Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Exploring Voice Hearers’ Occupational Experience Of Romantic And Sexual Relationships, Karen Mccarthy, Kristen Gottheil, Emilio Villavicencio, Huilim Jeong

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Limited research has been conducted that explores the occupational experience of hearing voices, including the impact it has on romantic and/or sexual relationships. This study aims to address this gap by capturing the experience of romantic and sexual relationships for those who hear voices.

Method: A phenomenological approach was used to gather data from a survey, electronic diaries, and interviews of three voice hearers who were interested or actively in a casual or serious relationship.

Results: All of the participants reported that the voices in some way impacted their past or current romantic and sexual relationships. …

A Cost-Effective Analysis Of 3d Printing Applications In Occupational Therapy Practice, Megan Hunzeker, Rebecca Ozelie

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Emerging research supports 3D printing can provide customizable, low-cost, and replicable items for application in occupational therapy, but more research is necessary to inform occupational therapists on why and how 3D printing would be applicable and feasible in practice.

Method: This study is a cost-effective analysis aimed to identify practical considerations of a selection of 3D printed items in comparison to commercially available items. Ten items of adaptive equipment were downloaded from open-sourced 3D printing design websites and printed. The estimated cost of material was calculated and each print time was recorded. Items with comparable design and …

Content Validity Of The Occupational Therapy Anticipatory Awareness Test: A Functional Cognitive Assessment For Adults With Neurological Conditions, Danielle J. Mahoney, Lenin Grajo, Glen Gillen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The development of assessments that measure functional skills is a priority in the profession. Anticipatory awareness (i.e., the ability to anticipate the difficulties that might be experienced in daily life situations) is a critical skill in occupational performance. There is a lack of assessments measuring anticipatory awareness. The Occupational Therapy Anticipatory Awareness Test (OTAAT) is a performance-based assessment tool developed for individuals with neurological conditions. This study aimed to determine the tool’s content validity.

Methods: We recruited five experts to review whether the test items are essential for assessment and calculated the Content Validity Ratio (CVR). Open-ended …

Adolescents’ Daily Routines: Reliability And Validity Of The Day-Opp Questionnaire; An Exploratory Study, Yael Fogel, Hadar Gross, Moria Adler, Sara Rosenblum

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Maintaining a balanced and diverse daily routine is one way to ease adolescents’ transition to adulthood. The absence of tools that assess adolescents’ daily routines led to developing the Daily Activities for Youth Opportunity (DAY-Opp) Questionnaire. This research describes the development, reliability, and validity of DAY-Opp as a clinical assessment tool of adolescents’ frequency, independence, and satisfaction with daily activities.

Method: The sample of 117 typically developing adolescents (59 girls and 58 boys aged 11–19 years) divided into three age groups and completed the Hebrew version of the DAY-Opp. We statistically analyzed discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validity …

State Of The Journal: Clarifying Ojot Categories, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Managemed Screening Tool For Directing Occupational Therapy Intervention In The Home Health Setting, Taylor J. Kouts

OT Student Capstones

Medication non-adherence has been an ongoing problematic public health issue in the United States that has resulted in negative complications such as financial expenditure, a lower quality of life, increased chronic health conditions, frequent hospital readmission, increased health care costs, morbidity, and mortality across a variety of health care conditions (CDC, 2017; Yap et al., 2016). An estimated $100-300 billion dollars is spent annually on medication adherence across the nation (CDC, 2017; Robnett et al., 2007). With costs on the rise, it has been identified that around 50% of individuals take medication incorrectly, and 14-77% actively or passively fall in …

Balance And Bloom: Encouraging Self-Regulation And Resilience Through Yoga And Mindfulness, Kayla Previti

OT Student Capstones

The experiences an individual has throughout their childhood sets the foundation for their overall life trajectory. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) leave a lifelong impact on a person's mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. It is estimated that the impact of ACES on an individual leads to an economic burden of $830,928 in terms of such services as law enforcement, child welfare, medical treatment, hospitalization, and loss of productivity and wages (Fang, Brown, Florence, & Mercy, 2012; Peterson, Florence, & Klevens, 2018). Occupational therapists and other health professionals have the ability to develop programs that fill the gaps in preventing and …

Development Of Clinical Practice Guidelines For Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Rehabilitation, Rikki Silver

OT Student Capstones

In the past four decades, there have been significant improvements in early cancer detection and efficacy of cancer treatments, resulting in a growing number of cancer survivors. People diagnosed with cancer are now living longer than ever before; while lifespan after cancer is increasing, cancer survivors are experiencing health and functional challenges due to the persistent effects of curative therapy (Rowland et al., 2018). One of these effects includes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Approximately 70% of patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy experience CIPN, an uncomfortable and sometimes painful sensation in the hands and feet (Seretny et al., 2014). The likelihood of …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In A Multidisciplinary Outpatient Concussion Setting: Persistent-Post Concussion Symptoms, Lina Rivera

OT Student Capstones

Background and Purpose: Nearly 15%-20% of individuals with a concussive or mTBI experience persistent residual cognitive, psychosocial or physical symptoms (Cogan et al., 2019). Majority of patients who sustain a concussion recover within 10 days, however, 15-20% of individuals experience prolonged recovery lasting longer than 10 days or suffer from post concussive symptoms affecting one’s participation in daily occupations (Patricios et al., 2015 & Harris et al., 2019.) With increased awareness of concussions, concussion management approaches have shifted from complete rest to a holistic, whole-body approach and graded return to activity to improve functional outcomes. The purpose of this study …

Scoping Review Of Female Sex Workers Risk Factors And Interventions, Colleen White

OT Student Capstones

A considerable amount of the stigma surrounding sex work can be contributed to the misconception of why women enter or do not exit sex work. The purpose of this research was to summarize the current knowledge of sex work using the scope of occupational therapy to enhance sex workers health and well-being. To achieve this, a scope of the literature for interventions that address this issue and their effectiveness, as well as literature that addressed risk factors for entering and remaining in sex work was conducted. The original search was conducted in June of 2021 and yielded a total of …

A Replication Study Of Occupational Therapists’ Use And Opinions Of Apps In Therapy For The State Of Arkansas, Paige Francis

2021 Honors Symposium

BACKGROUND
• mHealth applications are increasingly utilized within healthcare practice (Baig et al., 2015).
• It is imperative that app development targets needs within occupational therapy

PURPOSE
• To recognize what aspects of apps Arkansan occupational therapists use and what they hope to see improve, to inform future app development.

Effectiveness Of Collaborative Handwriting Curriculum: Handwriting Without Tears And Orton-Gillingham, In Kindergarten Classroom Setting., Merry G. Harper

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Formal handwriting instruction, using evidence-based, developmentally appropriate handwriting programming, in school based occupational therapy is necessary to support the role of a student. Handwriting is an occupation of children in the school environment. Without formal handwriting instruction in place there is evidence to support occupational therapy intervention providing a handwriting program can improve handwriting success.

Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to determine the clinical efficacy of a hybrid approach to handwriting instruction pairing the Handwriting Without Tears and Orton-Gillingham instructional programming for prewriting and handwriting skills in the kindergarten population. The research question addressed is: Will …

Does Pre-Operative Education Increase Activity Participation And Decrease Perceived Arm Dysfunction In Breast Cancer Patients?, Stephanie R. Rexing

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Executive Summary

Background: Currently there is sufficient evidence indicating safety with upper extremity resistive exercise among those at risk for developing breast cancer related lymphedema. However, there is insufficient evidence of the benefits of pre-operative lymphedema prevention education, upper body strengthening exercises, and strategies to continue or resume physically demanding activities that breast cancer survivors need to do, want to do, or are expected to do.

Purpose: This project described the impact pre-operative education has on activity participation, and perceived upper extremity function among individuals diagnosed with breast cancer compared to those who do not receive pre-operative education. The capstone …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy Within Primary Care: A Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program, Amanda Rivas

OT Student Capstones

Primary care is essential in the United States, especially as more Americans are diagnosed with a chronic condition and the aging population increases. For many Americans, primary care providers are their only access to the health care system due to financial burden, limited access, and several other barriers. For these reasons, primary care clinics need to develop multidisciplinary teams where patients can receive whole-person health care. Occupational therapists have the knowledge and skills to provide client-center care and work within primary care. However, multiple barriers prohibit occupational therapists from entering the primary care field. The most significant barrier is reimbursement. …

Distal Radius Fractures: Comparing Surgical Approaches To Identify Functional Outcomes, Sonia Morales

OT Student Capstones

Distal radius fractures (DRF) are the most commonly encountered fracture in clinical settings. Although the volar approach has gained recognition as the standard surgical treatment method to treat DRF there is still great debate as to what exactly the surgery should consist of. Individuals who suffer from a DRF have a high prevalence of developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) (Cherubino, Bini, & Marcolli, 2010; Niver & Ilyas, 2012; Wang et al., 2018). Surgeons are unsure if individuals will benefit more from solely performing a volar open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery or to perform the volar ORIF along with …

Using Sensory-Based Approaches To Manage The Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Children In An Acute Behavioral Health Center, Linda Materu

OT Student Capstones

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a sensory-based program for occupational therapists to assist in mitigating the effects of ACEs in children. This sensory- based program was implemented at St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center, an acute inpatient psychiatric facility. Interventions were provided and information collected over a period of 10 weeks on children ages 5–12 years (N=54), Additionally, feedback from four therapy and staff members was also collected over the same period. Several tools were used as outcome measures, including pre-and post-intervention questionnaires for participants, observation questionnaire and staff/nurses/therapist feedback questionnaire. The results demonstrated that there was …

An Exploratory Study Of Rehabilitation Services Available For Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients In The Outpatient Setting, Amber Wojcik

OT Student Capstones

Little is known about the experiences of rehabilitation therapists treating soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients in the outpatient setting. As the number of survivors of STS increases, so does the need for therapists who have the knowledge and skillsets vital for providing the highest quality of holistic care for this unique cancer population. Holistic cancer rehabilitation includes considerations for the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs of the soft tissue sarcoma patient. This paper explores the subspeciality of cancer rehabilitation and the experiences of physical therapists (PT) treating STS patients in the outpatient setting. A secondary aim of this study is …

Parent Education And Creative Art Interventions For Foster Families, Alyssa Haselsteiner

OT Student Capstones

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop a program to provide parent education on topics that address trauma-informed care in order to facilitate healthy development in children and adolescents. This education was provided to foster parents and topics included attachment and healthy bonding, mental health in children and adolescents, management of challenging behaviors, and use of creative art and mindfulness interventions. Creative art interventions were practiced with parents so they could use the interventions with their kids at home. Each topic addressed provided education to guide foster parents through difficult situations with the goal of setting their …

A Single-Case Design On Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain Post-Stroke, Kristen Mills

OT Student Capstones

A stroke is a debilitating impairment affecting a large number of people each year. One of the main impairments post stroke is shoulder subluxation. Secondary to shoulder subluxation, a patient will experience pain associated as hemiplegic. Two types of interventions to address this deficit is taping, specifically the California tri-pull taping method and mental practice/motor imagery. The following single-case design of a 74-year-old female, who has been experiencing hemiplegic shoulder pain, as a result of a stroke in 2018. The current single-case design examines the efficacy of the California tri-pull taping method combined with mental practice/motor imagery for improving upper …

Developing An Occupational Therapy Program For Hispanic Adults Diagnosed With Cancer, Yanet Ybarra

OT Student Capstones

The purpose of this capstone project was to develop a cancer survivor program focusing on the quality of life of cancer survivors through occupational therapy. The data of overall cancer incidence within the Hispanic community in Maricopa County indicate that the rate of mortality is one of the highest compared to other ethnic groups. The capstone consisted of several phases: 1) Structured and unstructured interview and an analysis of the patient’s lived experiences. 2) Based on the interview findings, eight interventions were developed, implemented, and tested with four patients via telehealth approach. 3) Pre- and post-intervention assessments were administered to …

Pediatric Feeding Interventions Across A Variety Of Diagnoses, Jenna Penning

OT Student Capstones

Pediatric feeding disorders can compromise a child’s health status leading to serious long-term consequences including failure to thrive due to inadequate nutrition (Carter et al., 2014). Therefore, specialized feeding intervention approaches are needed to address pediatric feeding difficulties (Carter et al., 2014). Although various treatment approaches are provided for addressing pediatric feeding difficulties, differences occur in the preferred delivery form for effectively implementing feeding interventions (Howe & Wang, 2013). Occupational therapists have the skill set to address pediatric feeding difficulties through implementing behavioral interventions, sensory and oral motor-based interventions, and family-based interventions (Henton, 2018; Nadler et al., 2019; Snider et …

Cognitive And Motor Functions During Driving In Parkinson’S Disease, Amy Reaser

OT Student Capstones

Driving is a complex activity that requires dual-task behaviors involving attention shifting, multi-limb control, and task prioritization strategies to safely navigate a dynamic environment. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by motor and non-motor deficits that can affect driving safety and performance. Experiencing a decline in cognitive and motor functions that are required for driving can put this population at risk for driving cessation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of implicit and explicit cues on attention during driving performance and behavioral effects of medication on drivers with PD in a quasi-experimental study, as well as identify …

A Case Study Of Children's Programming In Transitional Housing, Crystal L. Coffman

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Female-headed households with children makeup nearly 30% of the homeless population, and are challenged to become self-sufficient while embodying multiple roles with inadequate supports (Bassuk, 2010; Crncec, 2008; Fisher, 2000; Schultz-Krohn & Tyminski, 2018). While there is growing literature to support the social-cultural and occupational needs of adults in this population, few programs and research efforts have explored the life skill and developmental needs of children (Fleary et al., 2019).

Purpose: The purpose and objectives of this capstone project were to examine the planning, execution, follow-up, and contextual adaptation of the programs provided to children and youth at a …

Mobilizing Occupation For Social Transformation: Radical Resistance, Disruption, And Re-Configuration, Debbie Rudman

Occupational Therapy Publications

Background. Given the sociopolitical roots of widening occupational, social and health inequities, it is imperative that occupational therapy move forward in mobilizing occupation for social transformation. Purpose. Three key aims are addressed: articulating the imperative to mobilize occupation for social transformation; highlighting the political nature of occupation and occupational therapy; and providing guideposts for embracing a radical sensibility to inform moving forward in mobilizing occupation for social transformation. Key issues. Conditions of possibility within occupational therapy leave the profession ill equipped to enact social transformation. Enacting calls to mobilize occupation for social transformation requires radically reconfiguring these conditions of …

Attitudes And Experiences Of Occupational Therapy Practitioners Using Telehealth

The Graduate Review

No abstract provided.

Do Learning And Study Strategies Predict Success In Hybrid-Online Physical And Occupational Therapist Education?, Evan M. Pucillo, Ellen Lowrie Black

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: An understanding of the learning strategies most accurately predictive of success has become increasingly important as health professional education programs scale the utilization of online learning in the wake of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive relationship between The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) and cumulative professional GPA (cpGPA) in hybrid-online physical (PT) and occupational therapist (OT) education. Methods: A convenience sample collected N=149 entry-level PT and OT students from three campuses across Florida, Texas, and California. A total N(%) of 89(59.7%) PT and 60(40.3%) OT students were included for analysis [48(32.2%) male; …

Exploring Voice Hearers' Occupational Experience Of Romantic And Sexual Relationships, Karen Mccarthy, Kristen Gottheil, Emilio Villavicencio, Huilim Jeong

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Scholarship

Background: Limited research has been conducted that explores the occupational experience of hearing voices, including the impact it has on romantic and/or sexual relationships. This study aims to address this gap by capturing the experience of romantic and sexual relationships for those who hear voices.

Method: A phenomenological approach was used to gather data from a survey, electronic diaries, and interviews of three voice hearers who were interested or actively in a casual or serious relationship.

Results: All of the participants reported that the voices in some way impacted their past or current romantic and sexual relationships. …

Social Participation In College Students With Chronic Pain, Karen Mccarthy, Megan Chamberlain, Megan Chinn, Jennifer Pineda, Camille Santiago, Jamie Spitzer, Patricia Tran

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Scholarship

Background: College students with invisible disabilities, including chronic pain, often experience difficulty engaging in social occupations, both on and off campus, because of stigma, misconceptions, or social exclusion. Previous research has examined the use of academic accommodations to address these concerns or focused on the physical barriers to participation, failing to address the psychosocial and holistic impact of pain. Chronic pain can affect a variety of occupations, including social participation, which is a significant occupation for college students. This research explores the lived experience of chronic pain for college students and the impact of pain on social participation from …

Exploration Of Grit And Emotional Intelligence And Success In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program, Karen Huhn, Brittney Rusinski Dpt, Amanda Saucier Dpt, Victoria Mcintyre Dpt, Teresa Rock Dpt, Makeala Nelson Dpt, Yieng Huah Tham Dpt, Courtney Duval Dpt

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Higher education programs that admit students to sequential curricula incur a substantial financial loss when an enrolled student fails to continue in the program for whatever reason. In many instances, the seat cannot be filled, and valuable tuition dollars often over $90,000 per student is lost to the institution. In addition to financial loss, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs are required to report and explain rates to the Commission for Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Admission committees at Doctor of Physical Therapy programs seek candidates that will be successful in the program and pass the National Physical …

The Impact Of Volunteer Transportation On Older Adult’S Engagement In Meaningful Activities, Belinda Alexander

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Without accessible transportation alternatives, many older adults experience declined activity levels, social isolation, and decreased occupational engagement resulting from their lack of community mobility and access. Volunteer transportation programs have been successfully used as an additional community mobility option for many older adults, especially those unable to access the traditional public transportation options, such as buses or taxis, found in many communities.

Purpose: While numerous transportation options, or alternatives, may exist in a community, no studies to date have examined or compared engagement levels related to a specific form of alternative transportation. Therefore, the purpose of this …