Occupational Therapy Commons^™

The Occupational Therapy Practitioner Experience And Practice Related To Upper Limb Loss Or Difference And Prosthetics, Amanda H. Sugar, Rebecca Ozelie, Kristi Turner

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite occupational therapy’s critical role on the rehabilitation team for individuals with upper limb loss or difference (ULL/D) and prosthetics, this population is not extensively covered in many occupational therapy (OT) program curricula. As such, many clinicians work with patients with ULL/D with little expertise or confidence for this complex population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the OT practitioner experience and practice related to ULL/D and prosthetics in their education and practice. Utilizing snowball sampling, 150 OT practitioners completed a 24-question survey, which assessed OT practitioners’ experience with ULL/D, the prosthetic education in their OT program, and …

Evaluating Change In Skill Performance Over Time And Practice Context In Introductory Fieldwork Simulation, Kaitlin R. Sibbald, Diane E. Mackenzie

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Simulation has been recognized for its ability to develop competency-level skills and as a replacement for some introductory fieldwork (FW) hours. This study explored how occupational therapy competency-related skills developed over sequential in-person simulations across health practice contexts during Level 1 FW. Entry-to-practice occupational therapy students (N = 66) participated in six sequential, formative, Level 1 FW simulations. The first three sequential simulations (the same patient case evolves in each successive interaction) included a trained simulated patient in a community mental health context and the following three engaged a trained simulated inpatient in a physical health context. Evaluation rubric variables …

Life After Sport: A Program Development Plan For Student-Athletes, Loryn Shawn Frame

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

College athletics stakeholders have had growing concerns regarding student-athletes’ transition out of collegiate athletics. Research specific to student-athletes following college athletics has explored mental health, role identity, and occupational participation. This program development plan addresses occupational therapy’s role in assisting student-athletes transition out of collegiate athletics. The needs assessment conducted with West Virginia University athletic staff revealed two gaps in programming: athletic identity including leisure exploration, and a program to help student-athletes who want to enter health professional programs. Life After Sport comprises two programs, one to help student-athletes transition into a health professional program, titled Athletes in Medicine (AIM), …

Usage Of Peer Mentoring Workbooks: Enhancing The Transition Of College Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Taylor Nicole Grout

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This doctoral capstone project assesses the impact and effectiveness of using peer mentoring workbooks as a tool to enhance the transition of college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A peer mentoring workbook was developed using theoretical frameworks to guide its design and identification of primary occupations, roles, and routines of college students. From here, four domains of college student life (dorm living, college social life, classroom management and participation, and community engagement and transportation) were developed to act as a framework for the workbook. Through the usage of Participatory Action Research, key stakeholders provided essential feedback that allowed for …

Dance Intervention For Stroke Rehabilitation: Restoring Occupational Performance Through Creative Movement, Olivia Paige Allen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Thousands of individuals are affected by cerebral vascular accidents, (CVA), also known as strokes in the United States each year, (CDC, 2023). Cerebral vascular accidents are one of the leading causes of death among the elderly population in the U.S. each year, (NIH et al., 2023). The deficits caused by a CVA can be global, from hemiparetic limbs and sensory loss to psychosocial impacts on an individual and their support system. In occupational therapy, the goal is to regain as much function and independence as possible for the individual who has experienced a CVA. Although many evidence-based intervention tools are …

The Impact Of Occupational Therapy In Lactation Services, Sarah Adrienne Mcaninch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many benefits to breastfeeding exist for both mothers and infants, yet exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low across the nation. These benefits include decreased chance of infections for infants, low infant mortality, and decreased chances of breast and ovarian cancers for mothers (Binns et al., 2016; CDC, 2023). Education strategies have recently become imperative for health organizations to help mothers sustain their ability to breastfeed within the recommended six-month timeframe. Current literature on education supports that women who receive education at some point in their lactation journey are more likely to reach the six-month period and have more confidence in their …

Visit North Carolina: Trail Accessibility, Hannah Caitlyn Guschel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper focuses on the perceived barriers to travel from marketing material for individuals with disabilities compared to those without disabilities and the direct impact on leisurely travel participation, particularly in outdoor spaces. Employing a cross-sectional study design encompassing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, this research investigates the experiences and transparency of trail accessibility in the state of North Carolina. Quantitative data were gathered through trail assessment accessibility checklists, while qualitative insights were obtained via in-depth interviews. The findings reveal an improved understanding of accessibility and the application of an accessibility checklist. Moreover, the study underscores the importance …

Contracture Management For Acute Burn Injury Patients, Brianna Paige Pestrosky

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: The Occupational Therapists working within the burn unit at West Penn Hospital assess and treat patients utilizing the biomechanical approach FOR, as well as the support from MOHO and PEOP. The patients seen within the burn unit encompass a variety of injuries and occupational deficits that require an individualized and holistic approach to care.

Purpose: The purpose of the contracture management project is to provide an interdisciplinary approach to improve carryover and patient care within and out of the hospital.

Theoretical framework: The contracture management project is guided using the biomechanical frame of reference as well as supporting constructs …

Developmentally Appropriate Care In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu), Ashten Cenkus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As specialized healthcare professionals educated in developmental care, occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have a role in educating, coaching, and assessing the needs of infants, their families, and the staff in the NICU. These high-risk and medically fragile infants require specialized care that considers the incorporation of neurodevelopment, neurobehavioral regulation, sensory stimulation, and motor development through supportive and appropriate interventions. A project addressing these needs across 14 weeks was implemented as part of an Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) capstone experience at WVU Medicine Children’s in Morgantown, West Virginia. This project examined the results of the NICU staff's confidence, knowledge, and awareness …

Enhancing Learning Experiences Of Neurodiversity And Implementing Sensory Strategies For Children In A Daycare Setting, Taylor Blackwell

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose and focus of this capstone project were to identify what tools and strategies were being utilized within Creative Beginnings Child Development Daycare Center that provided support for children with disabilities specifically Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. After completion of observations and evidence-based research the goal of the project was to create, educate and implement sensory tools and strategies into the daycare classrooms to improve inclusivity and increase support and participation throughout the day for the children and staff. Sensory tools and strategies were implemented within several daycare classrooms that provided support for atypical children by resulting …

When Virtual Reality Meets Occupational Therapy, Danielle Miracle

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Virtual reality (VR) has found to be beneficial to occupational therapy clients in the way it creates a safe and enjoyable way to address daily occupations and its ability to increase upper extremity function. The purpose of this ALE was to incorporate VR into interventions for outpatient brain injury patients. Goals for this intervention included successfully implementing VR into intervention plans, creating a handbook for VR use in the use, and adapting equipment to be more accessible. After reaching these goals, implications for practice suggest that VR, along with other technologies can be beneficial for occupational therapists with the proper …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Work And Industry: Manufacturing, Madeline Spears

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project focuses on the role of occupational therapy in a work and industry setting. I completed this capstone in collaboration with the manufacturing engineering program at EKU and leaders from Toyota Powertrain with the overarching goal being to increase accessibility and advocate for expansion of the manufacturing workforce to include workers with disabilities. Toyota provided assembly parts for their cam housing process with the objective to adapt the process to be accessible for wheelchair users. I completed a thorough task analysis followed by collaboration with engineering professionals to design and build a new manufacturing workstation that is wheelchair …

Sensory Training For School Based Professionals, Anna Rose

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose of this ALE presentation was to develop a sensory-based training for school system professionals in Floyd County Schools regarding the purpose of sensory-based interventions and sensory-based equipment to improve student outcomes and academic performance. Professionals were educated regarding the appropriate use of sensory equipment within their school’s sensory room and sensory supports to utilize within the classroom. All professionals were trained to ensure optimal outcomes for students utilizing the new and finalized sensory rooms in Floyd County. After the finalization of 8 sensory rooms, and over 10 sensory-based trainings, Floyd County professionals were assessed utilizing equipment with students, …

When Worlds Collide: The Intersection Of Horses & Rehabilitation, Rachel Carden

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

One niche practice area in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology practice is hippotherapy. This practice area involves equine movement as part of the therapeutic process. My capstone experience was completed at Transitions Physical Therapy, with Lisa Harris as my mentor. I completed 14 weeks of hands-on, patient directed learning with direct, supervised patient handling, equine handling, and observing how the therapeutic process can involve equine movement to benefit patient goals. In this experience, I created a 46-page resource guide to include five parent handouts, describing the nature of hippotherapy and OT/PT. This resource guide also included twelve …

Occupational Therapy Education: Teaching, Scholarship, And Service, Tyler Bush

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The past 14 weeks of this Capstone experience, I have had the pleasure of learning what it is like working in academia in a University setting. During this time, I quickly learned that teaching is just one piece of academia, where service and research are also included in three different components that make up academia. While teaching was the main area of focus I wanted to gain experience in, I was also able to learn more about research and service. At the end of my Capstone experience, I led a service community project by developing an educational learning module to …

Occupational Therapy Interventions For School-Aged Children To Improve Handwriting Outcomes: A Systematized Review, Cassidy P. Johnson, Carley E. Leners, Ashley N. Stanton, Nicole A. Wiese, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: The development of handwriting skills builds a child’s confidence, self-esteem, fine motor skills, ability to communicate effectively and overall academic success (Feder & Majnemer, 2007).

Objective: The purpose of this systematized review was to determine which occupational therapy interventions are most effective for improving handwriting outcomes for prekindergarten through 3rd grade students.

Data sources: Searches were performed by a medical librarian in PubMed, CINAHL and ERIC including articles from 2014 to 2024.

Design: Studies were included if they were English-language articles with a level of evidence of I, II, or III that focused on occupational therapy interventions with an …

Occupational Therapy Interventions Supporting Women's Transition Into Motherhood: A Systematized Review​, Hadley Milks, Jocelyn Anderson, Madison Krueger, Bridgette Quinn, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: The transition to motherhood is difficult for many women due to multidimensional changes including psychological and emotional shifts, evolving social relationships, and bodily fluctuations (Hwang et al., 2022; Marinucci, 2023).

Objective: To synthesize information about interventions within the occupational therapy scope of practice to improve the transition to motherhood.

Data sources: A medical librarian performed searches in PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO from 2014-2024.

Design: The inclusion criteria included pregnant women or women with a baby for up to 1 year of age, OT interventions, quantitative studies, and systematic reviews written in English.

Findings: There were 13 articles ranging from scoping …

Evidence-Based Interventions For Postpartum Women With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Systematized Review​, Kelsey Novak, Jaycee Wallace, Emma Rutt, Lydia Delkamiller, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Pelvic floor disorders affect an estimated 86% of pregnancies, leading to decreased quality of life and negative health outcomes for postpartum women (Palmieri et al., 2022; Dasikan et al., 2020). Functional challenges including urinary incontinence, and difficulty with sexual activity and exercise are also frequently reported (Burkhart et al., 2020).

Objective: The objective of this review is to provide occupational therapists with evidence-based interventions for postpartum women with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Study Selection and Data Collection: Inclusion criteria were as follows: published in English within the last 10 years, postpartum women, RCTs, systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: The …

Occupational Therapy Interventions For Visual Impairments Among Adolescents With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Olivia Vander Haar, Molly Whitlow, Sarah Fellman

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

PUPROSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence of occupational therapy (OT) interventions for adolescents who have sustained a mTBI and experience visual dysfunction.

DESIGN AND METHOD: A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted. Articles were included if participants were eight to nineteen years of age and diagnosed with an mTBI. Titles and abstracts of 506 articles from three databases were screened. The full text of 26 articles was reviewed. Seven met inclusion criteria. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force levels of certainty and grade definitions described the strength of evidence.

RESULTS: Physical conditioning, vision …

Ot Interventions For Post-Stroke Depression: A Systematized Review, Jack Cosgrove, Austin Fernau, Christian Kwambamba, Claire Vanderbeek, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Strokes are a leading cause of disability. 35-50% of stroke survivors develop depression, which is the most common physiological impairment post-stroke and associated with less functional independence with activities of daily living (ADLs) (Ezema et al., 2019; Hildebrand, 2014; Wijeratne & Sales, 2021).

Objective: This systematized review addressed interventions within the scope of occupational therapy that are effective for reducing depressive symptoms for adults post-stroke.

Data sources: A medical librarian searched the databases Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Quantitative studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published in English within the last ten years were included.

Study selection and …

Interventions To Promote Social Participation In Children With Autism: A Systematized Review, Noah Farho, Bailey Hein, Holly Manalili, Danielle Westmark, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

Importance: Roughly 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (CDC, 2024). Children with ASD frequently experience difficulties with social participation (SP), which is essential for positive development and quality of life (Smith et al., 2023).

Objective: This systematized review examines the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions for improving SP among children with ASD.

Data sources: A search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from 2014 to 2024 was conducted by a medical librarian.

Study Collection and Data Collection: English-language articles were included if they were within the scope of OT, level 1-5 evidence, and related to promoting SP. …

Mental Health In College Students: Efficacy Of A Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Therapy Program, Amy Marie Nelson

Dissertations and Theses

The number of college students in the United States struggling with mental health issues has increased tremendously over the past decade. Specifically, undergraduate students report stress and anxiety as significant inhibitors to academic performance. Colleges are investing resources to combat this problem, but increased counseling services are insufficient. Novel approaches beyond traditional college counseling services are recommended. Occupational therapy, not traditionally offered on most college campuses, may be one solution. A few occupational therapy programs exist on college campuses, but there is limited evidence of their efficacy, and most lack solid theoretical underpinnings. More evidence is needed on the effectiveness …

Addressing Sexual Health Concerns Across Settings, Abigail Jeske

Graduate Student Scholarship

Sexuality can affect many areas of people’s lives; not addressing it in therapy is a disservice to patients. There is a clear need for occupational therapy intervention in this domain, and it is well within occupational therapy’s scope of practice. Yet, many occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) exclude addressing sexuality and sexual health in everyday practice. This study aimed to understand better the reasons for not addressing this topic with patients. The mixed methods approach consisted of an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Respondents were OTPs currently practicing in various practice settings. The questionnaire was completed by 31 OTPs and the …

Exploration Of Educator Training Requirements And Curriculum Standards And How These Could Impact The Development Of Children Aged 3 – 4 Years In Daycare Centers: A Qualitative Study, Katie Conley, Melissa Learish, Ayric Fetty

Graduate Student Scholarship

Daycare teachers, in general, are responsible for the support and education of children as they develop skills and achieve milestones. This study aimed to investigate what training and education related to developmental delays are provided to daycare teachers, the actions taken by teachers or directors to identify developmental delays, and how daycare curricula are developed and personalized for individual needs. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with daycare teachers who taught three and four-year-olds as well as site directors at three different facilities in Morgantown, West Virginia. Responses were transcribed and coded into six themes. Results indicate teachers have limited training and …

Age-Related Development Of Bilateral Coordination Of The Upper Limbs In Children And Adolescents, Samuel Nemanich, Sheila M. Schindler-Ivens

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Bilateral coordination of the upper limbs (UL) is important for activities of daily living and physical activities. Motor coordination improves from childhood through adolescence. However, age-coordination trajectories for bilateral UL movements are not well-established, and it is unclear if bimanual coordination develops slower than unilateral coordination. In this study we examined age-related changes in UL coordination from childhood to late adolescence. Typically-developing children (N = 29, aged 7–17 years) performed unilateral and bilateral, antiphase cycling tasks with their ULs. Variations in cycling velocity and interlimb phase errors were computed as measures of coordination. Linear regression was used to examine …

Role Of Occupational Therapy Assessment And Office Ergonomics To Support Students With Accommodations In Higher Learning: A Narrative Review, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Christi Tam, Raabia Khan, Bushra Alam, Sujatha Alla

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Postsecondary students with disabilities (SWDs) face significant challenges to their academic and personal well-being. There is a demand for more supportive strategies to facilitate fulfilling and equitable academic experiences for SWDs. This review aimed to (1) determine the effectiveness of various interventions, programs, and accommodations for enhancing the overall well-being of postsecondary SWDs and (2) evaluate the implications of these support strategies for disability service providers at postsecondary institutions. A narrative review was conducted, examining 13 studies aimed at enhancing the well-being of postsecondary SWDs. Studies were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Model. Ergonomics, …

Examining Minimal Important Change Of The Self-Assessment Scale Of Clinical Reasoning In Occupational Therapy, Sho Maruyama, Reiko Miyamoto, Satoru Amano, Takuto Nakamura, Peter Bontje

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of the study was to establish and quantify the minimal important change (MIC) value necessary to determine gains or losses in clinical reasoning during student fieldwork assignments as measured by the Self-Assessment of Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy (SA-CROT). This multicenter prospective longitudinal study was conducted with students on their occupational therapy fieldwork in Japan. Two anchor-based methods were used to estimate the MIC values: a receiver operating characteristic-based method and a predictive modeling-based method. The MIC was adjusted based on the percentage of participants who exhibited improvement. Administered were the SA-CROT and the Global Rating of Change …

Transitioning From Professional Practice To Teaching During Covid-19: A Participatory Research Study, Yvonne Thomas, Ciara Hensey, Claire Squires, Anna Collier, Heidi Cathcart, Lindsey Coup

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The transition from expert occupational therapy practice to academic educator is stressful and complex, involving the development of a new professional identity. In 2020-21 COVID-19 created a new challenge for recently employed academics, who were in this transition process. This study utilized participatory research to explore the impact of COVID-19 on six new occupational therapy lecturers who were employed immediately before and during the pandemic. The participatory research approach simultaneously engaged participants in research processes and aimed to promote researcher development. Three focus groups were conducted to explore participants experiences before, during and after COVID-19 restrictions. Focus groups transcripts were …

Interprofessional Perspectives On School-Wide Mental Health Interventions For Enhancing Resilience In Adolescents, Danielle Costanzo, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: There is a significant crisis in adolescent mental health (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021; Radhakrishnan et al., 2022) that have been compounded by traumatic experiences experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2022) and widespread fear of violence in schools (Silver et al., 2021). The crisis and resulting vulnerability has led to a dire need to focus on overcoming mental health challenges and moving forward in the face of adversity, which calls for a focus on resilience to promote overall life outcomes (Fenwick-Smith et al., 2019; Ijadi-Maghsoodi et al., 2022; Steiner et al., 2019). …

New Jersey’S Web-Based Parent-Engaged Developmental Monitoring Information: Mapping And Critical Appraisal, Danielle Catalano, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Caregivers use web-based information to make decisions about their children’s health and development. Due to the state’s high prevalence of developmental delays, New Jersey has developed numerous web-based early childhood initiatives to promote parent engagement. However, the quality of those resources is unknown. This critical appraisal evaluated the quality, readability, and accessibility of New Jersey’s commonly used web-based information on parent-engaged developmental monitoring in children aged 0-3. A systematic web search yielded 112 results. Thirty-six webpages were reviewed by three independent reviewers using four standardized assessment tools. Reviewers found that most information was written at a twelfth-grade reading level, two …