Occupational Therapy Commons^™

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Unplanned Motherhood, Cierra Stewart, Karen Park

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

For women experiencing unplanned pregnancy, the thought of becoming a mother can increase stress and affect the mother’s mental health. Maternal adjustment can include depression, anxiety, worry, stress, and happiness (Mihelic et al., 2016). The impact that this new role has effects daily demands, leading to a disruption in occupational engagement, environmental changes, and overall less time for the mother (Horne et al., 2005). There is currently not a well-defined role for occupational therapy within pregnancy medical clinics to support women experiencing unplanned pregnancy and their transition to motherhood. The purpose of this project is to provide care to new …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Athletic Retirement, Diana Mellin, Karen Park, Madison Harris

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Athletic retirement is described as a life transition involving withdrawal from the athletic role. Throughout the process of athletic retirement, individuals experience a loss of identity, roles, routines, and social support which has shown to negatively impact their overall mental health and well-being (Marterella & Smoot, 2017). This study investigated elite athletes’ experiences throughout their transition to athletic retirement, a ten-question online survey and semi-structured interviews were administered. Themes that emerged from the data are occupational adjustment and relearning roles, experiencing a crossroads of identity, external expectations, and pressures. Participants shared experiencing a period of burnout and detachment right after …

Supporting Rural Seniors Aging In Place Using Telehealth, Angel Alexander Gomez, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: The United States is witnessing a demographic shift in that the number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060; the percentage of the 65 and older age group will increase from 16 % to 23 % (Administration for Community Living, 2018). In this ever-growing population, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 2018 survey found that 76% of Americans over the age of 50 would prefer to remain in their current residence and 77% would like to continue living in their community as long as …

Transportation As A Barrier To Healthcare Access For Older Adults Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Yanira Barajas, Susan Macdermott, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The older adult population of those in the age group 65+ is one of the fastest growing populations in the following years. This project sought to identify what barriers older adults of low socioeconomic status face when trying to access transportation to healthcare appointments. The project also sought to understand what barriers healthcare professionals saw when their senior clients tried using transportation as well as what opportunities occupational therapists have to address the barriers if any. There was a theme of disconnect which appeared between healthcare professionals and their senior clients across multiple healthcare disciplines. This project was able to …

An Exploration Of The Lifestyle Of Rodeo Athletes, Brooke Tunnell, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Rodeo is considered one of the most rapid-growing sports across many nations and consists of highly talented, tough athletes (Haney & Pearson, 1999). There is a gap in the research that examines the occupation of rodeo through an occupational therapy and occupational science perspective. Occupational science, the study of human occupation, focuses on how the form, function, and meaning of daily activities influence health and well-being (Larson & Zemke, 2003). Form, function, and meaning guided the mixed-method research study utilizing survey, interview, narrative prompt, and photo elicitation. Three themes were extracted from the data and embodied the personal and occupational …

The Role Of Ot In Adapted Crossfit, Emily Adams

Student Capstone Papers

Background: A quarter of adults are diagnosed with a disability in the United States, with almost half considered being inactive (CDC, 2020). The population of persons with disabilities (PWD) are at higher risk for secondary health concerns due to a sedentary lifestyle (Diaz et al., 2019). CrossFit recently implemented their first adaptive division in 2021 (CrossFit, LLC, 2022), however there continue to be barriers preventing PWD from participating in CrossFit.

Problem/Purpose: PWD may experience limited access to CrossFit due to structural and social barriers to access equipment and participating in movements. The purpose of this project was to …

Perceptions Of Using Diabetic Alert Dogs To Promote Occupations And Quality Of Life, Haley Speake, Rocio Alvarenga, Adam Gibson

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project consisted of a pilot phenomenological qualitative research study with the goal of assessing diabetic alert dogs' impact on their owners' occupations and quality of life from the owner's perspective. Individuals with type 1 diabetes that personally own a diabetic alert dog were interviewed virtually using a semi-structured approach. The goal of the interview questions was to gather information regarding health management, daily occupations, and quality of life. Gaps in the research were identified, and it was found that few research studies focused on the impact or benefits of a diabetic alert dog from the owner’s perspective. Therefore, …

An Occupational Therapy Guidebook For Individuals With Substance Use Disorder, Cassidy B. Ardoin-Barnett, Steven M. Gerardi

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) experience barriers and challenges that impact their daily occupational performance, engagement, well-being, and quality of life. In addition to disrupting and distorting an individual’s unique occupational outcomes, SUDs can limit, replace, and dictate an individual’s daily meaningful activities, habits, routines, and skills that support healthy occupational engagement. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners have a unique and valuable role in SUDs treatment as they are equipped to identify these barriers and implement strategies for supportive skill development or restoration. Based on the literature review conducted, OT practitioners do not have an OT practice guideline, protocol, or …

Examining The Effects Of Passenger Conversation On Older Adult Driving, Allison Green, Meg Tedder, Amanda J. Mohler, Amanda M. Carpenter

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Older adults have impaired driving performance compared to other age groups, and auditory stimuli has adverse effects on driving performance (Karthaus & Falkenstein, 2016). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to expand knowledge of driving and passenger conversation within the older adult population. Participants (n = 17) completed a drive of 7.8 miles on a driving simulator twice; once without conversation and again with conversation. Both drives used the same simulated driving tasks to examine driving performance with and without conversation. Participants exhibited poorer driving performance from the first drive without conversation to the second drive with conversation, …

Prison Or Paradise? Perceptions Of Communication Between Cohabitating Couples During Covid-19 Restrictions, Caroline Fenker, Olivia Fisher, Amy Hodel, Clayton Lange, Jory Swider, Jena Thompson

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Purpose: Due to the immediacy of the COVID-19 phenomenon, researchers recognized a need to examine the effects of restrictions on communication patterns between committed, cohabiting partners. Prior literature investigated factors contributing to communication satisfaction; however, a substantial gap remains within the occupational therapy (OT) literature. The study explored perceived satisfaction of quantity and quality of communication before and during COVID-19 restrictions between cohabitating, committed partners and its relation to occupation.

Methods: A questionnaire sent via e-mail recruited subjects from an occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program who self-identified as having quarantined with a committed partner during COVID-19 restrictions. A mixed-methods …

Avian Assisted Intervention During Covid-19 Pandemic Restrictions, Sandia Wood, Mary Thelander Hill

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational Deprivation has been a present risk [ER1] for people in inpatient hospital settings such as Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions. Clients have described their days as “boring” and “unfulfilling.” Clients experiencing extended in-patient hospitalization, who already might experience great interruptions to their treasured roles, routines, and occupations, were further restricted from recreational and social opportunities usually present in those settings. This work describes the translation of the animal assisted intervention evidence base to an occupational therapy student-developed program at a SNF to address this deficit. A vibrant avian therapy partner gave moments …

Barriers And Resources For Competitive Adaptive Rock Climbing, Amy Griswold, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project was to (1) identify barriers to participation in competitive adaptive rock climbing for adults with a physical disability and (2) create and distribute virtual educational resources to meet identified barriers. The need for this project was highlighted by athlete and coach self-report of limited ability to engage in competitive adaptive rock climbing, also known as paraclimbing.

The sample consisted of 108 adaptive athletes, adaptive rock-climbing coaches, staff members in rock climbing gyms, and volunteers at adaptive rock climbing events. Participants anonymously completed a ten-minute mixed methods virtual survey using Microsoft Forms.

Statistical analyses suggest recurrent …

Supporting The Transition Out Of The Family Caregiver Role: An Occupation-Centered Approach, Whitney Wilbanks, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Engagement in meaningful and valued occupations can be used as a means to help former family caregivers cope, heal, and grow following the loss of their loved one (Pickens, 2011). Occupational engagement can be used as a means to help former family caregivers reshape their personal identity, experience a sense of wholeness, and reestablish purpose and balance in their lives (Hocking, 2016). The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to educate hospice care staff on ways to support individuals with transitioning out of the family caregiver role following the death of the care recipient. An educational resource was developed …

Sensory Preference And Learning Preference In Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Dyslexia, Jennifer Gomez, Hope Mccarroll, Lisa Griggs-Stapleton

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Is there a connection between a child’s sensory preferences and their learning preference? Sensory processing disorders are a heavily researched topic in current literature and many children with sensory differences present with learning disabilities, but research is lacking concerning any connection between sensory processing and learning. This research study examines children’s sensory preferences and learning preferences and denotes trends between these two variables. 15 participants were recruited from the Accommodated Learning Academy in Grapevine, Texas, a private school for students 1st-12th grade with learning delays. The sample of 15 participants consisted of 12 females and 3 males, aged 11-15 years …

Exploring The Occupational Impact Of Pregnancy And The Role Of Occupational Therapy During The Prenatal Period, Monica Wutzke, Karen Park, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Pregnancy is a major transitional period accompanied by different physiological changes that can impact performance and engagement in meaningful and needed daily occupations. There is currently limited research that examines the transition to parenthood during the prenatal period through an occupational therapy (OT) perspective.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact pregnancy has on an individual’s roles, routines, and daily occupations. This study aimed to investigate this through an OT lens in order to better identify how the needs of pregnant individuals fall within the scope of OT.

Methods: Pregnant individuals participated in an online …

Inclusive Employment Opportunities For Adults With Down Syndrome, Valerie Schlieder, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) face several barriers to inclusive and community-based employment opportunities, including the DS phenotype, volition, and disability stigma. The purpose of this project was to create a strengths-based occupational therapy (OT) group program to address these barriers. Using information from the needs assessment as well as the Ecology of Human Performance model, the Model of Human Occupation, and the Social Model of Disability, the EmployAble program was created. EmployAble took place twice a week for five weeks and included six adults with DS, ages 19-32. The group focused on employment readiness skills such as interpersonal skills, …

Occupational Therapy Return To Work Program For Individuals Following A Traumatic Brain Injury, Kalynn R. Johnson, Lisa Griggs-Stapleton

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) often experience difficulty returning to the workforce and lack the necessary resources to facilitate a successful return to work. This capstone project focuses on developing a resource that equips occupational therapists with tools and resources to provide valuable and effective return to work services for this population.

Occupational Therapy's Role In Upper Extremity Posture, Ergonomics, And Injury Prevention In Esports, Braden W. Singleton

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Electronic sports, also known as esports, is organized competitive gaming. Esports athletes routinely sustain injury to the upper extremity (UE) and are forced into early retirement due to pain and limitation. Employing ergonomic principles through education has a significant impact in assisting with pain reduction and prevention of disability. This program sought to decrease the prevalence of upper extremity injury seen in the esports athlete population, and decrease the intensity of pain if it was already present. Twelve total participants were included in the program, as determined by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was gathered through the use of …

Black Occupational Therapists’ Experiences On The Occupational Impacts Of Racism, Kenzie Saleh, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Research indicates that there is a correlation between racism and impact on occupations (Beagan & Etowa, 2009; Gershenson et al., 2016; Lavalley & Johnson, 2020). The purpose of this study was to expand on the existing research of occupational impacts of racism on the Black community and discover any differences or new themes that have occurred in the past decade. Additionally, this research project investigated specific examples and experiences that lead to these occupational impacts. The student researcher used surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews to gather data focused on the occupational needs and engagement of this population. The research question …

Sensory Integration For Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv), Nadien Albanna

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Since the start of the global pandemic, stay-at-home orders forced IPV survivors to stay in the home with abusers, increasing the risk of abuse, and the impact of psychological trauma. (Bright et al., 2020). Occupational therapists are trained professionals in incorporating sensory-based strategies to focus on the somatic manifestations experienced by the body from trauma and can help to regulate physiological and psychological responses through sensory stimuli (Mcgreevy & Boland et al., 2020). The development of this project sparked an opportunity to publish a new framework to introduce the role of sensory integration in treating survivors of intimate partner violence …

The Role Of Occupation Therapy In Homeless Transition-Aged Youth Programs, Cortney Kirby Yap, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this project was to evaluate current programming with staff at Urban Street Angels (USA) and explore the role of occupational therapy (OT) with youth experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness in San Diego, California. The project informed the development of proposals aimed to enhance programming and OT services already in place at the USA La Mesa site for the staff and the youth enrolled in services through the USA organization and the Housing Our Youth (HOY) collaborative program.

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Promoting Risky Play For At-Risk Youth, Gerald Deocariza Jr., Karen Park

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Climbing, racing, playing by the fire, building forts with hammers, and free independent exploration are all examples of risky play. The inherent risk-taking that comes with play is essential to children’s physical and cognitive development, social and emotional well-being, confidence, self-esteem, and risk management. However, as many as two thirds of adults in United States have reported to come across at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) growing up. The exposures to childhood trauma have been linked to a variety of negative health, psychiatric, and behavioral outcomes. Societal attitudes may further refrain at-risk youth from opportunities to gain essential skills …

Translating Neurobiological Knowledge Into Trauma-Informed Occupational Therapy, Kimberley Pierce, Jessica De Brun, Karen Park

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

There is a growing need for an expanded understanding of the experience of trauma in light of many socio-political and cultural events of the previous years. Occupational therapy literature mentions a growing understanding of neuroscience that is leading to trauma-informed protocol reform, however, consistently concludes with the acknowledgment that more information is needed. The purpose of this project was to advocate for occupation as a significant tool in addressing traumatic stress. This project included a scoping review of non-peer-reviewed and peer-reviewed literature and manuscripts as well as a phenomenological qualitative research study interviewing occupational therapy practitioners who work with individuals …

Occupational Rights Workshops: Critical Reflection, Discussion, And Collaboration With Occupational Therapists, Michelle Arakaki, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

In the summer of 2020, occupational therapy organizations condemned systemic racism and called on the profession to improve its’ practices in promoting justice and enhancing efforts in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020; World Federation of Occupational Therapists). Since then, there have been formations of DEI committees, opportunities for continuing education in justice and antiracist practice, and more discussion in the literature on how therapists could support the occupational rights of their clients. Occupational rights are “the right of all people to engage in occupations that contribute positively to their well-being and the well-being of …

Exploring The Experiences And Adaptation Strategies Of People Who Develop Work-Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms After Working From Home During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Caitlin Gregory, Jim King, Lisa Griggs-Stapleton

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought many “new ways of life” to people everywhere. The transition from working in an office to working from home forced many individuals to adapt to a new normal. This capstone research study used qualitative case study methodology to provide a detailed look into the challenges and adaptive process of three employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This capstone study describes the lived experiences of individuals working from home and how they adapted in response to the onset of upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms. Using the Theory of Occupational Adaptation, the …

Exploring The Experience Of Dating As A Surviving Partner And Impact On Occupational Therapy, Jessica Blum, Susan Macdermott, Karen Mccarthy

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Limited research has been conducted that explores the experience of dating as a member of the surviving partner community. This study aims to address this gap in literature by capturing the dating experience for those who are surviving partners.

Method: A qualitative, phenomenological research design was used to gather data from thirteen surviving partners who have actively dated in the past, are currently dating, or are currently in a casual or serious relationship.

Results: Interview data revealed that the participants' dating experiences were impacted by their identity as a surviving partner. Participants reported experiencing pressure to engage in dating …

The Intersection Of Breastfeeding Dyads And The Impact On Perinatal Mental Health, Faith Saunders, Heather Truog, Lisa Griggs-Stapleton

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

As the mother transitions from the prenatal period to the postpartum period, the new occupational role of motherhood emerges. In this perspective, infant feeding is considered a co-occupation when discussing maternal functioning. The emergence into this new chapter requires adaptation and adjustment to the mothers’ occupational roles, routines, and identity. Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) are equipped to provide holistic, client-centered interventions to address occupational dysfunctions during this maternal role transition (Slootjes et al., 2016). However, there are significant gaps in the literature of the OT profession that discusses the role of OTPs within in interdisciplinary healthcare team for perinatal care …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Addressing Childhood Obesity In Hispanic Communities, Karina Castro-Ayala

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Childhood obesity is a growing public health epidemic of the 21st century (Sahoo et al, 2015), in which the Hispanic population is disproportionately an affected population in the U.S for obesity and other health risks (Garcia et al, 2019). Predominantly, 40% of Hispanic children in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese, higher than many other racial and ethnic populations, leading to an increased risk in chronic health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and decrease in mental well-being. The purpose of this capstone was to develop an occupation-based, health and wellness program through the scope of …

A Call For Occupational Justice: Amending Medicare Policy, Amanda Amaro, Lisa Griggs-Stapleton, Jennifer Summers

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This advocacy project titled, A Call for Occupational Justice: Amending Medicare Policy focuses on advocating for increased access to occupational therapy (OT) services for elderly individuals within home health settings and bridging the health equity gap. The student was able to collaborate with the AOTA Federal Affairs Department throughout their capstone advocacy experience. They began the process of addressing Medicare home health policy serving as an environmental barrier for quality of life within this population through preparing to introduce legislation amending Medicare policy. This Medicare home health legislation would allow OT to be recognized as a Medicare qualifying home health …

Improving Belonging Through Occupation In Individuals Within The Substance Use Disorder Population, Michelle Perkins, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project focused on improving belonging through occupation in individuals within the substance use disorder population. Based on site-based needs assessment findings and informed by the Recovery Model and the Doing, Being, Belonging, and Becoming framework, the Elevate 4-week pilot program was created. The Elevate program successfully demonstrated the feasibility of improving belonging through occupations, as evidenced by changes in pre and post-program client questionnaire scores. The client’s self-report scores in sense of belonging, satisfaction of belonging, and connection to housemates and staff demonstrated noticeable improvement. While the Elevate program demonstrated noticeable improvement in participants’ sense of belonging, satisfaction …