Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Determining Cognitive And Non-Cognitive Predictors Of Success On The National Physical Therapy Examination, Carolyn Galleher, Peter J. Rundquist, David B. Barker, Wen-Pin Chang

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Background and Purpose: A variety of admission criteria have been utilized to assist in the selection of viable candidates in physical therapy programs. These criteria include cognitive measurements such as grade point average (GPA) and standardized test scores. However, only a few studies correlated these cognitive measurements to predicting success on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of entry-level doctoral physical therapy (DPT) students on prior cognitive measurements and correlate it to passing on the first attempt of the NPTE. This study also aimed to determine if two inventory surveys …

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation In The Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study Of Two Military Veterans, Alfred G. Bracciano, Wen-Pin Chang, Stephanie Kokesh, Abe Martinez, Melissa Meier, Kathleen Moore

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

This case study investigated the effects of cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) on the prevalence and intensity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and self- perceived improvement of performance and satisfaction in daily activities in war veterans. Two male Caucasian veterans (ages 54 and 38) diagnosed with PTSD participated in these case studies with a pretest–posttest design. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the PTSD Symptom Scale–Interview (PSS-I) were administered before and after the 4-week CES treatment. The participants self-administered the 4-week CES treatment protocol using Alpha-Stim SCS CES device in their home for 20 to 60 min a day, …

Dementia And The Role Of Occupational Therapy: American Occupational Therapy Association Fact Sheet, Regula H. Robnett

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Dementia results from impaired cognition, due to damage to the brain. The majority of dementia cases (60% to 80%) are classified as Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.). The signs of dementia generally include, but are not limited to, decreased short term memory, decreased problem solving skills, decreased perceptual skills, and personality changes. The onset of dementia is gradual, and the course of the disease spans several years or more. In Alzheimer’s disease, the person progresses through several stages that roughly coincide with reverse developmental levels, with those in the final stages being completely dependent on others. Occupational therapy practitioners, through …

Creating Collaborative Lifelong Solutions: Person, Family, Professionals, And Community, Laurie Raymond, Kathryn M. Loukas

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Across the United States, two million families are struggling to create supports for their loved ones with an intellectual disability and mental illness (Easter Seals, 2008). This same trend is being seen in the State of Maine where there are an increasing number of youth diagnosed on the Autism spectrum with a co-morbid mental health disorder. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services reports that Maine Care recipients with Autism and related disorders in 2009, numbered 4156 (Richardson, 2011), with those entering adulthood in the fastest growing group. As we look to the future, there are over 2500 individuals …

Turf, Team, And Town: A Geriatric Interprofessional Education Program, Nancy Macrae

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Describes the Interprofessional Geriatric Education Program (IGEP) at the University of New England (U.S.). This course involves collaboration among health care students and faculty, including dental, occupational therapy, physician assistant, and physical therapy programs, and is focused on treatment for and feedback from elderly patients, who serve as “teachers” for students in the program.

A Qualitative Study Of Coping In Mothers Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Heather Miller Kuhaneck, Tajhma Burroughs, Jamie Wright, Theresa Lemanczyk, Amy Rowntree Darragh

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

A significant body of research exists that explores the stressors of raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are fewer studies, however, that examine specific effective coping strategies of mothers of children with an ASD. This qualitative study explored mothers’ perceptions of effective coping strategies for their parenting stressors. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 mothers to inquire about their personal coping methods. Interviews were coded and emergent themes identified which included coping strategies such as “me time,” “planning,” “knowledge is power,” “sharing the load,” “lifting the restraints of labels,” and “recognizing the joys.” The information from …

The Importance Of Mentoring For The Professional Involvement Of Therapists Specializing In Ayres Sensory Integration®, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Mentoring, a term that originated with Greek literature, has been defined as a reciprocal, enabling relationship that promotes growth and development of the mentee (Milner & Bossers, 2005; Rose, 2005; Scheerer, 2007; Schemm & Bross, 1995). Generally, this relationship focuses specifically on development of the career of the mentee. The mentoring relationship serves multiple functions and may occur in many forms, providing role modeling, support and encouragement, socialization to the culture, advocacy, and perhaps even protection. Mentors also provide training, advice, and guidance. Mentoring may occur formally or informally, and the culture of the organization in which the relationship occurs …

Maturation Of Sensory Gating Performance In Children With And Without Sensory Processing Disorders, Patricia L. Davies, Wen-Pin Chang, William J. Gavin

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Recent interest in sensory gating in children with and without neuropsychological disorders has resulted in a number of studies and the results regarding the developmental trajectory of sensory gating are inconsistent. We investigated the maturational course of sensory gating in samples of typically developing children and children with sensory processing deficits (SPD) and compared their performance to adults. Besides gating ratios, we also examined the brain responses to conditioning and test click stimuli in the sensory gating paradigm separately to clarify if the changes in click amplitudes could explain the maturational change in the T/C ratio in children. Eighteen adults …

The History, Development, And Purpose Of The Sensory Integration Global Network, Elizabeth Soechting, Tara J. Glennon, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck, Brian Erwin, Diana A. Henry, Colleen Basaraba, Zoe Mailloux, Susanne Smith Roley

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

The Sensory Integration Global Network (SIGN) is a Web-based resource developed by a loosely structured group of international volunteers dedicated to protecting the integrity and promoting the work of Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI). SIGN provides an international resource to educate the public and professionals about A. Jean Ayres and sensory integration theory and practice to help them to discriminate between ASI and other interventions, especially those that use similar descriptors of improving sensory integration and sensory processing.

This article aims to increase awareness of the existence of SIGN within the readership of the American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA' s) Sensory …

Perceived Stress In Occupational Therapy Students, Teresa A. Pfeifer, Peter L. Kranz, Angela E. Scoggin

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine perceived stress of entry‐level master's occupational therapy (OT) students enrolled at a Texas university. A total of 29 students including nine men and 20 women participated in the study. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The participants were interviewed during the end of the first and second year of the entry‐level master's programme in OT. Questionnaires, given at the same time, contained demographic data, open‐end questions and force choice questions rated on a Likert scale. The results indicated that the majority of students (66.4%) rated their current level of stress …

The Evolution Of Language And Perception Of Disability In Occupational Therapy, Kathryn M. Loukas

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

How do occupational therapy practitioners refer to the persons they serve, and how do these terms reflect our perception of disability as a profession? In the hospital or medical model, we call these persons patients; in the community we referred to them as clients; in the marketplace, they may be called consumers. Children serviced through the schools often are called students, and persons in long-term care may be called residents. However, most of the individuals we serve carry a diagnostic label that makes them eligible for services and defines the work of therapy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], …

Implications Of Sensory Defensiveness In A College Population, Mary-Ellen Johnson, Rebecca Irving

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Sensory defensiveness is an inappropriate and exaggerated response to a typically harmless sensory stimulus (Kinnealey & Oliver, 2002). For persons with sensory defensiveness, sensory stimuli can elicit avoidance, increased arousal, and fight-or-flight behaviors. Some specific behaviors noted in persons with severe sensory defensiveness include crying, screaming, or lashing out from light touch; running away from touch; gagging or vomiting in response to certain food textures; hyperactivity in response to loud noises or bright lights; and extreme reactions to sound stimuli, such as fire alarms or vacuum cleaners. Unexpected and unpredictable stimuli are most likely to cause a reaction, and behavioral …

An Exploratory Survey Of Occupational Therapists' Role In Hippotherapy, Cristina Cerquozzi, Ericka Cerquozzi, Amy Darragh, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

The term hippotherapy is derived from the Greek word for horse, or hippos. The American Hippotherapy Association (2007) defines hippotherapy as an occupational, physical, or speech therapy intervention strategy, using the movements of a horse, used as part of an intervention program to facilitate functional gain. In hippotherapy, therapists use the movements of the horse as a vehicle for improving clients' functional limitations. Hippotherapy is an intervention method mentioned in the occupational therapy literature more than 20 years ago (Engel, 1984) that has received minimal research attention within our field. Little is known about the role of occupational therapists in …

Understanding Ayres' Sensory Integration, Susanne Smith Roley, Zoe Mailloux, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck, Tara J. Glennon

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants rely on knowledge and skills to guide their intervention planning as they help clients who are experiencing difficulties with engaging in occupation. Sensory integration theory, with its rich history grounded in the science of human growth and development, offers occupational therapy practitioners specific intervention strategies to remediate the underlying sensory issues that affect functional performance.

This article articulates the core principles of sensory integration as originally developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres, explains the rationale for developing a trademark specifically linked to these core principles, and identifies the impact that this trademark can have …

Concept Mapping 101, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck, Joanne M. Bortone, Lenore Frost

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Concept maps are visual depictions of information, generally in diagram form, that are used to enhance and document learning (Novak, 1990; Whiteley, 2005). As a learning tool, concept maps have been used for many years in the fields of education and nursing (Novak, 1990; Schuster, 2002). The methods and uses of concept mapping have evolved in the areas of academic education, clinical education, and research since the 1970s (All & Havens, 1997; Novak, 1990; Schuster, 2002; Whiteley, 2005). This article discusses the use of concept mapping in occupational therapy education.

Critical Thinking And Evidence-Based Practice In Problem-Based Learning Tutorial Groups: A Critical Case Study, Joanne M. Bortone

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Little research has investigated how problembased learning (PBL) instruction influences students' critical thinking and evidence-based practice. This research sought to ascertain if PBL instructional practices facilitated critical thinking and EBP; identify those practices; and, identify changes students made in tutorials.

A qualitative, twocase, critical case study design used pretest and posttests of the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) (Facione, 1990) and Self-Evaluation of EBP adapted from Straus et al. (2005) to select the critical case sample. Students who made the greatest gains from pre to posttest scores met selection criteria for the critical case sample and were invited to …

Sensory Integration: It's Not Just For Children, Renee Watling, Stefanie Bodison, Diana A. Henry, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Sensory integration theory and intervention techniques were originally developed by A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR, beginning in the late 1960s. Her pioneering work integrated scientific information from neuroscience, psychology, occupational therapy, and human development in an effort to help explain the relationship among experience, brain development, and function. Ayres's theory of sensory integration provides a solid foundation for understanding the impact of sensation on occupational performance across the life span. Although much of the existing work related to sensory integration addresses occupational performance issues in children, some believe the theory and framework to be important across the life span. However, …

The Relationship Among Sensory Preferences, Play Preferences, Motivation, And Mastery In Guiding Children's Play: A Review Of The Literature, Part 2, Elissa Miller, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Currently, the emphasis throughout health care is on providing evidence-based practice. Occupational therapy practitioners are involved in critical examination of the profession's assumptions and beliefs and are conducting research that supports its theoretical underpinnings. In many areas of practice, practitioners have created bodies of literature to support interventions; and in other areas, we rely on literature from fields outside of the profession. Pediatric occupational therapy is no exception. Although exciting research is currently under way, existing research from outside the profession supports many of our methods and beliefs. A review of the literature found evidence from both inside and outside …

Quality Of Life And Aging: Exploring The "Paradox Of Well-Being", Regula H. Robnett

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

During the past 50 years, quality of life is a construct that many researchers have studied. Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants often claim to improve the quality of their clients' lives. Making note of references to quality of life in the occupational therapy literature, one could gather a list of hundreds of articles. However, in the occupational therapy context, the term quality of life rarely is defined. The words quality and life are easy enough to discern, but the meanings behind the words seem to vary with author. Sometimes, quality of life has been described in vague terms, such …

The Pizzi Holistic Wellness Assessment, Michael Pizzi

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

This paper describes the Pizzi Holistic Wellness Assessment tool. Using theory from the field of health promotion and expertise gained in his private home health practice, the author developed and pilot tested this assessment on a variety of individuals. The assessment is designed to be used with different populations in a variety of settings to help clients self assess their health and well-being.

“Tears In My Eyes ’Cause Somebody Finally Understood”: Client Perceptions Of Practitioners Following Brain Injury, Amy R. Darragh, Pat L. Sample, Stephanie R. Krieger

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify practitioner qualities and traits that clients with brain injury see as important. Method: An opportunistic sample of 51 participants with brain injury was interviewed about perceptions of service access and effectiveness. An interview guide was used to gather data for this phenomenological qualitative study. Four interviewers individually conducted audiotaped interviews, which were then transcribed. Coding and theme development were completed using HyperRESEARCH™ software. Results: Three themes regarding practitioner qualities emerged from the data: (a) roles of the provider, (b) perceived helpfulness of services, and (c) personal characteristics of the providers. Beneficial …

Perspectives On Faculty Clinical Practice: Views Of Occupational Therapy Curriculum Chairpersons And Faculty Members, Angela E. Scoggin, Robert W. Gibson, Carolyn Hanson

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective. This study investigated whether and how faculty clinical practice (FCP) was being implemented in occupational therapy professional education programs.

Method. Chairpersons and faculty members from all accredited entry-level occupational therapy curricula in the United States were asked to complete questionnaires about their involvement in FCP. The chairperson questionnaire consisted of primarily closed-ended questions that addressed the organization of faculty practice within their programs, whereas the faculty questionnaire was primarily open-ended and addressed faculty members’ individual involvement in FCP as well as the perceived benefits and drawbacks. Responses were analyzed for 39 program chairpersons and 136 faculty members were analyzed. …

Occupational Therapy With Children With Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Jane Case-Smith, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective. Although the prevalence of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) has increased, empirical data about the role and practices of occupational therapists have not been reported in the literature. This descriptive study investigated the practice of occupational therapists with children with PDD.

Method. A survey was mailed to 500 occupational therapists in the Sensory Integration Special Interest Section or School System Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association in eastern and midwestern United States. The valid return rate was 58% (292 respondents). The survey used Likert scale items to measure frequency of performance problems observed in children …

Development Of The Preschool Occupational Therapy Assessment, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Initial reliability and validity studies were completed for a newly created assessment tool called the Preschool Occupational Therapy Assessment (POTA). The POTA was designed to examine fine motor and sensory motor skills relevant to preschool academic function. Forty-five children, both typically developing and developmentally delayed, participated in the initial research. Results of data analysis support further development of this tool.

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure And Mother–Infant Interaction: Implications For Occupational Therapy Intervention, Heather Miller-Kuhaneck

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

The literature from multiple disciplines on in utero cocaine exposure and mother–infant interaction and attachment was examined for possible relationships and implications for occupational therapists. Maternal cocaine use and neurobehavioral deficits in neonates prenatally exposed to cocaine may result in interactional difficulties between mother and infant. Knowledge of child development, sensory regulation, and infant cues will enable therapists to assist the mother in creating positive interactive experiences between herself and her child.

The Recovery Of Matthew, A Success Story, Kathryn M. Loukas

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

In the fall of 1994, 11-year-old Matthew experienced a traumatic brain injury. Two years later, he is a consistent honor roll student. This is the story of how occupational therapy helped Matt heal and move on to life as a regular kid.

Repetitive Strain Injury: A New Definition And Treatment Strategy Based On The Client-Centered Practice, Lenore Frost, Robyn Stricoff

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

RSI is defined by the authors as a biopsychosocial disorder, under the umbrella of cumulative trauma disorder, involving a non-specific, potentially chronic pain syndrome of the upper exrtremity. Evaluation and treatment will focus on the client-centered practice. Patients are enrolled in an 8-week course of treatment, which focuses on patient involvement, education, relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, exercise, postural modification, as well as assessing vocational and psychosocial issues.

Hypothesis For Prediction Of Stimulant Drug Effectiveness Utilizing Sensory Integrative Diagnostic Methods, Judith Giencke Kimball

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Despite extensive research, there has been no way to predict before drug administration which children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will respond to medication intended to calm them. A drug trial is the current method used. This paper discusses the action of stimulant medications and presents a hypothesis as to why they work on some children and not others. Sensory integration theory, particularly on vestibular system measures, that involves differential diagnosis of certain types of ADHD children, is used to explain why some children respond to stimulant medications.

Prediction Of Methylphenidate (Ritalin) Responsiveness Through Sensory Integrative Testing, Judith Giencke Kimball

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Seventeen children previously judged to be good or poor responders to methylphenidate (Ritalin) were tested on sensory integrative measures while in the off-drug state. The tester was unaware of the children's drug response category. Results showed that children who were poor responders to Ritalin showed prolonged scores on and an adverse reaction to the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test and had poorer equilibrium reactions and lower double tactile stimuli scores than the children judged good responders to Ritalin. These findings suggest that it might be possible to identify good and poor responders to Ritalin before the medication is given, something …