Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Promoting Pelvic Health: Strategies In Your Toolbox, Carlin D. Reaume, Lindsey Vestal

All Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Family Caregivers Of Older Adults With Physical Disabilities In Rural Thailand, Denis Tuttle, Jiranan Griffiths, Anuchart Kaunnil

The Qualitative Report

Thailand is one of many countries experiencing changes in the demographics of its population. People are living longer and having fewer children resulting in an increasing percentage of older adults in the general population. This presents a challenge in providing care for older adults, especially in countries where there is a culture of family caregiving. This study aims to investigate the experience of family caregivers, exploring the problems of caring for older people with physical disabilities and the needs of family caregivers. This is done to better understand ways to support caregivers. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, 15 family caregivers …

Barriers To Early Patient Mobilization Among Acute Care Nurses, Occupational Therapists, And Physical Therapists, Elena Crooks, Carly Ruggles, Emily Carlson, Tyler Powell, Teresa Bigand, Tiffanie Rampley, Crystal Billings, Danell Stengem, Jennifer Hoople, Rylee Price

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Homeschool Educators’ Perspectives About Student Needs Within Occupational Therapy Scope Of Practice: A Pilot Study, Susan L. Iliff, Mary T. Hill, Rose White, Aubrey Alexander

Pediatrics Research and Scholarship

Homeschool educators (n = 31) were recruited to complete an electronic survey describing their perspectives. Findings indicated that many students had medical/academic needs, and accessed additional services such as occupational therapy (OT). Data analysis of open-ended questions revealed common categories: (a) curricula met or did not meet student needs (b) participants had experience-based, general or no knowledge of OT and (c) most felt homeschooling was a positive experience and expressed that limited resources were available. Further research is warranted to investigate available resources, specific needs, and how to best support students who homeschool.

Delivering Occupation-Based Practice In Stroke Rehabilitation Of Hospital Settings: Thai Occupational Therapists’ Experiences, Anuchart Kaunnil, Veerawat Sansri, Surachart Thongchoomsin, Kannika Permpoonputtana, Sutinun Juntorn, Kathryn Jarvis, Cristina Reyes Smith, Michael Palapal Sy, Jiranan Griffiths, Chutikorn Nopparat, Peeradech Thichanpiang

The Qualitative Report

Occupation-based practice (OBP) is central to the practice of occupational therapists where occupations or meaningful activities become the focus of the assessment, intervention, and outcomes measurement process. Although occupational therapists practising in Thailand claim that they engage in OBP, this claim warrants empirical investigation. This study aimed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of hospital-based occupational therapists of OBP within stroke rehabilitation. Utilizing a qualitative design, fourteen occupational therapists were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five …

Characterizing Pediatric Unilateral Brain Damage: Unilateral Spatial Neglect, Balance, And More, Emerson Hart

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric unilateral brain damage is a costly, impactful condition. There are many subsequent impairments that children experience after pediatric unilateral brain damage, two of which are unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and balance impairments. This project aims to compile the existing literature regarding USN in children, analyze insurance billing data to characterize the population, and evaluate balance and USN in a small case-control cohort of children with and without unilateral brain damage. The literature search elucidated the scant literature available addressing USN, including a lack of quality assessments to definitively identify USN. Insurance billing analyses showed an incredibly heterogeneous group, very …

‘Can You See What I See?’: An Art Project Promoting Living Well With Dementia, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Caroline Hyland, an illustrator and former occupational therapist based in Dublin, Ireland, provided the cover art for the Winter 2023 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Can You See What I See?” is an acrylic painting on black textured paper. The piece was inspired by Caroline’s grandmother Kathleen Duhig, her love of flowers, and the song “The Dutchman.” Kathleen and three of her sisters lived with dementia. This painting, and several others, are featured in a book Caroline wrote to support living well with dementia. By combining her artistic talents and training as an occupational therapist, Caroline …

If Reasoning, Reflection, And Evidence-Based Practice Are Essential To Practice, We Must Define Them, Hannah K. Burke, Anita C. Bundy, Shelly J. Lane

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Reasoning, reflection, and evidence-based practice are considered essential to the delivery of high-quality occupational therapy services. These skills are highlighted in occupational therapy practice acts and educational standards. Unfortunately, although clearly integral to practice, reasoning, reflection, and evidence-based practice are rarely and inconsistently defined in the profession of occupational therapy. Because the terms reasoning, reflection, and evidence-based practice are used so frequently, and so often their definitions are assumed, occupational therapy students may be unclear on how they will be evaluated and, ultimately, what they will be expected to do in practice in relation to these skills. Through a review …

Job Demands Of Occupational Therapy Clinical Placements: A Descriptive Study Using The Practicum Demands Measure©, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Donna Barker, Jill Stier, Joyce Lo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this study was to group and analyze the Practicum Demands Measure^© (PDM) data collected over 2 academic years and create a general profile of demands across practicum settings. The data will be used to guide faculty in the most suitable placement of students requiring accommodations for a disability. The study used a secondary analysis design to analyze the 538 participant PDM data collected over the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 academic years. Most of the sampled students were in fieldwork Level I and worked in mental health settings. The students reported physical demands, such as lifting more …

Implementation Of A Human Trafficking Educational Module For College Students: Pre/Post Design, Kristen Hill, Patti T. Calk, Erin Bradley, Ross E. Hunt, Maria C. Lauer, Danielle R. Lee, Casi E. Martin, Christy M. Stillwell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This research study aimed to implement an educational module and to determine the effectiveness of that module on increasing the awareness of human trafficking and risk factors for incoming freshman students at a medium-size, Southern university from September 2021 through November 2021. Two hundred students consented and participated in the study by completing the pretest and posttest to indicate their knowledge of human trafficking before and after being presented an online educational module. The pre and posttest included 10 questions with 24 possible responses. An average of 12.34 correct responses were provided on the pretest and 19.13 were correct responses …

A Narrative Review Of Student Evaluations Of Teaching In Decolonial Praxis: Implications For Occupational Therapy Higher Education, Fatima Hendricks, Michaele Singleton, Asia Clark, Marina Mishin, Marissa Epps

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are the primary source for evaluating teaching effectiveness and are used for deciding tenure and promotion. However, as efforts to engage in a decolonial critique of higher education amplify, the use of SETs in teaching and learning requires scrutiny. A narrative review was used to address the research question of SET biases in decolonial praxis and what insights may be useful for OT decolonial praxis. We identify and describe two content areas: (a) SET biases and (b) recommendations for alternatives promoting OT decolonial praxis. A total of 92 articles were sourced from five databases. Of …

A Scoping Review Of Occupation-Based Interventions For Women With Breast Cancer, Whitney Lucas Molitor, Erika Clark, Brittney Moser

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Globally, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. Women diagnosed with breast cancer often experience physical and psychosocial changes influencing occupational participation and quality of life. Limited evidence exists that reports outcomes of occupation-based occupational therapy interventions for women with breast cancer.

Method: In this scoping review, we map occupation-based occupational therapy interventions conducted by occupational therapy professionals for women undergoing rehabilitation for breast cancer. The Joanna Briggs Institute Guidelines provided a structure for the review.

Results: Six articles met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included health management, leisure, and social participation occupations.

Conclusion: Occupational …

Rest And Sleep Patterns And Activities Of Residents In Long-Term Care Facilities: A Descriptive Study, Pei-Fen Chang, Kai-Lai Tsai, Clarissa Richard, Harriett A. Davidson, Gayle Hersch

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background:To facilitate healthy occupational participation and highlight the significance of rest and sleep for older adults, this study aimed to provide a description of rest and sleep patterns and activities of residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Method: Secondary analysis of rest and sleep data collected from a funded R21 study was conducted. Twenty-nine residents were interviewed using the Yesterday Interview (YI) to describe their time and daily activities, including rest and sleep patterns and activities.

Results: Average time spent sleeping was 10.22 (±1.77) hr and resting was 4.77 (±3.3) hr. Data were also collected on …

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Of Function And Quality Of Life In Individuals With Lower Extremity Lymphedema: A Scoping Review, Rachel A. Dratnol, Laura H. Vanpuymbrouck

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) is more prevalent than lymphedema in other body parts. Assessing lymphedema severity and impact on occupational functioning and quality of life (QOL) is essential to client-centered care in occupational therapy. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) available to assess QOL and/or level of functioning in individuals with LEL and studies using such assessments.

Method: A search of two online databases (PubMed and CINAHL) yielded 15 studies. A scoping review was completed.

Results: Numerous PROMs were identified in the development and/or validation studies or …

A Survey Of Universal Design At Museums: Current Industry Practice And Perceptions, Jennifer K. Fortuna, Kayleigh Thomas, Jenna Asper, Laura Matney, Kyra Chase, Stephanie Ogren, Julia Vandermolen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Museums are key educational and cultural resources in the community, yet many are not accessible to visitors with disabilities. Universal design promotes products and environments usable to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of ability. This study explores current industry practice and perceptions of accessibility and universal design in a small sample of American museums. Suggestions for how occupational therapists can help museums go above and beyond ADA guidelines are provided.

Method: An 17-item cross-sectional survey was used to collect data. Twenty-five museum associations assisted with recruitment. A descriptive numerical summary and qualitative analysis were …

The Impact Of A Two-Visit Occupational Therapy Home Modification Model On Low-Income Older Adults, Anna Y. Grasso, Annmarie Murphy, Cynthia Abbott-Gaffney

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Various studies support the benefit of occupational therapist-led home modification to support successful aging in place for older adults. However, methodological differences limit generalizability. This study aimed to determine the impact of a replicable two-visit occupational therapy home modification program on occupational performance of low-income, community-dwelling older adults.

Method: The researcher used a quasi-experimental one group pretest-posttest design. The participants were low-income homeowners, age 55 years and older, with decreased performance and/or satisfaction in one or more ADLs and IADLs as determined by the COPM. An occupational therapist provided the participants with a home safety assessment using …

Predictors Of Hospital Readmissions For People With Chronic Conditions, Melanie Morriss Tkach, Patricia Bowyer, Marsha Neville, Timothy J. Wolf, Gerald Goodman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Hospital readmissions remain prominent in health care. Functional, cognitive, and environmental factors predict hospital readmissions but may not be thoroughly measured or addressed prior to discharge.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, people hospitalized with chronic conditions completed measures of self-care function, functional cognition, occupational competence, and environmental impact. They also participated in a phone call or medical records review to identify hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. In a group session, occupational therapists who work in acute care completed acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility measures for the standardized assessments administered to hospital participants.

Results: Occupational competence …

Mixed-Method Study Of The Experiences And Routines Of Caregivers Of Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Evelina Wozniak, Lisa Cover, Yongyue Qi, Vanessa D. Jewell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Type 1 diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic childhood conditions that affects family roles, routines, and the ability to participate in meaningful occupations after a child’s diagnosis. Because of the complex health management routines required to ensure the safety and well-being of a child with type 1 diabetes, caregivers may experience decreased overall health and well-being.

Method: This sequential mixed-method study used a cross-sectional survey (n = 37) and phenomenological interviews (n = 6) to explore burden (the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers), quality of life (the WHO Quality of Life-BREF), and role engagement (a …

The Parents' Perspective: Experiences In Parent-Mediated Pediatric Occupational Therapy For Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Allison Klowan, Mary Beth Kadlec, Stefanie Johnston

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Parent-mediated occupational therapy (OT) is a family-centered method of providing care for children and their families. This study aimed to understand and describe the parents’ perspectives of whether parent-mediated OT services improve child participation and parent-child social interactions in the home and community.

Method: This study was performed with a qualitative, phenomenological research design using focus groups. Eight participants were included in the study who were parents of children with at least one NDD, such as autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Results: Four major themes were developed: It’s a Family Affair, Sometimes it Just Takes …

Predictors Of Daily Activity Performance Of Children With Autism And Its Association To Autism Characteristics, Neta Katz Zetler, Eynat Gal, Batya Engel Yeger

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The daily activity performance of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a central focus of occupational therapists. Yet, the existing performance-based assessments of basic and instrumental daily activities in children are limited and their application on children with ASD is scarce. The purpose of this study is to examine if daily activity performance of children with ASD is impaired as compared to children with typical development (TD), and to examine possible predictors of daily activity performance in children with ASD.

Method: The participants included 39 children with ASD and 40 children with TD, 6–10 years of …

Holistic, Person-Centered Evaluation To Understand The Experiences And Needs Of Displaced Refugee Youths: A Descriptive Mixed Methods Narrative Study, Rebecca S. Lord, Jaime P. Muñoz

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Refugee youth face acculturation stress, language barriers, xenophobia, and difficulty accessing resources. These factors, combined with migration trauma, negatively impact youths’ psychosocial health. This study aimed to conceptualize evaluation in an occupation-focused, person-centered framework with the goal of informing therapists working with displaced children.

Methods: This mixed methods, descriptive study used narrative research methodologies to understand the experiences of refugee youths. A variety of assessment tools were used to elicit these youths’ stories and create in-depth occupational profiles. The evaluation protocol that was created generated extensive data used to inform programming at a community non-profit to ensure …

State Of The Journal: Introducing Assistant Editors, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Occupational Transitions Of Family Caregivers Of Loved Ones With Dementia, Katherine L. Groezinger, Cameron J. Honsa, Darcey A. Wilkinson, Emily K. Simpson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to explore how family caregivers of people with dementia experience transitions in occupations as they assume the caregiver role. Because unpaid family caregivers play a vital part in the scheme of health care, it is important to understand their supports, their perceptions of themselves as caregivers, and the impact of caregiving on relationships, identity, and physical and mental health. Many researchers have studied the effects of caregiver burden, yet minimal attention has been given to the lived experiences of caregiving on their daily roles and routines. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was …

Mealtime Experiences Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder From The Perspectives Of Filipino Occupational Therapists In Cebu: Implications For Practice, Blaise Audre V. Barrientos, Alyanna Freyse T. Badajos, Erika Faye M. Bucog, Rosse Velle C. Mauro, Paolo Miguel P. Bulan

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Occupational therapists (OTs) handle children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and a common concern is how their sensory processing issues affect their feeding habits. There is limited information regarding interventions about this issue both locally and internationally. This study aims to know the experiences of OTs providing feeding interventions associated with sensory issues for children with ASD. It will also describe what approaches they used for these interventions. Method: Qualitative phenomenology using in-depth interviews with nine OTs in Cebu, Philippines was conducted, and data underwent thematic analysis. Results: Five themes emerged: 1) a family that feeds together, stays …

Effects Of An Occupation-Based Social And Life Skills Session On The Strength Of Intimate Partner Violence Victims’ Generalized Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Sierra Moes

OT Student Capstones

Background: Prior research has identified occupational therapy as a profession poised to provide interventions to enhance the recovery of intimate partner violence victims. The present study aimed to implement a program to affect the generalized self-efficacy beliefs of intimate partner violence victims residing in Autumn House Emergency Crisis Shelter.

Methodology: The Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale was administered before and after a total of seven individual/group sessions to a sample of adults residing at the shelter over the course of the occupational therapy program. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing a one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and paired T-test Cronbach’s alpha to establish whether the …

Exploring Occupation-Based Sleep Interventions For School-Aged Children Experiencing Homelessness: A Critically Appraised Topic, Aspen Delano, Joslynn Sauer, Emily Vieth

Critically Appraised Topics

Sleep is a crucial component of healthy neurological development throughout childhood. According to Suni (2023a), elementary school-aged children between the ages of 6 and 12 experience sleep deprivation when they obtain less than 9 hours of sleep per night. Contie (2022) found that children experiencing insufficient sleep had more mental health and behavioral challenges than those who had sufficient sleep. Additionally, Contie (2022) found that children experiencing sleep deprivation had less gray matter and volume in their brains. This impacts cognitive functioning, specifically decision-making, conflict-solving, working memory, and learning. The brain undergoes critical development of the basal ganglia, ganglia-thalamus-cortex circuit, …

Access To And Utilization Of Primary Care: A Synthesis, Klaire M. Johnson

Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Barriers to access and utilization of primary care affect nearly 9% of the nation’s population (USDHHS, n.d.a). These barriers are important to evaluate for members of the aging population due to increased need for health care as a result of chronic conditions and falls. Research indicates that access for the aging population is affected by a variety of factors, including: transportation, non-financial barriers, and internal factors. Issues surrounding current delivery of care, such as a workforce shortage of primary care physicians, have compounded the problem even further. While this issue has begun to be addressed through the Affordable Care Act, …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Transition Process For Young Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Hannah Tanous, Mckenzie Ulrich, Alexis Walther

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic (CAT) focuses on occupational therapy’s role and best practice in assisting families with young adults that have developmental disabilities in making the transition out of the home into the community, secondary education, or supported independent living. The transition experience is unique to each individual, as there are both supports and barriers to the process.

Telehealth Benefits In Rural Areas: Occupational Therapy, Grant E. Tolkkinen, Grace K. Torgerson, Kaitlyn J. Wanner

Critically Appraised Topics

This paper focuses on the efficacy of occupational-based interventions administered via telehealth within a rural-dwelling adult (18 years and older) population with mental health conditions. The main factors to consider in this scenario are the mental health services in rural areas, the features of the rural population, and the role of occupational therapy (OT) and telehealth in rural mental health. The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework defined health management as “activities related to developing, managing, and maintaining health and wellness routines, including self-management, with the goal of improving or maintaining health to support participation and other occupation” (AOTA, 2020, p.32).

Professional Behaviors On The Fieldwork Performance Evaluation: Perspectives Of Fieldwork Educators, Jessi S. Clark

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Occupational therapy (OT) students are assessed on their professional behavior skills during Level II fieldwork (FW) by fieldwork educators (FWEs) as measured by the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE). Most of these professional behavior skills are not required components of entry-level OT education, therefore academic preparation may be variable. The purpose of this Capstone project was to study the perspective of FWEs regarding the seven professional behavior items on the FWPE, primarily the relative importance of and academic preparation for these items. Participants included FWEs who completed the FWPE in the last 15 years. They completed an online survey that utilized …