Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Addressing The Psychosocial Impacts And Recovery Of A Patient With Carpal-Metacarpal (Cmc) Arthroplasty: A Case Study, Christopher Hernandez

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background & Purpose: Hands are an integral part of what defines us as human beings, they provide us with independence in work, leisure, self-care, and social interactions (Hannah, 2011). Injury to the upper extremity can harm one’s ability to engage in daily occupations, and often can result in a wide range of consequences affecting the physical, psychological, social, and economic aspects of a person’s everyday life (Cederlund et al., 2010; Chown et al., 2017). Treatment is often placed on the physical aspects of the injury, while the phycological symptoms associated with the injury are often not addressed (Jack & Estes, …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Promoting Early Literacy In Head Start Programs, Paige Mann

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to create resources to support teachers and caregivers of Head Start students in supporting early literacy skill development. These resource guides and activity kits aim to support teachers and caregivers in closing the literacy gap between children raised in low-socioeconomic (SES) households and their peers from highsocioeconomic households.

Reading The Warning Signs: Preventive Mental Health Youth Education Program, Cammy Cate Robertson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Wyoming is the third leading state in suicide related death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018; Wyoming Department of Health, n.d.). According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2022), suicide is the second leading cause of death in individuals aged 10-14. One in six youth experiences a mental health disorder yearly, while 50% of individuals aged 14 begin to have lifelong mental health concerns (Kessler et al., 2005; Whitney & Peterson, 2019). Students who experience depression are twice as likely to drop out of school, and students with mental, emotional, or behavioral concerns are three times more …

The People Left Behind: Older Adults In Custody, Therese Pettersen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The number of older adults in custody has significantly increased over the past few decades, now accounting for 10% of the total prison population (Carson & Sabol, 2016). It has been documented that older adults in custody have been subjected to bullying, lack of understanding and knowledge among prison staff, harassment, isolation, lack of age-appropriate occupations and more (Du Toit & McGrath, 2018). Increased staff training on older adult care (Brooke & Ryback, 2020; Williams et al. 2012), environmental modifications (Bierie, 2018; Brooke et al., 2020; Du Toit et al., 2019; Du Toit & McGrath, 2018; Maschi et al., 2012), …

How Adaptive Sports Promote Occupational Engagement And Quality Of Life For Individuals With Disabilities In A Rural Community, Michael Helgeson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Health management, play, leisure, and social participation are all valued occupations related to sports. However, individuals with physical disabilities face many barriers that inhibit them from engaging in sports, depriving them of these occupations. Some of these barriers include a lack of adaptive sports resources, adaptive equipment, adaptive sports programs in rural communities, and knowledge of how to include individuals with disabilities (Obradovic et al., 2021). The purpose of this scholarly project was to address these barriers through the development of adaptive sports programs; hereby, increasing occupational engagement, quality of life (QOL), and life satisfaction for individuals with disabilities. To …

Development Of A School Based Program: Implementing Occupational Therapy Into General Education Classrooms, Samantha Jo Larson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project (SP) was to build a program containing activities for kindergarten and first grade general education classrooms that promote childrens’ skills that are necessary for development in handwriting, reading, writing, spelling, and clothing management.

Fostering Early Literacy Skill Development In School Aged Children, Jaden Pikarski

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to foster early literacy skill development for children within the school system. The materials created are intended to enhance the context and promote learning in a way that is meaningful and developmentally appropriate.

Exploring Nature-Based And Animal-Assisted Therapies As A Therapeutic Modality, Rachel Cheatley

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is characterized by integrating animals into the therapy process as a therapeutic partner and modality (Laskowski et. al., 2019). AAT shows positive outcomes for those who take part in the practice (Ein et. al., 2018; Feng et. al., 2021; Mapes & Rosén, 2016; Nieforth et. al., 2021). Common goals that are targeted via AAT include anxiety and related symptoms, depression and related symptoms, coordination, fine motor skills, reaching, hand-eye coordination, body balance, body awareness, communication, and relationship building (Ein et. al., 2018; Feng et. al., 2021; Mapes & Rosén, 2016; Nieforth et. al., 2021). Even with the …

Sensory-Based Universal Design Strategies For Head Start Students To Optimize Educational Engagement, Lexi Elizabeth Zahn

Occupational Therapy Capstones

This scholarly project aims to educate and enable early childhood education teachers on how children’s sensory systems can be positively or negatively influenced to improve overall classroom experiences for all children. A teacher’s resource guide was developed to inform early education teachers about the sensory system and sensory regulation so that they can better understand the sensory needs of their students. The guide provides them with universally designed, sensory-based strategies to implement in the classroom to increase the performance ranges of students in their educational pursuits.

Primitive Reflex Screening And Caregiver Education And Support. A Product To Support Children With Retained Primitive Reflexes Transitioning Into The Formal Education System., Anna Justine Logan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Infants are born with movement patterns called primitive reflexes. Primitive reflexes are active for approximate times during the first few years of life (Smet et al, 2020; Myott et al., 2016). Retained primitive reflexes are primitive reflexes that have not integrated in the expected time. Retained primitive reflexes have been linked to a variety of developmental delays in older children including fine and gross motor (Gieysztor et al., 2018a), visual (Andrich et al., 2018), and academic performance (Feldhacker et al., 2021; Calvin & Ramli, 2020).

Addressing Interoceptive Awareness In Elementary School Students Affected By Childhood Trauma To Improve Emotional Regulation, Alison O’Sadnick

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Childhood trauma can affect students’ interoceptive awareness affecting their ability to emotionally regulate within the classroom environment (Neal, 2021). Evidence demonstrates that for students to emotionally regulate, they must have interoceptive awareness (Mahler, 2020). Interoceptive awareness is described as the ability to detect the physiological state of the body such as recognizing signals of respiratory effort, temperature, fatigue, hunger, thirst, satiety, pain, muscle aches, and heart rate (Mahler et al., 2022). Children who have experienced trauma commonly have difficulty identifying and describing internal arousal states, labeling, and expressing emotions and making their needs and wants to be known (Scaffa, 2019).

Integrating Occupation-Based Activity Groups In The Earlyelementary School Setting, Krista Rae Weiland

Occupational Therapy Capstones

In the early-elementary school curriculum, foundational skills are established to promote success in education and beyond. With limited remediation opportunities in the areas of fine motor and social skills, students are not receiving adequate resources to foster academic success. Students who demonstrate deficits in fine motor and social skills are prone to negative peer and teacher perception, a lack of self-esteem, decreased mental flexibility, and an inability to communicate knowledge effectively (Case-Smith et al., 2014; Lust & Donica, 2011; Taverna et al., 2020). These adverse consequences often result in a negative attitude towards school and low academic performance, which may …

The Ambassador Program: Improving Functional Community Participation For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Kathryn Elizabeth College

Occupational Therapy Capstones

This scholarly project aims to create more functional engagement opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) in a community setting. Individuals with ID/DD experience a multitude of barriers when attempting to become active members of the community and engage in meaningful opportunities and social interactions (Doerpinghaus et al., 2022; Trembath et al., 2010). These barriers can include a lack of individualized support, low self-esteem, difficulty finding valuable volunteer experiences, and a prejudice in community settings (Milot et al., 2020; Trembath et al., 2010).

The How To’S For Engaging With Medically Complex Children: A Resource Guide, Allyson Bourque

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to identify and address the factors that serve as barriers to engagement in valued occupations for children with serious or life-threatening illness.

Protecting Against Pain And Stress In The Nicu: An Evidence-Based Eye Examination Guideline, Heather Jo Bowman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create an evidence-based Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) eye examination guideline and associated resources that supported use of non-pharmacological interventions and emphasized the importance of parent education and involvement from both an interdisciplinary and occupational therapy perspective.

Literature Review: Although medically necessary, researchers and practitioners in the NICU interdisciplinary field have discussed pain and stress associated with preterm infant eye examinations (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], 2016; Fierson, 2018; Francis, 2016; Pollaci et al., 2020; Samra & McGrath, 2009). Pain and stress likely impact sensory and overall brain development (AAP, 2016; Brummelte …

Strategies For Campers With Sensory Challenges, Rachel Jessica Lindemann

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The OTS partnered with a summer camp agency to understand their needs for camp programming. The executive director informed the OTS that this camp would benefit from programming recommendations as they would like to be more inclusive toward campers of all abilities. Pfeiffer, Clark, and Arbesman (2018) explain that sensory challenges can exist in children/adolescents with or without an existing diagnosis. Children and adolescents who have difficulty regulating and responding to sensory input impedes their ability to participate in meaningful occupations. The OTS decided to provide the agency with programming recommendations to serve campers with sensory challenges in order to …

Accessibility In Rural America, Ashley Osbjornson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Individuals with disabilities are often faced with barriers when trying to access public spaces out in the community, which results in lack of inclusion (Chibaya et al., 2021; Sandwood, 2019). This is an ongoing barrier that if addressed, may expand inclusion for those with disabilities (CDC, 2020a). The purpose of this scholarly project was to increase accessibility and usability for rural shoppers. Thus, a manual was created for Minnesota stores to use as a guide when assessing accessibility and usability. In addition, this manual was created to help store owners understand disability and its impact and identify strategies store …

The “Nature” Of Growth: A Virtual Education Platform For Caregivers Of Children With Trauma, Katelyn Rose Mclellan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: The “Nature” of Growth: A Virtual Education Platform for Caregivers of Children with Trauma

Background: More than two thirds of all children report having been exposed to at least one traumatic event prior to the age of 16 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2021). These children are considered at risk due to the previous trauma that they have been exposed to (Ryan, Jane, & Powers, 2017). Children exposed to trauma face significant barriers to engagement in meaningful tasks, delays in development, longterm health issues, and unpredictable emotions (Forkey et al., 2021). Caregivers of these children have …

Creating A Sensory Friendly Classroom, Kaitlynn Stearns

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Children’s primary occupations are centered around engagement in their education through interaction with their learning environment and academic pursuits. In the school season months, children in Minnesota are spending roughly 935 hours at school annually (MARSS, 2020). The student’s environment in school provides a number of sensory experiences that can either support or inhibit a student’s ability to succeed in school. Many research studies have shown that children who have sensory needs that go unmet can display disruptive behaviors and will typically withdraw from engagement in their education (Dean et al., 2017). The purpose of creating the Sensory Friendly …

Upper Extremity Evaluation & Intervention Through The Utilization Of Occupation-Based Activities Within The Model Of Human Occupation Perspective, Richard J. Seaman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Upper Extremity Evaluation & Intervention Through the Utilization of Occupation-based Activities within the Model of Human Occupation Perspective.

Background: The importance of upper extremity rehabilitation is vital for clients to be able to reengage in their valued occupations that were affected due to a recent injury, illness, or surgery. Upper extremity fractures make up approximately 590,000 fractures annually in the USA (Napora et al., 2020). Clients with these types of conditions seek therapy to help improve their ability to gain back function within their body and daily lives. Through this process, clients are asked to perform various exercises that …

Iris Clubhouse: Experiences Of Community Integration, Rebecca J. Reeves

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The lived experience of community integration for those living with a serious mental illness (SMI) who are members of an unaccredited Clubhouse is an under investigated topic. The goal of this study is to better understand this phenomenon to inform the development of efficient and effective community integration programming for a local Clubhouse who is working toward becoming accredited. 15 active and inactive members of a local Clubhouse participated in a semi-structured interview to discuss their experiences of community integration while living with an SMI. The interviews were analyzed using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach (Dibley et al., 2020). Seven themes …

Care For The Caregiver: A Rural Perspective, Michaela Claire Gerving

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Care for the Caregiver: A Rural Perspective

Background: Informal caregivers in rural communities have multiple challenges. First, they have limited access to caregiving training yet are expected to perform tasks at skilled levels (Morelli, Barello, Mayan, & Graffigna, 2019). Second, they have limited access to supportive services, such as respite, which keeps them on-call 24 hours a day (Pfankuch, 2018). Finally, this continual status of caregiving around the clock encroaches on their own engagement in personal health management (Hewitt & McNiesh, 2019).

Purpose: The product of this scholarly project is an interprofessional (IP) telehealth wellness program for informal caregivers …

Programming To Help At-Risk Youth Find Success In And Outside Of The Classroom, Nora Carlson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Senior Portfolios: A guide to Help Students Plan for the Transition to Adulthood Nora Carlson, OTDS, Dr. Andrea Young, OTD, OTR/L, Faculty Advisor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of North Dakota School of Medicine Health Sciences, 501 North Columbia Rd, Grand Forks, ND 58202

Purpose: The purpose of the project was to assist at-risk students attending an alternative learning center (ALC) with secondary transition planning into adulthood to promote a successful first year out of high school. Planning is essential to ensure a smooth transition (Mankey, 2011). This project also aimed to showcase occupational therapy’s role in transition services, …

Wellness Education For The Food Insecure Population, Erin M. Grensteiner

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Food insecurity is a problem facing the United States that often has few solutions. Those who face the challenges of food insecurity are known as the food-insecure population. Since the persistence of food insecurity, poorer health outcomes have become positively associated with the food-insecure population. After reviewing the literature, it was found that difficulties with the occupations of maintaining personal and home hygiene and resource seeking were prevalent and found to lead to poorer health outcomes. Difficulties with maintaining personal and home hygiene were found to stem from a lack of access or money to spend on personal and home …

Developing An Occupational Therapy Role In Pediatric Private Practice, Sydnie R. Merriman-Ferri

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background An estimated 17.4% of children may be classified as children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) (NSCH 2019 20: Children with Special Health Care Needs, Minnesota, n.d.). In MN there are an estimated 180,000 CYSHCN (Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (Cyshn) - Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.). These children are those with or at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition (Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (Cyshn) - Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.). Occupational therapists’ scope of practice includes working with such children. Similarly, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) also provide …

Occupation, Dissociation, And Queer Identity, Katie Christopherson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Queer youth and young adults are more likely to experience trauma and are at a higher risk of developing mental health conditions and experiencing dissociation that negatively impacts occupational engagement (Keating & Muller, 2020; Tankersley et al., 2021). This disparity is attributed to environmental factors, such as discrimination (Keating & Muller, 2020). The goal of this project is to advocate for queer youth and young adults through educational resources. The resources were designed for an audience of healthcare professionals who work with queer youth in mental health settings in order to have a broader impact on the target population. The …

A Home-Based Program To Support Parents/Caregivers Of Children With Complex Developmental Needs In Their Home Environment, Audrey Lind Soulek

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Early intervention (EI) services play a significant role to support children with developmental disabilities and delays reach important milestones as they grow and develop. A child that qualifies for early intervention services is often seen by a provider once a week, which makes it necessary to provide parents/caregivers with home activities and educational material that will both enhance their knowledge and confidence, as well as promote continual learning opportunities for their child in the home environment. Occupational therapists (OTs) working in the EI setting evaluate a child’s performance completing occupations and provide interventions that promote development and skill building in …

A Sensory-Based Toolkit For Health Management Of Patients With Aggressive Behaviors In Acute Care, Meghan Janssen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: A Sensory-Based Toolkit for Health Management of Patients with Aggressive Behaviors in Acute Care

Introduction: Patients who have aggressive behaviors in acute care have limited engagement in health management and social participation (Beattie, Griffiths, Innes, & Morphet, 2018; Harwood, 2017). There is current evidence stating aggression and difficult behaviors can be caused by a dysregulated sensory system, a specific condition or an internal/external stressor (Bowman & Jones, 2016; Harwood, 2017; Scheydt et al., 2017). The purpose of this scholarly project is to promote patient engagement in health management and social participation through the implementation of a sensory-based toolkit that …

Aquatic Therapy: An Interprofessional Resource Focusing On Children With Developmental And Intellectual Disabilities, Mackenzie Martha Brokaw

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) experience impairments with physical development, learning, language, and behavior (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021b). These impairments lead to impacts with day to day functioning and meaningful occupations such as play, education, social participation, and activities of daily living (ADLs) (CDC, 2021b). Occupational therapy has the skilled knowledge to assist with these challenges from a variety of approaches. Aquatic therapy is one tool shown to be beneficial as the physical properties of water create an environment that can be very supportive to an individual and their needs (Pocius & Riley, …

Realizing, Recognizing, Responding, & Resisting Re-Traumatization: An Evidence-Based Toolkit For Occupational Therapists To Advocate For Their Role On Interprofessional Teams To Address The Impacts Of Childhood Trauma, Abby Werkmeister

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Many children in the United States experience childhood trauma and/or adverse childhood events which can have short-term and long-term impacts on a child. Childhood trauma is complex; therefore, the appropriate care needed is also complex, making an interprofessional collaborative approach necessary to address the impacts of childhood trauma, promote positive outcomes for those who have been impacted, and work towards a common goal. (Fraser, MacKenzie, & Versnel, 2019). Occupational therapists (OTs) are well suited to collaborate with other professionals such as mental health practitioners, however, OT’s role related to a trauma care team is still relatively unrecognized. There is a …