Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Impact Of A Virtual Support Program On Student Success In Neuroscience And Neuroanatomy Courses: Opportunities And Challenges, Abbigail Kubiak, Sue A. Sisto, Janice Tona

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

We investigated the outcomes of a novel neuroscience and neuroanatomy support program (NSP) developed and implemented in the pre-professional phase of an accredited Bachelor of Science/ Master of Science occupational therapy (OT) program. This research demonstrates the potential of targeted small group tutoring as an effective means to promote student success and retention. Modeled after Response to Intervention programs, we used a three-tiered approach to support student success. All students received standard lecture content (Tier 1). Students who desired extra help attended an optional recitation (Tier 2) and students who received a score of 70% or lower on one or …

Enhancing Intraprofessional Collaboration: A Quantitative Study On The Impact Of Paired Learning In Ot And Ota Programs, Chia-Wei Fan, Vicki Case

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study investigated the impact of pairing 112 occupational therapy (OT) and 66 occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students in small groups over a 13-week clinical skills class. Students worked together in the weekly 2-hour class to practice various clinical skills and had the option to attend an additional weekly 2-hour open lab. A repeated measures design was used to evaluate students’ perceived importance and ability to engage in intraprofessional collaboration based on the Kirkpatrick model. The Intraprofessional Collaborative Practice Survey (ICPS) was administered at three time points: the beginning (T1), the middle (T2), and the end of the trimester (T3) …

Why Occupational Therapy?: A Qualitative Analysis Of Incoming Students’ Reasons For Entering The Profession, Laura H. Vanpuymbrouck, Carli Friedman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Insight into students’ views and understandings of what occupational therapy (OT) practitioners do and what a career will be like can shed light into how the profession is socially perceived. Additionally, this knowledge can be useful for recruitment, retention, and curriculum design, especially for addressing misunderstandings and inaccurate perceptions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the narratives of incoming OT students when asked why they chose to enter the profession of OT. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sociodemographic data, and then thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data about why participants wanted to become occupational …

Exploring Occupational Therapy Students’ Coping Strategies And Styles, Ashley E. Stroud, Amanda J. Mohler, Amanda M. Carpenter

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study aimed to determine occupational therapy students’ coping strategies and styles to manage stress. The final sample included 160 students, with 39 master of occupational therapy (MOT) students and 121 occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students who were currently enrolled in an MOT or OTD program. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive survey. The survey included both closed-ended and open-ended items to provide a greater insight into occupational therapy graduate students’ stressors, coping strategies, and coping styles. Results of the survey showed the most frequently reported coping strategies for both programs were emotional support, instrumental support, self-blame, and religion. The …

The Impact Of A Multi-Method Approach For Ethics Education On Occupational Therapy Students’ Self-Efficacy And Confidence, Brittany Nash, Jeffery Etheridge, Sierra Sosa, Verenice Macias, Araya Bradley, Kayla C. Osowski, Natalie Cornwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a multi-method approach for ethics education. The investigators measured occupational therapy (OT) students’ self-efficacy for ethical decision-making and explored their perception of what contributed to their confidence in understanding the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics. This one-group mixed methods study included twenty Master of OT students. Self-efficacy was measured via a pre-test and post-test using an adapted version of the New General Self-Efficacy Scale, and open-ended questions captured data regarding student perceptions of what contributed to their confidence. Students presented with high …

An Environmental Scan Of Preparation For Occupational Therapy Intraprofessional Collaboration In Ontario, Teresa R. Avvampato, Mark Hall, Dianna Fong-Lee, Marcia Finlayson

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Intraprofessional collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) is important for safe, effective, and efficient occupational therapy services. However, challenges such as role misunderstandings in Canada exist, which impact OT-OTA intraprofessional collaboration and the quality of care provided. This study aimed to reveal the OT-OTA intraprofessional collaboration preparation taking place in Ontario, Canada, during entry-to-practice education. An explanatory sequential environmental scan was conducted, which involved a survey distributed to OT and OTA educators, followed by six focus groups: two with OT educators, two with OTA educators, and two with OT and OTA recent graduates. Key findings revealed …

Design Thinking As A Theoretical Framework To Spark Innovation In Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral Projects, Jessica D. Asiello, Sunny R. Winstead

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Contemporary occupational therapy (OT) practice is situated within healthcare, education, and community-based systems faced with increasingly complex problems. There is therefore a need to develop OT practitioners’ capacity for innovation to influence change. Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) students are seasoned clinicians with an understanding of the challenges of everyday practice, combined with an intrinsic motivation for professional growth that led to their return to higher education. Thus, PPOTD students are a sub-population of OT practitioners who are uniquely primed for development as innovators. Despite the prevalence of PPOTD programs in the United States, there is limited literature on …

Assessing The Impact: Retrospective Analysis Of Department Initiatives On Students' Success In Standalone Occupational Therapy Anatomy Course, Rebecca Ozelie, Saba Elothman, Bridget Hahn

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Student success in anatomy courses is critical for entry-level occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) programs, yet many students struggle to master this foundational subject. Research on effective academic interventions to support anatomy learning in OTD programs is limited, leaving a gap in understanding the impact of supplemental resources. This study examined the effectiveness of targeted academic interventions, such as an anatomy bootcamp, peer-led tutoring, and the Anatomage Table for virtual dissection, in improving student performance in a standalone anatomy course. A retrospective cohort design compared two groups of students enrolled in the course during Fall 2022 (FA22; n=36) and Fall 2023 …

Exploring Perceptions Of Occupational And Physical Therapy Faculty Of Entry-Level Graduate Programs Post Covid-19: A Mixed Methods Study, Chelsea S. Reji, Anne M. Moscony, Dianna Lunsford

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study aimed to explore graduate-level occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) faculty’s perspectives on their academic responsibilities, well-being, and the needs of students following the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers hypothesized that a decrease in job satisfaction and overall well-being would be evident, indicating burnout syndrome in the faculty participants. A mixed-methods approach was utilized. Potential participants were recruited from websites of graduate-level OT and PT programs via email. Participants were included if they were currently teaching in a graduate-level OT or PT program, teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, and working full-time. Data were collected through Google Forms from …

Impact Of An Educational Workshop On Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of People With Justice System Involvement, Emily K. Simpson, Sara Engimann, Jamie N. Deal, Sydney M. Sabbagha, Lexi Frazier

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The United States has the highest number of people per capita in detention centers when compared to all other nations in the world. Stigma exists against people with justice system involvement, resulting in discrimination by healthcare providers and students and ultimately health inequities. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to impact occupational therapy students’ (N=25) knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the criminal justice system and people with justice system involvement. The workshop included education, a panel of people with lived experience, and an occupational therapist with experiences in the criminal justice system. Significant changes were seen in the number of correct …

The Influence Of Student Personality Traits On Satisfaction And Success In Online Education In Higher Education: A Systematic Review, Elizabeth G. Hunter, Jayna Niblock, Samantha Barefoot, Jackson Miller, Jason Hughes, Lydia Kite, Edith Scarletto

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Online learning is a growing area in occupational therapy education. It is important for faculty to use the modality of online learning to understand the influence of student personality traits, defined as relatively stable characteristics that influence thinking and behavior, on student satisfaction and success in graduate level programs. By understanding the influence of personality traits, faculty can better develop online materials that are flexible enough to support individuals who may have a higher risk of low satisfaction and success. There has been plentiful research in the areas of education and psychology assessing the influence of personality on the online …

Belonging And The Lived Experiences Of Underrepresented Occupational Therapy Students, Daniel Cezar Da Cruz, Angela Murphy, Zara Mahmood

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Belonging has been explored in research in higher education with a focus on student engagement or performance and the impact of psychological aspects on individuals' learning. Few studies focused on underrepresented occupational therapy students’ belonging. Our research aimed to explore the lived experience of occupational therapy students regarding belonging at university. This phenomenological study was conducted with six occupational therapy students from the United Kingdom who volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out through Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). Three themes were constructed: Theme 1: Representation and belonging - “I was the only non-white person in the …

Financial Literacy Among Occupational Therapy Students: A Survey Study, Joanne Gallagher Worthley, Sarah Dimeo, Tanya Trudell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy students face professional and personal financial literacy challenges. Professionally, financial management has been identified as an instrumental activity of daily living, and recent research has examined how occupational therapy has helped clients with these skills. Personally, occupational therapy students may face higher debt levels due to degree escalation and economic changes. The study aimed to determine the level of understanding of financial literacy among matriculating occupational therapy students in a combined baccalaureate and entry-level master’s program. Nineteen occupational therapy students completed a virtual survey distributed through Google Forms. The survey included demographic questions, the Financial Self-Efficacy Scale (FSES), …

Work Readiness Among Occupational Therapy Students In The Usa: Associations With Approaches To Studying, Adele Breen-Franklin, Colleen M. Maher, Tore Bonsaksen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Previous studies have looked at the association between study approaches and student grades with a focus on deep, strategic, and surface learning. This study used a cross-sectional design to examine the association between study approaches and students’ feelings of readiness to practice. Thirty-five students in master’s and clinical doctoral programs completed the Work Readiness Scale and the short 18-item version of the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST). Using a linear regression analysis, higher scores on the strategic study approach (β=0.38, p<0.05) and lower scores on the surface study approach (β=-0.44, p<0.05) were associated with higher scores on the Work Readiness Scale. Studying harder (i.e. spending more hours studying) was not related to feeling ready to practice. Rather, studying wisely, meaning using a strategic approach to studying and avoiding using a surface approach, was associated with students’ increased feeling of readiness to practice.

The Re-Design Of Level I Fieldwork To Foster Professional Competence And Career Adaptability, Cara A. Lekovitch, Ann Marsico, Ketki Raina

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Professional competence and career adaptability are essential for preparing students to meet modern healthcare demands. However, there is a paucity of evidence to guide teaching and learning of these constructs in the context of Level I fieldwork (FW). This paper details a Level I FW program re-design using a professional competence framework to foster adaptability. The re-design’s impact was assessed through student surveys before and after their participation (n = 53) compared to a historical cohort one-year senior (n = 60) using the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale – Short Form. Significant improvements were found in total and concern, curiosity, and confidence …

Demographic Factors As Predictors Of Academic Performance In First- And Second-Year Occupational Therapy Students, Eileen Du Plooy, Daleen Casteleijn, Denise Franzsen, Gopika Ramkilawon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Significant disparities in academic performance that may be associated with specific demographics can be utilized for supporting diverse student cohorts. Strategies can be developed for students to enhance equity and inclusivity in undergraduate occupational therapy education to ensure student success. This study aimed to determine the predictive demographic factors influencing academic performance among first- and second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students at a university in South Africa. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was utilized, and the sample included 129 first- and second-year students. Data were collected retrospectively from university records and student dashboards. Key demographic and academic variables were analyzed, including personal …

Designing An Effective Online Study Abroad Program: Effects On Intercultural Communication, Sensitivity, And Professional Identity Development, Lynne Andonian, Megan C. Chang

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Research highlights the importance of cultural competence in occupational therapy (OT) education and practice, as emphasized by both student and practitioner perspectives. Previous studies in nursing and occupational therapy posit that short-term study abroad programs, supported by adequate faculty guidance, can significantly improve cultural competency. Within the OT context, this study aims to describe the development of an online faculty-led study abroad course and examine its effects on intercultural communication, intercultural sensitivity, and professional identity among OT students. The paper also provides a detailed course description, outcome assessments aligned with the course learning objectives, a discussion of challenges and opportunities, …

Understanding And The Perceived Value Of Contemporary Pain Neuroscience Education Among Occupational Therapy Students, Sue E. Curfman, Elicia Dunn Cruz, Diana A. Harrison, Will J. Best, Kathryn Schmidt

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Chronic pain is a leading cause of global disability, yet occupational therapy education often lacks sufficient coverage of multidisciplinary pain management approaches. The purposes of this study were to 1) determine the level of understanding of contemporary pain neuroscience in occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of instructional techniques to improve their knowledge of contemporary pain neuroscience; and 3) explore their perceptions of pain neuroscience and its implications for their future roles. This pre-post test within-subject experimental design study, involving 39 OTD students, assessed the impact and perceptions of a two-hour pain education module. The revised Neurophysiology …

From Measuring Professional Behaviors To Developing Professional Identity: Use Of The Pie Tool In Occupational Therapy Education, Ashlea D. Cardin, Tara L. Boehne, Naomie Corro

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Defining and measuring "professionalism" in academic occupational therapy (OT) programs is a highly interpretative and formidable task, as evidenced in the literature and revised language in the 2023 ACOTE® Standards. Within the context of a university assessment workshop, a team of OT educators and students used an occupation- and strengths-based lens to consider “professional identity.” The team subsequently developed an innovative criterion-referenced, growth-tracking professionalism tool (“The Professional Identity Evaluation [PIE] Tool”) for use in didactic OT education and advisement. The team initiated a multi-year trial of the PIE Tool in periodic advisement and gathered students' perspectives of (1) the use …

Physiotherapy Experiences Of Injured Immigrant Workers In Quebec: An Intersectional Perspective, Victoria Gómez, Debbie Ehrmann Fieldman, Daniel Côté, Dahlia Kairy, Marie Laberge, Amelia León, Maxi Miciak, Maud Morin, Sara Saunders, Tatiana Orozco, Anne Hudon

Études primaires

Purpose: Immigrant workers are more likely to suffer work-related injuries compared to native-bornCanadians. Their physical rehabilitation usually involves physiotherapy. This study sought to betterunderstand the experiences of injured immigrant workers receiving compensation and physiotherapytreatments.Materials and methods: We conducted a qualitative study using an interpretive descriptivemethodology. Semi-structured interviews were completed with 10 compensated immigrant workersabout the physiotherapy services they received. Transcripts were analyzed thematically and with anintersectional lens.Results: Two major themes were identified: 1) complex pathways to physiotherapy, and 2) key pillarsof physiotherapy experiences. The first theme demonstrates that a lack of familiarity with the healthand compensation systems, delayed access to …

Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy After Stroke: A Process Evaluation Of Implementation In An Early-Supported Discharge Rehabilitation Service, Ashan Bimalka Weerakkody

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background

Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) improves upper limb (UL) function after stroke, but its routine delivery in rehabilitation settings remains limited.

Aims

The objectives were to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of implementing mCIMT within an early-supported discharge (ESD) rehabilitation service, using existing resources and staffing.

Aims were to:

• Develop and deliver a multi-modal behaviour change intervention to clinicians to increase mCIMT delivery.
• Explore the acceptability of mCIMT among stroke survivors, carers, therapists, and allied health managers.
• Identify program adaptations to better suit stakeholder needs.
• Evaluate the process of implementing mCIMT in the ESD service.

Methods

This thesis …