Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Occupational Therapy-Led Development Of Life Skills Coaching Course On Resources For Educational Attainment To Foster Independent Living Among Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care, Joana Naguit

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This capstone project focused on addressing the competence of foster youth in their independent living skills, particularly, educational attainment skills. Delivered in a blended learning format, a life skills coaching course focused on educational attainment resources was proposed to address the long-term challenge of poor educational attainment among foster youth at Bamboo Sunrise, a specialized foster care agency in Henderson, NV. Participants completed brief didactic work in the form of video and PowerPoint lectures followed by the evaluation of their comprehension and skills through questionnaires and competencies. Competency evaluations simulated hands-on workshops structured weekly to promote skill mastery and application …

Providing Parent Education On School-Based, Social-Emotional Learning Programs To Increase Parents’ Self-Efficacy For Managing Aversive Behaviors, Cerena Obra

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There is limited evidence on the imperative role that caregivers play in social-emotional learning development for effective social-emotional learning program implementation despite their crucial influence on childhood development. This doctoral project explored the effects of parent education for two school-based, social-emotional learning program techniques on caregivers’ self-efficacy in managing aversive behaviors. This doctoral project discusses aversive behaviors, social-emotional learning, the Zones of Regulation and Friendzy social-emotional learning programs, caregiver education, and caregiver self-efficacy. This project highlights the importance of including caregivers in effective school-based social-emotional learning programs by exploring caregivers' self-efficacy when provided education on school-based social-emotional learning techniques.

A Sensory Room Protocol For Snf Staff To Improve Confidence With Emotional Regulation In Adults With Cognitive Challenges: Through An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Marisa Pagan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adult sensory rooms are an emerging area of practice for occupational therapy, as this holistic approach uses sensory tools for input to one or more of the five senses, which promotes emotional regulation in individuals seeking calming and alerting outcomes. This sensory protocol proposal was created to assist healthcare workers within a skilled nursing facility and provide a tool that could be utilized in various settings to increase awareness of adult sensory rooms.

Methodology This quality improvement protocol project was conducted at Henderson Health and Rehabilitation to determine the need for and develop a protocol for an adult sensory room …

Increasing Swim Instructors' Perceived Knowledge Of Sensory-Based Strategies When Coaching Children Who May Have Sensory Differences, Gabrielle Palmer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Although swim instructors are solely taught water safety regulations and correct swimming techniques, they are nonetheless viewed as mentors by the kids they work with. They are required to finish both their basic swim instructor (BSI) course and their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification, which primarily covers the fundamentals (American Red Cross Training Services, 2023; Kraft & Leblanc, 2018). However, neither provides a method of teaching swimming to children who might have sensory processing differences. This lack of education may affect both the child's participation and the swim instructor's capacity to impart knowledge. Research revealed that swim instructors are not very …

Development Of A Health Management Program For International Students And Scholars Using Occupational Therapy Lens, Bo Park

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Health management (HM) is essential to staying healthy. Many parts involve internal abilities, such as the cognitive ability to detect illness internally. However, knowing external sources is equally necessary to perform HM independently, such as knowing how to use health insurance and which healthcare services to use for specific symptoms. As HM is closely related to health and independence, occupational therapy recently expanded the practice by including the occupation of health management.

The International Students and Scholars (ISS) population has been often discouraged from performing parts of HM due to many cultural barriers and differences that exist in HM across …

Tummy Time Toolkit: Incorporating Social-Emotional Strategies To Increase Caregiver Home Programming Compliance, Marsha Rattler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Tummy time is a crucial developmental activity for infants. However, many infants are not receiving the recommended amount of time in prone positioning. This doctoral capstone project aims to address this gap through the implementation of an occupational therapy (OT) based tummy time educational resource titled Bonding Through Tummy Time: A Caregiver’s Guide. The resource, a tummy time toolkit, focuses on caregiver and infant interaction during the co- occupation of play using social-emotional developmental strategies as a driving force to complete more tummy time in the home environment. Recruitment of caregivers was done through purposive sampling and participants were surveyed …

Students’ Learning About Occupation In An Occupational Therapy Program, Erik Regalado

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: Describe the learning activities that occupational therapy students found helpful for learning the concept of occupation and describe what students know about the concept of occupation.

Design: Descriptive correlational

Setting: Occupational therapy program in the U.S

Participants: Occupational therapy students

Measure: Survey

Results: These students had a general understanding of occupation and its relationship to health, however, lacked the more conceptual understanding of occupation found in occupational science. Participants reported that activities such as fieldwork, group discussion, and lecture helped them understand the concept of occupation.

Conclusion and Relevance: These students missed aspects of occupation and would benefit from …

Development Of A Cue-Based Feeding Education Program To Enhance The Self-Efficacy Of Nicu Caregivers, Jazmin Rivera

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a neonate may experience feeding difficulties due to their prematurity, physiological, and neurological status. Under these circumstances, a caregiver’s role can be diminished and cause a loss of self-efficacy due to the inability to provide care and feed their infant in the NICU. After examining the literature, guided by the Model of Human Occupation and the Transformative Learning Theory framework, a cue-based feeding (CBF) program was developed and implemented at the University Medical Center (UMC) Hospital NICU department to enhance the caregiver’s self-efficacy through an occupational therapy perspective. A feasibility evaluation of the …

The Effects Of A Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Program To Enhance Occupational Performance And Quality Of Life In Diabetic Patients, Asia Suriyachottakul

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Globally, diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent chronic condition many people encounter. DM is one of the primary causes of mortality due to individuals struggling to manage or prevent the condition. The healthcare field is also failing to provide sufficient education on DM. Individuals with this condition may begin to experience co-morbidities and depressive symptoms, which make it difficult for them to engage in meaningful occupations, in addition to decreased quality of life (QOL). This project examines the effectiveness of a low-intensity aerobic exercise (LIAE) program to enhance occupational performance (OP) and QOL in those diagnosed with the condition or …

Effectiveness Of An Occupational Therapy-Focused Stroke Transitional Care Program In An Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, Danniel Tapat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: As a global health issue, stroke is one of the most common causes of disability for individuals around the world. The American Heart Association (2024) mentions that stroke is the fifth-highest cause of mortality and the top cause of disability in the United States. Objective: This project aimed to assess the change in the perceived readiness of individuals after implementing an occupational therapy (OT)-focused transitional care program for patients with stroke and their caregivers before returning home. Methods: The recruitment process for participants involved purposive sampling methods. The study utilized both the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale-Short Form (RHDS-SF) …

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 …

An Educational Toolkit For Addressing Women’S Sexual Health And Activity: Preparation For Occupational Therapists, Brittan Wright

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite being an activity of daily living within the scope of Occupational Therapy, issues and concerns related to sexual health are infrequently addressed within practice. This gap is especially prevalent as it relates to women's sexual health and sexual activity specifically. This capstone project evaluated Occupational Therapists' level of knowledge and comfort when discussing sexual activity and women's sexual health. It measured the effectiveness of creating an online educational toolkit to increase knowledge and confidence. The project used a quality improvement approach with pre-and post-test surveys to determine the effectiveness of the educational toolkit to enhance knowledge and confidence in …

Interdisciplinary Education On Using The Combilizer For Grooming Tasks In The Intensive Care Unit, Bonnie Lei

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide a teaching and learning program to the interdisciplinary team on how to use the Sara Combilizer with critically ill patients to increase efficacy for early progressive mobility (EPM) by facilitating grooming tasks. Methods: A teaching and learning program on using the Sara Combilizer to facilitate grooming tasks was provided to the acute care therapy team at a hospital. The program included an evidence-based lecture, a practice case study, and a digital instructional manual. The program was evaluated through a pre- and post-survey, and a quality improvement survey. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test …

Preparing Occupational Therapy Students In A Role-Emerging Private School-Based Setting, Jerome Amigo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This capstone project occurred in collaboration with Cornerstone Christian Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a role-emerging area of practice, occupational therapy must focus on integrating services in private schools just as much as public schools. The need for resources to support future fieldwork students at Cornerstone Christian Academy makes it difficult for occupational therapy students to enhance their experiential learning opportunities and serve an underserved population of primary and middle school students.

The capstone project consisted of daily engagement with Cornerstone Christian Academy’s educational personnel, attending students, and the parents of the students for 14 weeks to ensure all …

The Effect Of An Occupational Balance Educational Module On Life Satisfaction And Occupational Balance For University Students, Unique Bowden

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Engaging in a variety of occupations daily can support university students in feeling a sense of balance and satisfaction in their lives. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an occupational balance education module on improving the life satisfaction and occupational balance of university students ages 18-22 in a public university in the southwest region of the United States. Five participants were recruited using convenience sampling from a student support services program. A four-part education module was provided using a one-group pretest posttest quasi-experimental design, which included education on occupational balance, barriers and supports to occupational balance, strategies to …

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 Patients’ Readiness For Discharge: The Development Of An Occupation-Based Group Therapy Protocol In Inpatient Rehabilitation, Valerie Cheng

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The literature showed a lack of studies involving occupation-based group therapy in an inpatient rehabilitation setting, with notable barriers including lack of time, space, and equipment. The barriers lead occupational therapists (OT) to pursue an impairment-based approach, steering away from occupation-based approaches, which is what makes up the core of OT. Current literature is also limited to patients' perceptions of discharge readiness, with most research primarily concentrated on clinicians' perspectives. This 14-week capstone experience will include developing an occupation-based group therapy protocol for inpatient rehabilitation that will be implemented at Dignity Health Rehabilitation Hospital. Through conducting occupation-based group therapy in …

Sens"Ability" Coaching: Inspire And Empower Parents With Occupational Performance Coaching Using Dunn’S Model Of Sensory Processing – A Manualized Education Program For Clinicians, Kelby Christian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: The current literature found a need for improved collaboration styles and programs that can adapt to the needs of the various mental health diagnoses. This capstone project focused on creating a manualized education program called SensABILTY Coaching, which aims to improve clinicians’ confidence in educating caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on Dunn’s Model of Sensory Processing using principles of Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC). Improving clinicians' confidence increases positive reactions and enhances caregiver and clinician collaboration. This capstone project outlines the benefits of using the principles of OPC intervention styles and sensory-based strategies for their effectiveness when …

Perceptions Of A Community-Based Playgroup To Promote Caregiver Knowledge Of Resources And Prevention Of Developmental Delays In A Rural Setting, Chesnee Clingman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

For children living in rural communities, the likelihood of having a developmental delay substantially increases compared to children living in urban areas (Weglarz-Ward et al., 2019). This can be due to a lack of access to resources, limited education, and geographical isolation. Despite the rising trend of developmental delays among rural children, there is a noteworthy lack of early intervention resources for both the child and their family. This trend of minimal resources is demonstrated in Lincoln County, Nevada. Using an occupational therapy lens, a community-based playgroup program was developed for residents in Lincoln County. Community-based playgroups involve a structured …

Educational Series On Sensory Processing Differences And Sensory-Related Responses: An Occupational Therapy Perspective To Promote Caregiver Understanding, Jessemae Delarmente

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The objective of this doctoral capstone was to create and conduct a five-part online educational series for caregivers of children ages 0-5 about the impact sensory processing differences (SPD) has on occupational participation and performance, as well as how to navigate sensory-related responses (SRRs) on a daily basis. SPD and SRRs are complex topics commonly talked about on a graduate level as it requires knowledge of the nervous system and child development. Caregiver resources on SPD and SRRs are difficult to obtain and may not present the information appropriately for varying health literacy levels. This leads many caregivers to have …

Can Occupational Therapy Take A Hit? A Guide To High-Intensity Training In Stroke Rehabilitation, Jared Demke

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: Stroke has been considered a leading cause of functional impairment (Tsao et al., 2022). Recent evidence has supported a treatment approach that increases dosage (Scheets et al., 2021). High-intensity training (HIT) has shown promising evidence for functional recovery poststroke (Crozier et al., 2018). There have been minimal programs related to Occupational therapy (OT) and HIT have been created (Lamoureux, 2023). This doctoral capstone focused on program development of the OT-based HIT program. Theoretical frameworks included the Model of Human Occupation and Motor Learning Theory to provide a foundational structure.

Methods: A needs assessment was performed at the Saint George …

Occupational Therapy Fieldwork In An Emerging Justice-Based Setting: Hope For Prisoners, Noah Claypool

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This capstone occurred through a partnership with HOPE for Prisoners in Las Vegas, Nevada. As an emerging area of practice, the occupational therapy profession needs more resources and programs focused on the justice system. The lack of evidence-based resources to support future level I fieldwork students at HOPE for Prisoners poses a barrier for students to maximize their fieldwork experience and effectively engage with the organization’s population of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men, women, and young adults in southern Nevada.This capstone experience involved a 14-week immersion at HOPE for Prisoners, including participation in training and workshops and engagement with clients, …

Ergonomic Education For Entry-Level Administrative Staff, Mitzi De La Cruz-Garcia

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the United States, 2.6 million work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) were reported in 2020, which are costly to employers, individuals, and our healthcare system. The most commonly affected workers are entry-level staff, who often do not receive training or education on office ergonomics during their onboarding process. Evidence exists on the benefits of ergonomics for workers, but there is a gap in disseminating information to these individuals. In addition, what is available on the internet can be of low quality, not based on evidence, and written at a higher-than-average reading level.There is a need for easily accessible ergonomic education and …

The Feasibility Of A Large-Amplitude Aquatic-Based Exercise Occupational Therapy Program For Individuals With Early Parkinson’S Disease, Brigitte Baker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine if a 4-week aquatic-based, large-amplitude exercise program would increase strength and coordination for occupational performance in areas of activities of daily living (ADLs) and mobility in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) stage I-II, functional mobility as measured by Timed Up and Go test, and quality of life as measured by PDQ-39 in relation to occupational engagement.Methodology: Recruitment was through capstone placement site, Hands on Rehab, 7921 Professional Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, in which a signed EAA was on file. Informed Consent was reviewed by the student-clinician as well as the …

Driving And Community Mobility: An Online Educational Program For Generalist Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Gerard Blanco

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Driving is an important daily activity that often goes unnoticed, yet it enables individuals to engage in crucial tasks such as grocery shopping, going to work, and participating in social activities. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners must recognize and address the significance of driving in their daily routines to promote clients' independence and fulfillment. However, despite being well-equipped to assist clients with driving-related issues, many practitioners avoid or neglect this area of occupation. A reluctance to addressing driving and community mobility (DCM) can arise from a lack of confidence, available resources, support, or fear of losing a client's trust. These barriers …

Promoting Early Detection In Primary Care: Program Evaluation Of The Dementia Care Aware Program In Orange County, Ennah Cabading

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The aging population is growing quickly, raising concerns about the increasing numbers of those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, as age is the common risk factor for acquiring the disease. The increase in the elderly population may influence higher healthcare costs and the need for more healthcare professionals like primary care professionals. However, primary care professionals face challenges meeting this population's demands due to the lack of training, confidence, and understanding of dementia care. A new California initiative called Dementia Care Aware aims to support primary care professionals by offering training, tools, and resources to increase early detection and …

An Immersive Virtual Reality Treatment Learning Module For Unlv Occupational Therapy Students, Paolo Castro

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Virtual reality refers to the technology used to create multi-sensory, three-dimensional environments its users can interact with. Occupational therapists may find virtual reality-based therapy appealing as it allows them to access many virtual environments and tasks that would be difficult to recreate in traditional settings. Despite literature suggesting their willingness to use it in practice, there is an evidence-to-practice gap caused by low self-efficacy and knowledge of how to operate and apply it. The author created a learning module for occupational therapy students to see how it affects perceived clinical competency. The results of the learning module showed statistically significant …

Acquired Brain Injury: A Vision Screening Protocol For Occupational Therapists, Sebastian Cheung

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Occupational therapists have a unique set of skills that allow them to assess individuals with an acquired brain injury who have visual impairments. However, it is frequently neglected in practice owing to a lack of confidence, knowledge, or training. There is a need for a vision screening protocol that will help occupational therapists learn more about visual impairments in adults with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and feel more confident in their ability to identify them. This quality improvement capstone project was a feasibility study and consisted of a sample size of N = 6, utilizing a one group pretest-posttest …

Addressing Vision Impairments Following Neurological Injuries: A Vision Protocol For Occupational Therapists, Dyrin Cordero

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Vision impairments have a high prevalence in adults with a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI), potentially affecting up to 90% of this population. However, these impairments are often overlooked during the rehabilitation process due to a lack of education and training provided to occupational therapists (OTs). Limited research also contributes to no standardized best practice guidelines for OTs to follow (Aravich & Troxell., 2021). This issue is important to occupational therapy practitioners because vision impairments negatively affect a person's capacity for recovery, quality of life, safety, and mental health (Berger et al., 2016). Occupational therapists aim to utilize holistic …

The Efficacy Of An Educational Toolkit To Enhance Knowledge Of Pediatric Reflux Management Among Occupational Therapists, Kelly Cullerton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This manuscript describes a quality improvement project completed by a student in the University of Nevada Las Vegas Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program. The project tests the efficacy of an educational toolkit for occupational therapists staffed at an acute care hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, to increase their perceived knowledge of and ability to educate families on conservative management techniques for pediatric reflux management. Results indicate that the toolkit demonstrated efficacy in achieving this objective. The toolkit provided useful staff education and parent handouts for the occupational therapists to utilize in patient care as appropriate. This project’s ultimate aim was to …