Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Ot’S Role In Older Adult Transitions To Assisted Living, Michelle Chavez, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: The transition of moving to an assisted living facility as an older adult can be accompanied by many physical and psychological challenges affecting adjustment to such a facility. Occupational therapists assist clients as they prepare for and cope with major life transitions, however this role is most often seen in childhood and early adulthood transitions. Occupational therapists are skilled at facilitating the re-establishment of roles, habits, routines, and rituals and are knowledgeable in how the environment serves as a major influence on this. Because of this, it would be ideal for occupational therapists to have a role in facilitating …

Advocating For Occupational Therapy’S Presence In Chronic Pain Programs, Taylor Borin, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: The purpose of this project is to advocate for occupational therapy’s presence in chronic pain programs. In a chronic pain setting occupational therapy currently focuses on enabling individuals to achieve satisfying performance in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) despite pain and fatigue (Hill, 2016). Treatment interventions focus on activity management, problem solving, activity adaptation, planning/pacing, stress management, relaxation training, and coping skills training (Hill, 2016). Occupational therapy can provide individuals with chronic pain a more diverse and unique perspective on pain management. They can utilize their consideration of psychosocial factors and occupation …

Evaluation Of College And Career Readiness Class Efficacy For Students With Learning Differences, Karen M. Travis, Karen Park, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A significant percentage of first year students in post-secondary education (PSE) do not persist through their first year and high schools continue to seek new ways of supporting students’ college and career readiness (CCR). Studies show lack of persistence derives not only from academic deficits but in non-academic skill deficits such as self-determination and executive function skills. Public school CCR programs have had limited resources to address these non-academic challenges to their students’ success whereas private high schools have significantly lower student to counselor ratio and many provide enhanced CCR programming. One small private school has provided a new semester …

An Online Educational Resource On Adaptive Sports For People With Spinal Cord Injuries, Rachel Morgan, Steven M. Gerardi

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A spinal cord injury (SCI) has a serious impact on an individual’s participation in everyday life activities, leading to a high risk of a sedentary life-style. There is a paucity of research pertaining to adaptive sport participation post-injury and the role of occupational therapy (OT). Additionally, there are limited resources available that inform people with SCI on the benefits of adapted sports or where to go to engage in them. As such, this paper describes the development of a doctoral capstone project to address this need. The purpose of this capstone project was to create an educational web page that …

Transition Program To Postsecondary Education For Students With Traumatic Brain Injury, Eung Gyeong Park, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition that occurs due to an external blow to the skull that damages the brain (Carulli et al., 2018). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.5 million TBI have been reported each year. Many students with TBI face physical, cognitive, environmental, and social challenges in their transition to post-secondary education (Bedell et al., 2017). Individuals with TBI experience social and behavioral changes that interfere with their participation as they face difficulties initiating, regulating their social behaviors, and experiencing increased introversion (Bedell et al., 2017). Physical challenges include fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbances, …

Go Baby Go! Facilitating Play And Social Participation With Blind & Visually Impaired Children, Kennedy Wischmeyer, Angela Blackwell, Gina Benevente

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

ABSTRACT NEEDED

An Exploration Of Dating As An Occupation For Autistic Adults, Maryam Binaei, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Despite the presence and popularity of dating cultures in the media, the occupation of dating is highly complex and still prematurely understood through research. Recent research has found autistic adults to experience increased variety in their gender and sexual identity as well as challenges to achieving dating goals. A doctoral capstone project was completed to explore current approaches to resources and programs to address their dating needs, as well as understand their experiences in more depth. A needs assessment was carried out through an occupational therapist working with autistic adults in a day program. The need’s assessment revealed that autistic …

An Occupation-Based Program For Formerly Incarcerated Youth And Staff In An Employment Re-Integration Program, Heather Fierros, Angela Blackwell, Leslie Khan-Farooqi

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

One of the most vulnerable and growing populations within the United States (U.S.) are youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Each day, approximately 60,000 youth are currently incarcerated in the U.S., signifying a necessary demand for community re-entry success. Having been incarcerated makes it more challenging for youth to attend school, obtain a license, find public housing, and attain public benefits. Furthermore, because of the effects following being a part of the juvenile justice system, the youth exemplify a lack of social interaction skills, hindered relationship patterns, altered values and beliefs. These underdeveloped skills and patterns interfere with the …

An Educational Website To Foster The Participation Of Summer Campers With Disabilities, Abby Vander Laan, Steven M. Gerardi

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

ABSTRACT NEEDED

Providing Care To People With Dementia: An Educational Workshop, Hannah Hardeman, Steven M. Gerardi, Emily Frank

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Informal (family) caregivers providing care to loved ones experiencing symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease navigate multiple challenges. Caregivers observe and respond to changes in their loved ones related to physical, emotional and social skills. While providing care to their loved ones, caregivers must be aware of their own needs and the importance of maintaining a balance between the responsibilities of being a caregiver and the responsibilities in other areas of their life. Maintenance of positive emotional and physical health is crucial to providing effective and safe care. Identification of methods to promote the positive health of informal caregivers becomes …

Staff Perceptions On Organizational Change And Its Impact On Occupational Participation In Institutional Settings, Shelby Pearce, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Organizational change, primarily in institutional settings, is necessary to prevent institutionalization as well as to reach the goals of the organizations. To support these goals, institutional settings, such as correctional facilities, often use restrictive measures including occupational deprivation. As a profession, occupational therapy recognizes the importance of occupational participation for all persons in society, however there is a gap in knowledge on the importance of how to promote and/or educate other entities on successful change management in different institutional settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how organizational culture impacts occupational participation in institutional settings and …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Health Promotion For Youths Facing Chronic Conditions, Megan A. Moret, Megan A. Moret

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This 17-week capstone project was completed at The Parker Place and virtually managed throughout the entirety of the experience. The Parker Place is a pediatric endocrinology and lifestyle management facility located in Annapolis, Maryland. Completing a virtual capstone project did not hinder the progress and outcomes of this experience. The Healthy Habits program was developed at this site to implement an occupational therapy role to supplement the served population’s health and wellness goals. Communication and client visits took place through passcode-protected video call sessions, phone calls, a HIPAA-compliant texting system, and email. Dr. Elizabeth Parker was the mentor for this …

Social Skills Groups For School-Age Children With Autism, Samantha Aybar

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The present capstone project and experience aimed to develop and implement a 12-week program of social skills peer groups for school-aged children with autism at an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. The program consisted of weekly peer group sessions targeting a range of social skill topics, such as emotional regulation, conversation skills, and collaborative play. The small group format provided an opportunity for participants to practice skills, learn from others, and obtain feedback on their performance within a supportive environment. A family-centered approach was utilized through providing parent resources, at-home activities, and a parent workshop to better support children’s social skill …

Administration & Program Development At A Camp For Adults With Disabilities, Kayleigh E. Hollywood

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Doctoral Capstone Experience In Education And Program Development- Depaul University, Ashley Saunders

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Peer-Led Building Resilience And Enhancing Social-Emotional Skills Program, Danielle K. Enrico

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of the Capstone experience was to develop and implement a five-week peer-led building resilience and social-emotional skills training program at a public high school. This program addressed high school students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding resources, social-emotional skills, and resilience. A questionnaire was administered pre and post-program to measure effectiveness. The results indicated an increase in scores, demonstrating a clearer understanding in all three areas.

Implementation Of Strategic Supports Into Coursework To Improve Notetaking Abilities And Overall Ota Student Success, Cheyenne M. Murphy

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

Notetaking is a widespread practice utilized by students to capture valuable information mentioned throughout lectures, readings, and other supplementary instruction. Practices of notetaking can vary based on educational level and the student’s ability to take notes throughout their educational career. More specifically, the ability to take strategic notes is recognized as an important skill needed in a higher educational setting in relation to a students’ overall success (Salame & Thompson, 2020). When examining the effect of notetaking, earlier studies focused solely on the practice and utilization of notetaking (Rahmani & Sadeghi, 2011). The objective of this culminating project is research …

Using A Social Support Group To Educate And Empower Immigrant Latina Women, Diana N. Rendon

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to promote mental health education and access to vulnerable South Florida Latina Women. The original intent was to establish a program providing families with mental health education, including information about common mental illnesses, signs and symptoms, community resources, and the impacts on occupations. This capstone experience was conducted with the Magnolias Women's Support Group at Caridad Center, located in Palm Beach County, Florida. The focus areas of this capstone were advocacy, policy and program development, and administration. Furthermore, this capstone project was intended to promote health literacy for underserved populations, especially immigrant women.

Nerve Impairment In Burn Injuries, Taylor A. Kowalske

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Élaboration Du Contenu D’Un Site Web Portant Sur L’Incapacité Et Le Retour Au Travail, Christian Larivière, Iuliana Nastasia, Marc Corbière, Manon Truchon, Daniel Côté, Annie Mathieu, Clermont Dionne, Andrea Gragnano, Patrizia Villotti, Alessia Negrini, André Bussières, Marc-Antoine Busque, Martin Lebeau, Marie-France Coutu

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le corpus de connaissances portant sur l’incapacité au travail est exhaustif et ne cesse de croître. Toutefois, l’appropriation des connaissances par les différents acteurs de la réadaptation et du retour au travail (RT) n’est pas optimale. Une étape essentielle pour faciliter le transfert de ces connaissances est l’accès rapide à de l’information probante et pertinente, centralisée par l’intermédiaire d’un site Web. À notre connaissance, aucune ressource électronique de ce type n’est accessible, sans frais, aux acteurs du Québec. Afin de pallier cette lacune, cette initiative vise à rassembler l’information scientifiquement valide (données probantes) sur l’incapacité au travail et le RT …

Implementation And Efficacy Of Interprofessional Education (Ipe) Initiatives, Javed A. Mohammed

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The literature demonstrates many benefits of interprofessional education (IPE) simulations in various types of formats that facilitate greater student knowledge and understanding of professions outside their own (O’Hara et al., 2018; Clauser et al., 2020; Cooper, Spencer-Dawe & Mclean, 2005; Djukic et al., 2015; Lazinski et al., 2021). The goals of my doctoral capstone experience (DCE) were to: 1) Develop IPE curriculum and active learning sessions along with assessment plans for professional programs on the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) – Tampa Bay Regional Campus with emphasis on advocacy for the occupational therapy (OT) profession, 2) Lead educational opportunities for students …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Long-Term Recovery For Individuals Post-Covid-19: A Doctoral Capstone Experience, Holly Bull

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Effects On Adherence And Comprehension With Video Demonstration Support Versus Traditional Home Exercise Programs: Culminating Project, Emily E. Morales

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This culminating project examines the need for video-supported home exercise programs (HEP) in outpatient hand therapy clinics in South Jersey by developing a YouTube channel. This YouTube channel will consist of HEPs for common upper extremity diagnoses including proper demonstration of each exercise and clear concise written instructions within a playlist correlating to diagnosis. Advance clinical skill in hand therapy is the main goal for this capstone project. An analysis was completed evaluating adherence and comprehension when clients are prescribed traditional HEP to HEP supported by a video demonstration. The ultimate goal of this project was to establish an easily …

Incorporation Of An Occupational Therapist In The Prevention Through Active Community Engagement (Pace) Program, Chelsea R. Lincoln

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Wearable Technology For Fall Detection In The Rancho Yolo Community, Ashlyn Emberley, Brenda Fonseca, Carolina Mendiola, Hannah Gantuangco, Harleen Pabla, Janelle Candaza, Michelle Drawdy

Occupational Therapy Student Research

● Problem Statement: Community members have shared concern about leaving their home due to their fear of falling. This fear of falling decreases social, occupational, and community engagement.

● Category: Accommodations and Consumer Access, Priorities, and Benefits over the Lifespan

● Overview: Wearable assistive technology devices that assist in the incidence of falls to increase independence and promote engagement in a fulfilling life.

● Solution: Fall detection wearables provide medical help at the push of a button, including low and high technology devices for detection of falls.

Shelter Seeker: A Vision To Connect Individuals Experiencing Housing Insecurities To Community Resources, Lex Acuna, Megan Asher, Jessica Carranza, Lexi Herman, Karinne Osumi, Karina Phan, Naima Reddick, Katie White

Occupational Therapy Student Research

Shelter Seeker is envisioned as a resource-based app and website that connects individuals experiencing housing insecurities to basic necessity services in Sacramento, CA. The ultimate goal is to improve accessibility to resources; listing them close to the user's location. This resource is envisioned to be available in multiple languages.

Assistive Technology: Foldable Shower Seat, Bernard Yaghobian, Katherine Enriquez, Dora Vang, Mitchell Johnston, Jennifer Luong, Yuen Ching Tam, Nupinder Kaur

Occupational Therapy Student Research

The goal of the foldable shower seat is to reduce the efforts required for showering, targeting individuals with circumstances that reduce their energy levels so they can reserve energy to carry out other meaningful activities.

Population:

• Older adults
• Individuals recovering from injuries
• Individuals with permanent disabilities

Enacting Contextually Responsive Scholarship: Centring Occupation In Participatory Action Research With Children In India, Tanya Elizabeth Benjamin-Thomas, Debbie Laliberte Rudman, David Mark Thomas

Occupational Therapy Publications

Occupation-based scholars are striving to mobilize socially responsive scholarship to address occupational injustices from local to global scales. Moving forward involves expanding beyond Western, Anglophonic, female, able-bodied, adult perspectives on occupation, with critically informed participatory methodologies providing one key means to incorporate diverse perspectives on occupation and occupational justice. Drawing upon a participatory action research project with children with disabilities from rural South India, this paper puts forward an understanding of participatory action research as an occupational process (i.e., embodying a variety of occupations) and an occupation-based process (i.e., informed by an occupational lens). We forefront how ‘occupation’ was centered …

Effects Of Il-10 On Local Cell Populations And Functional Recovery Following Vml Injury, Zain Blackwell

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) injuries are prevalent in both military personnel suffering from battlefield related incidents, and civilians following severe motor accidents. Despite its prevalence, VML has no pro-regenerative clinical treatments in place to recover some of the functional capabilities of the damaged muscle. Free flap grafting, debridement of damaged tissue, and physical therapy are the only clinical standards available that offer little functional recovery benefits, even after years of consistent treatment. In this study, anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 in conjunction with autologous minced muscle was assessed as a possible treatment for VML injuries and its influences on cellular behavior within …

Performers' Experiences Of Participation In Sensory Friendly Performances, Molly M. Vilaithong, Brooke E. Grupe, Lucy Chen, Andrea N. Wurster, Carleigh J. Robinson

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Background: Individuals with disabilities have decreased levels of community social participation and encounter environmental barriers that limit access to community participation in cultural arts, which negatively impacts quality of life. Existing literature on sensory friendly theatre focuses on parent and organizational stakeholders and supports the promise of sensory friendly programming designed with occupational therapy consultation to increase access for individuals with sensory processing challenges.

Purpose: This study explored the lived experiences of youth performers in a sensory friendly performance The research examined youth performers' sensory friendly participation experiences, including their perceptions of sensory friendly program components and their preparation and …