patients using the Patient-Health-Questionnaire (PHQ) assessment due to the higher risk of undiagnosed mental illness. However, with no dedicated mental health providers on staff, there was a need to develop a standard protocol for students …

Educational Resource Development For College Students With Intellectual & Developmental Disability:A Focus On Adls And Mental Health, Regan Fosmire

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This Occupational Therapy (OT) Doctoral Capstone project was completed in a university-based Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) program serving enrolled students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These programs offer college students with IDD opportunities in academic learning, independent living, personal development, career training, and social participation. In response to a site needs analysis, this quality improvement project sought to develop educational resources to improve student confidence and preparedness for independent living and mental health education.

The project had two primary goals: (1) to create accessible, evidence-based educational materials to support students’ understanding of mental health and activities of daily living …

Sensory Processing And Intervention In The Pediatric Setting: Resources For Implementing Sensory Strategies In The Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, Community, And Among Different Diagnoses, Sophia Evatt

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Sensory Integration is such an important concept as sensory processing underlies all independent functioning (Miller et al., 2017), and it is particularly important for pediatric occupational therapists as sensory processing differences are especially common in pediatric populations (Ahn et al., 2004; Leekam et al., 2007).

The purpose of this capstone project is to facilitate occupational therapy clinician competence and confidence in implementing sensory strategies and techniques within an outpatient pediatric clinic that provides in-clinic and community-based services. Project goals include the creation of educational materials in order to improve confidence and to facilitate creativity when incorporating sensory strategies into treatment …

Expanding Health Literacy Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Developing And Delivering Educational Sessions, Mary H. Lambert

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Older adults face numerous challenges in maintaining their health and independence, often due to limited access to health information that supports aging in place. This capstone project was executed in a community-based setting catered to older adults and focused on increasing health literacy to promote independence and overall well-being. Through interactive educational sessions, the project aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of key health topics relevant to their daily lives.

The overarching goals of this project were to provide accessible, engaging, and practical health education to older adults, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health. Specifically, the sessions addressed …

Creating Caregiver Education Resources Forcaregivers Of Adults With Alzheimer’S And Dementia, Mary C. Upton

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This project addressed the significant issue of caregiver burden experienced by individuals caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop simplified and easy-to-understand educational resources for these caregivers, focusing on strategies for managing loved ones, community resources, and physical and emotional wellness. The project aimed to enhance the caregiving experience and reduce caregiver burden by increasing their knowledge of physical and cognitive changes, available resources, and self-care strategies.

The project involved caregivers and staff at a dementia-specific medical-model day memory care program. The primary deliverable was a four-part “Caring …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Supporting Sustainable Trauma-Informed Wellness Practices In A Surfing Program For Women, Margaret J. O'Hara

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Individuals living with trauma-related mental health conditions are often less participatory in meaningful occupations. Additionally, women are two to three times as likely as men to experience a trauma-related mental health condition or event (Olff, 2017). A local surf therapy organization was founded to provide local women who have experienced trauma an empowering community and meaningful activity to heal. The purpose of this quality improvement capstone experience was to enhance the sustainability of the skills taught within clinics through the creation and dissemination of a user-friendly resource platform. The skills specifically addressed are 1) Mindfulness, 2) Growth Mindset, 3) Comfort …

Developing Staff Training Modules To Enhance Neurodiversity-Affirming Care In An Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Haley Morris

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Introduction: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are admitted to psychiatric hospitals at higher rates and for longer durations compared to neurotypical individuals (Kuriakose et al., 2018). Externalizing behaviors, such as aggression and self-injury, significantly increase hospitalization risk, yet standard psychiatric interventions (e.g., traditional process groups) are often ineffective for this population. A key barrier is the lack of ASD-specific training among hospital staff (Siegel & Gabriels, 2012). This capstone project aimed to address this gap by developing and implementing an educational training program to improve patient-centered, neurodiversity-affirming care across all inpatient psychiatric units. The primary aims were to: …

Empowering Families In A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Grace A. Avin

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

In the U.S., it is estimated that at least 239,000 children were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the year 2019 (Killeen et al., 2023). Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) describes the adverse impacts that patients suffer from after the ICU, and children are especially vulnerable in the critical period of growing and developing (Smith & Rahman, 2023). The Sleep, Play, Heal (SPH) program is a pediatric ICU liberation movement at a local children’s hospital aimed to decrease PICS and improve outcomes for children and families. Through team interviews, the need for educational resources to maintain a continuum …

Pediatric Hearing Loss: Screening For Developmental Delays Among Children With Hearing Aids, Kelsey Wallace

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Children with hearing impairments are at risk for developmental delay, and research has shown that children born with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are at a higher risk for delays in motor, sensory, and social skills development. The literature points to an obvious impact of hearing loss on development, but also a lack of screening for this phenomenon beyond language development skills. A doctoral capstone project was conducted to pilot a process for the implementation of developmental screening for children with hearing aids (HAs), as well as subsequent therapy referrals and parent education, in collaboration with a hospital-based pediatric audiology department. …

Enhancing Wellbeing Through Caregiver Support: Improving Quality Of Life For Individuals With Special Needs And Complex Medical Diagnoses In Nicaragua, Jenna K. Devchand

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Individuals with disabilities living all over the world are constantly faced with additional barriers. In low-income countries, such as Nicaragua, there is often a gap in access to resources and education, for both individuals living with disabilities and their caregivers. Access is essential to provide high quality care to meet unique needs. This occupational therapy doctoral capstone project was created to support individuals providing care to children with special needs and complex medical diagnoses in Nicaragua by providing community-based education and sustainable resources to caregivers to enhance wellbeing in daily life. The deliverable was presented in country in Nicaragua to …

Nurturing Potential: Building Teacher Capacity To Support Infant Developmentin Low Income Daycares, Jeanae A. Williams

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Nurturing Potential: Building Teacher Capacity to Support Infant Development in Low Income Daycares

Jeanae Williams, OTDS

Faculty Mentor: Kelly McGloon, PhD, OTR/L

ABRSTRACT:

Early childcare centers play a critical role in fostering young children’s learning and development. Each year, approximately 600,000 infants are born at risk for developmental delays, yet less than 50% are identified early. Early detection and support are crucial in reducing long-term developmental challenges and improving outcomes for reaching milestones. This capstone project aims to enhance the capacity of infant classroom teachers in low-income daycare settings by providing education on typical development and increasing awareness of resources …

Improving Home Exercise Program Adherence In Stroke Survivors: Examining Influencing Factors And Developing Educational Resources For A Behavioral Intervention, Megan E. Thompson

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Improving Home Exercise Program Adherence in Stroke Survivors: Examining Influencing Factors and Developing Educational Resources for a Behavioral Intervention

Nearly 800,000 individuals experience a stroke annually in the United States and stroke often results in upper extremity functional limitation which can impact the individual’s ability to perform their activities of daily living. Because of this, home exercise programs are prescribed to facilitate rehabilitation; however, adherence is inadequate which ultimately impacts overall functional recovery. The purpose of this capstone is to enhance understanding of factors that influence home exercise program adherence and to improve upper extremity functional recovery post stroke through …

Occupational Therapy In Oncology: Enhancing Quality Of Life For Head And Neck Cancer Survivors, Anna C. Hildebrand

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This occupational therapy capstone project was completed through collaboration with a site that aims to eradicate cancer through multidisciplinary patient care, innovative research, and education and training. The purpose of the project is to improve the quality of life (QoL) in Head and Neck Cancer survivors through resources created to enhance self-efficacy, symptom management, and overall well-being throughout the cancer trajectory. The project included the goal of furthering the health care team’s understanding of occupational therapy’s role within the cancer population, specifically HNC, by providing these supportive resources. Educational patient handouts were distributed to HNC care providers to then distribute …

Home Activity Resources In Senior Activity Centers, Skylar B. Hayes

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Due to the growing population of older adults in both our local community and in the world, the need for promotion of healthy aging is essential. The literature shows that community support and resources are critical to aging in place, which helps maintain independence as older adults age. A doctoral capstone project was conducted to address the need for support and resource to increase the quality of life of senior citizens attending community day centers. The project goals were to design and implement educational resources that increase older adult’s overall level of activity physically, cognitively, and socially. Through a mixed …

Promoting Engagement Of Male Individuals With Alzheimer’S In A Memory Day Care, Tara Brophy

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Alzheimer’s and related dementias impact an individual's cognitive, psychological, social, and physical functions resulting in impairments within the engagement of activities. Activities offer many therapeutic benefits including improvements in mood, alertness, communication, socialization, sleep, cognitive function, and quality of life. The focus of this quality improvement capstone project was to address the decreased level of engagement in male members within a memory day care center setting through engaging them in male-tailored activities. The project included the development of a website that provided tailored male-oriented activities and educational resources that were shared with the staff to revise their day care activity …

Addressing The Physical Demands Of Caregiving Or Children With Disabilities In Nicaragua: A Quality Improvement Collaboration With Fne International, Grace Price

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Many caregivers of children with disabilities experience chronic pain and related symptoms of cumulative physical trauma. This type of phenomenon is particularly prevalent in developing, low-income countries where environmental accommodations may not be as accessible. A quality improvement program, was conducted as a doctoral capstone project to create resources addressing the physical needs of caregivers of children with disabilities in Nicaragua. Program participants included teachers at a school for children with disabilities and special needs in Nicaragua. The primary project deliverable consisted of conducting an in-person workshop to train the teachers with evidence-based methods for preventing chronic pain and other …

Increasing Social Inclusion And Engagement Of Exercise For Individuals With Spinal Cord Injuries: A Universal Resource Development For Wellness Facilities, Alexa Hall

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are 1.5 times more likely to disengage in exercise one-year post-injury despite 80% of these individuals agreeing that exercise is critical to their overall health and quality of life (Baehr. Et al., 2022). A needs assessment was conducted on why the lack of engagement in exercise exists for individuals with SCIs within fitness facilities to identify barriers preventing participation. A quality improvement program called the Spinal Cord Injury Wellness Toolkit was created based off these findings and implemented at the MUSC Wellness Center. 14 individuals with SCIs participated at wellness center; REDCap surveys were …

The Effectiveness Of Using A Community-Based Yoga Program To Increase Feelings Of Inclusion In Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Cynthia Schmidt

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Education For Acute Cardiac Patients, Allison Blackburn

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

No abstract provided.

Using The Kawa Model To Improve Teachers’ Social-Emotional Health, Amy Crosby

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

No abstract provided.

Community Support Post-Hospitalization: A Practitioner Resource, Della Dupre

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

No abstract provided.

Characterizing Pediatric Unilateral Brain Damage: Unilateral Spatial Neglect, Balance, And More, Emerson Hart

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric unilateral brain damage is a costly, impactful condition. There are many subsequent impairments that children experience after pediatric unilateral brain damage, two of which are unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and balance impairments. This project aims to compile the existing literature regarding USN in children, analyze insurance billing data to characterize the population, and evaluate balance and USN in a small case-control cohort of children with and without unilateral brain damage. The literature search elucidated the scant literature available addressing USN, including a lack of quality assessments to definitively identify USN. Insurance billing analyses showed an incredibly heterogeneous group, very …

Rural Elderly People's Attitudes And Perceptions About Home Modifications And Assistive Devices, Christine M. Abbott

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Occupational therapists frequently recommend home modifications and assistive devices to help elderly people remain as safe and independent as possible. Elderly people, however, do not always follow through with such recommendations resulting in unsatisfactory outcomes of occupational therapy. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine elderly people's attitudes towards home modifications and assistive devices and to determine what they perceived as the barriers and facilitators to using home modifications and assistive devices. Two focus groups were conducted with elderly people in rural Missouri. The main attitudes were (a) determination; (b) positivism, such as feeling fortunate and encouraged; and …