Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Best Practices For Supporting Occupational Therapy Students With Disabilities During Clinical Education: Results From A Three-Round Delphi Study, Courtney Gohean, Katie Mclaughlin, Aster Harrison

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Disabled occupational therapy students face systemic barriers in clinical education. Although legal mandates require reasonable accommodations, implementation is often inconsistent, and few standardized guidelines exist for fieldwork education. This study is aimed at establishing best practices for supporting occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students with disabilities during fieldwork.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A three-round Delphi study was conducted with a panel of 30 experts, including disabled occupational therapy students, disabled occupational therapy practitioners, academic fieldwork coordinators (AFWCs), fieldwork educators (FWEs), disability services staff, and researchers. In Round 1, participants answered open-ended questions about challenges, accommodations, and environmental supports. Responses …

Belonging And Whole Person Formation In Graduate Education: A Conceptual Framework For Student Flourishing, Cynthia Hickman

Papers

Graduate students experience substantial academic, personal, and professional demands that can negatively affect well-being and persistence. For students enrolled in professional programs, belonging may develop within two overlapping communities: the academic institution and the emerging profession. Institutional and professional belonging can provide connection, support, engagement, and opportunities for identity and professional development. This paper synthesizes literature on these two forms of belonging and proposes a conceptual framework describing their potential relationship with whole-person formation and flourishing. Whole-person formation extends graduate education beyond knowledge acquisition and professional competence to include development across interconnected dimensions of the person. Within the proposed framework, …

Belonging & Whole Person Formation In Graduate Education: A Conceptual Framework For Student Flourishing, Cynthia L. Hickman

Posters

Graduate students experience substantial academic, personal, and professional demands that can negatively affect well-being and persistence. For students enrolled in professional programs, belonging may develop within two overlapping communities: the academic institution and the emerging profession. Institutional and professional belonging can provide connection, support, engagement, and opportunities for identity and professional development. This paper synthesizes literature on these two forms of belonging and proposes a conceptual framework describing their potential relationship with whole-person formation and flourishing. Whole-person formation extends graduate education beyond knowledge acquisition and professional competence to include development across interconnected dimensions of the person. Within the proposed framework, …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of An Occupation‑Based Telehealth Intervention For Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Bernard A. Muriithi, Milan Bimali, Mario Schootman

Occupational Therapy Faculty Scholarship

Introduction

Cancer survivors frequently experience occupational performance challenges during early survivorship, and telehealth may offer a feasible approach to deliver interventions during this period.

Methods

This pilot randomized controlled trial included 17 adults in the first year following breast or prostate cancer diagnosis, assigned to the ActiveHeal Cancer Program (ACP) or a control group. ACP consisted of six 75‑minute occupation‑focused virtual group sessions and weekly follow‑up telephone calls delivered by occupational therapists over 12 weeks. Control participants attended three brief virtual meetings without therapeutic intervention. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using validated measures, attendance, and completion rates. The exploratory outcomes …

Cracking The Code: The Systematic Development Of A Coding Matrix For Qualitative Data Analysis, Greta Gray, Marie-Christine Potvin

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

A systematic approach was used to develop a coding matrix for a qualitative study with the intent to strengthen the credibility and dependability of the findings. Coding matrixes are commonly used in qualitative studies to organize data into meaningful units of text to be interpreted by the researchers. Current methods of coding matrix development can be problematic as they may introduce biases in the results and have limited reproducibility. A novel approach was employed to address this need with the “a priori” development of a coding matrix using a multi-step deductive and inductive process with multi-coders (n=5).  The coders who …

"It's Probably Like A Web": Complex Relationships Between Pain And Mental Health Among Bisexual+ Women With Chronic Pain, Aster Harrison, Mansha Mirza

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Bisexual+ women experience higher rates of both mental illness and chronic pain when compared to either straight or lesbian women. Their experiences of the relationship between their mental health and chronic pain remain underexplored. This article presents an intersectional Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of the experiences of six bisexual+ women with chronic pain.

METHODS: Each woman completed two semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed with Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, beginning with in-depth case study analysis of each person's interviews before moving to comparison across cases.

RESULTS: Results indicated a complex web of multidirectional relationships between mental health and chronic pain. These relationships …

Discordance Between Self-Report And Performance-Based Measures Among At-Risk Older Adults: A Secondary Data Analysis, Chiung-Ju Liu, Wen-Pin Chang, Inga Wang

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Importance: Subtle, age-related declines in occupational performance among at-risk older adults may go undetected when assessed solely with self-report measures, potentially leading to missed intervention opportunities. Understanding discrepancies between self-reported and performance-based occupational performance outcomes can inform assessment selection and interpretation.

Objective: To examine the discrepancies between the two types of measure among community-dwelling older adults at risk for losing independence.

Design: Cross-sectional study using secondary data analysis.

Participants: Seventy-one community-dwelling older adults (M age = 74 yr, SD = 9) who showed muscle weakness and reported difficulty with activities of daily living.

Outcomes and measures: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure …

Patterns Recognized In Ayres Sensory Integration®: A Scoping Review, Marica Botha, Janine Van Der Linde, Zoe Mailloux

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Associations between scores on tests of sensory integration functions demonstrated in numerous studies over six decades have contributed to the development of Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) theory and practice. Understanding these "patterns" aids therapists in their interpretation of assessment results, ensuring appropriate and effective intervention. This study aimed to describe and discuss published research on identified patterns related to constructs in the Ayres Sensory Integration® approach. Methods: Arksey and O'Malley's framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist were used. The literature review search was guided by the following …

Occupational Therapy Program Development In Unhoused Communities, Abbigayle Jackson, Emma Pacheco, Mariko Turley, Jennifer Wickham, Tina M. Deangelis, Edd, Ms, Otr/L, Faota

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program Capstone Presentations

Objectives

- Outline the Modified Delphi process and its purpose for manual development

- Describe foundational elements of occupational therapy (OT) program development for unhoused populations

- Illustrate a program's community and societal impact

Reimagining Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Mentorship Through A Cultural Wealth Lens: A World Café Study, Nandita A. Singh, Mph, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Occupational therapy (OT) fieldwork education plays a critical role in professional socialization; however, supervision models often privilege dominant sociocultural norms, disadvantaging students from non-dominant cultural and linguistic backgrounds and potentially limiting equitable workforce preparation.

Objectives: To examine how OT fieldwork partners conceptualize reciprocal mentorship within fieldwork education identify strategies grounded in Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) to support inclusive communication and strengths-based professional development.

Methods: Participatory qualitative study using a virtual World Café methodology, involving United States-based academic and clinical OT fieldwork contexts. Data were collected through audio-recorded discussions, digital whiteboards, and reflexive memos, and were analyzed using Braun …

Play To Win: A Randomized Controlled Trial To Assess The Effects Of Play-Based Training On Upper Extremity Function In Children With Hemiplegia, Vivian London

Honors Scholar Theses

Hemiplegia, or paralysis of one side of the body, is the primary symptom of unilateral cerebral palsy, a subtype of cerebral palsy, the most common movement disorder in children. Standard of care is regular physical and occupational therapy to improve performance in bimanual activities, but conventional therapy can be expensive and draining for caregivers and children, so a need exists for a novel intervention that can take place at home and that is economical for families while being engaging for children. This thesis reports data from a subset of ten children seen as part of a randomized controlled clinical trial …

The Pressure Is On For Pediatric Primary Lymphedema (Ple): Guiding Future Occupational Therapy Clinicians To Address The Unmet Needs And Enhance Care At An Academic Health Center, Ginger A. Kohler

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

Objective: Pediatric primary lymphedema (PLE) in adolescents is a rare, chronic condition frequently associated with delayed diagnosis and limited healthcare provider awareness. The purpose of this capstone project was to enhance Entry‑Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Students’ knowledge of the characteristics, management strategies, and available resources for PLE in adolescents, while increasing awareness of the critical role of occupational therapists certified in lymphedema therapy.

Methods: A hybrid educational module consisting of two one‑hour sessions, one asynchronous and one in‑person, was developed and delivered to Residential Entry-Level OTD Students at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Module content included …

Test-Retest Reliability And Internal Consistency Of The Occupational Resilience Measure (Orm 1.0), Bernard A. Muriithi, Milan Bimali, Kara Gore

Occupational Therapy Faculty Scholarship

Background: The Occupational Resilience Measure (ORM 1.0) is a 20-item, multidimensional self-report tool for measuring occupational resilience, a construct defined as an individual’s ability to persist in performing occupations despite barriers. Objective: This study evaluated test-retest reliability and internal consistency and explored the extent to which ORM 1.0 is a reliable measure across a diverse range of activity types. Methods: Ninety-four participants completed the test and retest measurements within a 2- to 3-week period. A total of 202 activities were included in the analysis, grouped into leisure (LE) [94], productivity (PD) [35], and self-care (SC) [73]. Findings: The …

Parent Well-Being In Early Intervention: The Case For Assessing Parental Stress, Karla Michelle Chaff

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

Importance:

Research shows that parental stress negatively impacts child developmental outcomes, indicating caregiver well-being can directly influence intervention responses. Parental stress is a well-documented barrier to effective early intervention that remains unmeasured.

Objective:

This quality improvement project aims to assess the potential for adoption of a parent stress measure into family assessment to ensure caregiver well-being is systematically identified, documented, and addressed.

Design:

A feasibility project design was used to evaluate relevance, usability, barriers, and facilitators to introducing a standardized stress measure in practice.

Setting:

The project is based in an early intervention program.

Participants:

Key stakeholders were recruited from …

Enhancing Ot-Classroom Staff Collaboration: A Usability Study Of A Formalized Sensory Communication Process, Victoria Foo, Neil Harvison, Alyson Pasquale, George Bulger, Jessica Evans

Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral (PPOTD) Student Capstone Projects

Addressing students’ sensory-based behaviors can be challenging when there are no team-based and student-centered approaches in place, making it essential to create an interdisciplinary framework where OTs and classroom staff communicate consistently to blend supports. Effective communication and collaboration involve carryover, explanation, education, and training of sensory processing and sensory-based interventions (SBI) as crucial components in a knowledge translation process.

Assessing The Feasibility Of Integrating Occupational Therapy Services Within A Pediatric Primary Care Setting For Children 0-3 Years Old., Amanda L. Wilbert, Cristina Dumitrescu, Kim Karr

Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral (PPOTD) Student Capstone Projects

The objective of this capstone project was to assess the feasibility of implementing occupational therapy (OT) services within a pediatric primary care office using a manualized service delivery approach. Occupational therapy is inherently grounded in parent coaching and education, positioning the profession to play a critical role in supporting families and promoting early identification of developmental risk. This project aimed to address a documented gap in the inclusion of OT within pediatric primary care by exploring how OT services can support parenting skills and monitor children identified as at risk for developmental, behavioral, or psychosocial concerns. The project was conducted …

Developing Pediatric Educational Resources For Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Students And New Employees, Alyssa Gottheiner

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

For occupational therapy students, the fieldwork education portion of their curriculum allows them to apply theory and principles learned in their academic program into practice with actual clients (Occupational therapy fieldwork education, 2022). Research indicates the benefit of access to resources and adapting to different learning styles in occupational therapy fieldwork education (Grenier, 2015). Research also indicates that training programs for new healthcare employees can positively impact knowledge, skills, and performance (Patel et al., 2023).  However, there is a lack of research on the availability and benefit of supplemental educational resources for students to access during fieldwork education in pediatric …

Stronger Bodies, Sharper Minds: Promoting Wellness In Community-Dwelling Older Adults Through Exercise And Health Education, Michael Webb

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Due to the increasing population of older adults, the need for health promotion and wellness-based interventions that support effective participation in their respective occupations is essential. Literature supports that engaging in physical activity, health education, and social participation are critical factors in increasing the quality and longevity of life among community-dwelling older adults. A doctoral capstone project was conducted at a community-based day program for low-income older adults to promote wellness, engagement, and continued participation in meaningful occupations.

The purpose of this project was to design and implement group sessions consisting of therapeutic exercise and health education to integrate education, …

Through The Gills: Translating Neurorehabilitation Principles Into An Adaptive Aquatic Game And Caregiver Toolkit For Children And Adolescents With Acquired Brain Injuries, Elizabeth J. Blincoe

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Background: An acquired brain injury (ABI) can result in motor, cognitive, and emotional impairments that limit participation and quality of life in children and adolescents (Pappadis et al., 2023). Caregivers often report difficulty supporting recovery and promoting functional carryover following discharge (Pappadis et al., 2023). Aquatic therapy is an evidence-based intervention shown to improve mobility, balance, and activities of daily living following brain injury (Curcio et al., 2020). Access to pediatric aquatic occupational therapy remains limited in communities.

Purpose: This doctoral capstone project was completed in a community-based wellness setting. The purpose was to develop and implement a caregiver-guided adaptive …

Promoting Self-Regulation And Classroom Participation Throughsocial-Emotional Learning Interventions At A Title 1 Elementary School, Emma L. Hidalgo

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This capstone project aimed to promote self-regulation and classroom participation through social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions in a Title 1 public elementary school serving children from low-income households. Students in this setting often experience an increased array of home life stressors, leading to an decreased ability to have an environment outside of the school setting that provides opportunities for SEL.  (Hodgkinson et al., 2017). SEL provides a framework through which students develop skills in emotional management, goal setting, and social awareness, which are critical for academic and life success (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning [CASEL], 2020; Jones et al., …

The Implementation Of The Neonatal Eating Outcomeassessment To Evaluate Oral Feeding Skills In The Nicu, Katelyn J. Roloff

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The Implementation of the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment to Evaluate Oral Feeding Skills in the NICU

Katelyn Roloff, OTDS; Stacie Forehand, OTR/L; Brooke Mulrenin PhD, MOT, OTR/L

Division of Occupational Therapy, Medical University of South Carolina

Approximately 80% of preterm infants develop oral feeding difficulties during their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization (Pineda et al., 2020). Preterm infants often demonstrate inadequate feeding readiness, poor arousal/state regulation, physiological instability, and poor oral motor reflexes, all essential for independent feeding (Grabill et al., 2023; Pineda et al., 2020). Common feeding assessments rely on non-standardized clinical observation, have limited ability to track …

Assessing Chatgpt As A Health Information Tool: Clinical Accuracy And Readability Of Responses To Stroke-Related Questions Queried In Spanish And English, Joanna Logue

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Objective

Latino populations have some of the highest rates of stroke (Simonetto et al., 2023) yet are utilizing in-person healthcare less frequently due to heightened fears and existing barriers to access (Vargas et al., 2019) (Silberberg, M., et al., 2018). Therefore, Latino stroke survivors may be turning to AI for stroke-related healthcare advice. However, current AI chatbots are primarily trained on English-language data (Park, 2024), which may introduce language bias when queried in other languages. The purpose of this project was to evaluate whether ChatGPT can serve as a reliable health information tool for Spanish-speaking individuals by comparing the accuracy …

Promoting Reintegration Across Home And School Environments For Pediatric Burn Survivors Through A Mental Health Toolkit For Children, Caregivers, And Educators, Ashtan Goodwin

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Objective:

Pediatric burn injuries affect physical recovery, emotional well-being, social participation, and school reintegration. Mental health needs are often under-addressed, particularly for caregivers and educators supporting children post-injury. Pediatric burn patients are three times more likely to develop psychiatric conditions than uninjured individuals, with disorders such as PTSD emerging years after the injury (Duke et al., 2018). The purpose of this project was to address gaps in mental health support and resources for pediatric burn survivors and their support systems.

Methods:

A mixed-methods approach was used through a pre-survey and interviews with burn care team members. The pre-survey was distributed …

Finding A Home Away From Home: An Accessible Hotel And Short-Term Rental Guide, Atley E. Livingston

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Travel has become a significant part of today’s social culture, allowing individuals to connect with family and friends, explore new environments, and engage in meaningful experiences. However, many wheelchair users report that traveling is often frustrating, inequitable, and difficult. To better understand the limitations of travel on this population, a needs assessment was conducted through a collaboration with a nationwide organization that supports the wheelchair community. Participants identified travel accommodations and the barriers they present as a major limitation to travel. The purpose of this capstone project is to analyze lodging and housing accessibility through the lens of the population, …

Understanding Preeclampsia In High-Altitude Bolivia: Clinical Profiles And Development Of Culturally Appropriate Resources, Katie J. Dace

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Pregnant women in Bolivia face unique health risks compared to women in other countries due to living at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level (12,000 feet). Current local interventions do not fully meet the needs of mothers as evidenced by high maternal mortality rates. Additionally, there is a lack of local research initiatives and educational materials. This capstone project aims to contribute to both these gaps with the development of culturally appropriate educational materials and by laying the foundation for further research on preeclampsia in La Paz, Bolivia.  METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was taken to gather the …

The Impact Of Sensory Modulation Through Multi-Sensory Stimulation Within Dementia Day Centers, Kristin Hood

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Dementia is a growing global health concern, with prevalence expected to double every 20 years as the population ages, and approximately 6.7 million individuals in the United States currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (Cheng, 2017; Akincigil, 2024). Individuals with dementia commonly experience behavioral and psychological symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, pacing, withdrawal, and decreased engagement in meaningful activities, creating challenges for care staff and caregivers.

The purpose of this capstone project was to design and implement a multi-sensory stimulation room (MSSR) within a day program serving community-dwelling adults with dementia. The project aimed to provide a client-centered, …

Supporting Emotional Wellness After Neurologic Injury: Development Of A Workbook To Improve Self-Awareness And Healthy Habits, Erin L. O'Donnell

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Emotional challenges such as depression, anxiety, loss of identity, and reduced motivation are common after neurologic injury and can hinder rehabilitation and daily functioning (Guo et al., 2022; Villa et al., 2018; Raggi et al., 2024). However, traditional rehabilitation often emphasizes physical recovery, with fewer accessible interventions targeting emotional wellness. This capstone project addresses this gap by developing and evaluating an emotional wellness workbook to support recovery, incorporating evidence that lifestyle factors like exercise can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety (Carek et al., 2011). Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model (Bass et al., 2024), this quality …

Supporting Educators Through Executive Function Education And Tier 1 Regulation Strategies In The Classroom, Sarah Robbins

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Early support for students to develop strong executive functioning skills is crucial, as these abilities are linked to lifelong success, well-being, financial stability, and overall quality of life (Diamond, 2013). A needs assessment conducted via REDCap revealed that while educators were generally familiar with executive function, they reported limited access to resources, reduced confidence in implementing strategies, and time constraints within the classroom.

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to enhance educators understanding and confidence in implementing strategies and techniques to address executive function challenges in the classroom. This project involved the development and delivery of educational resources …

Variation In Rehabilitation Related Durable Medical Equipment Use And Cost Among Stroke Survivors: A Retrospective Analysis Of Medicare Beneficiaries, Madison Gersper

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Title: Variation in Rehabilitation-Related Durable Medical Equipment Use and Cost Among Stroke Survivors: A Retrospective Analysis of Medicare Beneficiaries.

Purpose: In the US, stroke is a leading cause of disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Stroke survivorship is expected to rise significantly in the coming years (Feigin et al., 2024; Martin et al., 2025), resulting in a large number of people with disabilities who rely on Rehabilitation-Related Durable Medical Equipment (RR-DME) for daily living. However, there is limited published research on equipment access and costs.

The overall objective of this study was to identify predictors of access to …

The Importance Of Optimizing Engagement In Early Childhood Classrooms: The Development Of An Evidence-Based Teacher Resource Kit, Elizabeth G. Campbell

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Doctoral Capstone Project: The Importance of Optimizing Engagement in Early Childhood Classrooms: The Development of an Evidence-Based Teacher Resource Kit

Background

Preschool classrooms play a critical role in preparing children for future academic and social success. Engagement in daily learning activities and appropriate classroom behaviors are essential for school readiness, yet many preschool-aged children struggle with sustained participation due to environmental, sensory, and developmental factors (Zubler et. Al.. 2022). Teachers are often the first to observe these challenges but may lack practical strategies and resources to support children effectively. Occupational therapy emphasizes participation in meaningful occupations, making it well-suited to …