Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Bridges To Bright Beginnings: A Resource Guide For Caregivers Of Infants Diagnosed With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Nas), Makayla E. Murden

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a condition that happens in newborn babies who were exposed to illicit substances or opiates while in the womb. The baby becomes dependent on the substances and will experience withdrawal symptoms after birth. Between 2010 and 2017, NAS births increased by 131%. Approximately 6.6% of pregnant women admitted to using prescription opioids, of which 21.2% acknowledged misuse. A significant portion (31.9%) of these women reported not receiving information on the potential effects of opioid use on their unborn baby. Infants exposed to opioids in utero are at higher risk of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit …

Developing A Sensory Room For Children With Autism Living On The Navajo Reservation, Rudessa Bedonie

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and restrictive or repetitive behaviors (Hirota & King, 2023). Children with autism demonstrate sensory challenges impacting their participation in activities of daily living and social engagement (Schaaf et al., 2014 & Travers et al., 2022). Occupational therapists often employ techniques and settings to enrich sensory experiences when working with children diagnosed with autism. Accessibility and awareness of occupational therapy services on the Navajo reservation are also restricted (Casimir, 2023). People on the Navajo reservation may experience cultural and language barriers with others, and limited …

The Virtual Therapist: An Occupational Therapy Practitioner’S Guide To Telehealth Service Delivery In Pediatrics, Jossette Hannah M. Gianan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to improve the telehealth competency and confidence of occupational therapy practitioners working in pediatrics through the use of a quick reference resource guide.

Methodology: The development of The Virtual Therapist: An Occupational Therapy Practitioner’s Guide to Telehealth Service Delivery in Pediatrics was guided by the concepts found in the Ecology of Human Performance model (Dunn, 2017). The concepts of person, context, and task were used in the overall creation of the guide, while the five intervention strategies outlined in the model were used in the creation of the intervention plan section. A …

An Occupational Therapy Program For First Responders Facing Trauma Fatigue And Work-Related Stressors Using Equine Facilitated Approaches, Kady Locke

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The proposed program is a mental health program, targeting meaningful daily occupations for the population of first responders facing trauma fatigue and antecedents of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms related to stress from work. For individuals who serve as first responders, there is significant prevalence for trauma exposure, leading to trauma fatigue due to events encountered on the job. Mazur and Collins (2023) found that 80% of police and first responders experience traumatic events on the job and that 25% have experienced suicidal ideation due to impacts of trauma exposure. There is a lack of professional mental health services supporting this …

Toolkit For Teachers Who Have Students Who Have Experiences Aces: An Occupational Therapy Guide, Abigail Kasper

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Individuals who experience trauma are at a higher risk of experiencing decreased occupational performance, specifically in education. Students are more likely to have decreased emotional and sensory regulation, decreased attention, problem-solving, and social skills, and struggle to transition between activities (Bhsushan, 2021; Fraser et al., 2019; Goddard, 2021; Whiting, 2018). These difficulties can create barriers to participating and succeeding in education. In addition to experiencing barriers while engaging in school, trauma can also result in an increased risk of experiencing long-term health impacts, such as heart disease, obesity, depression, hypertension, and other chronic conditions (Bhushan, 2021; Centers for Disease …

Promoting Independence In An Existing Cancer Survivorship Program: Adaptive Equipment And Intimacy & Sexuality, Bailee Scheer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create educational materials for cancer survivors and their caregivers/families on the topics of adaptive equipment and intimacy/sexuality. A person is considered a cancer survivor at any point after receiving a cancer diagnosis, regardless of what stage they are at in their course of treatment (American Cancer Society, 2024). The rate of cancer survivors within the United States has grown drastically over the past several years, due to advances in treatment and early detection (Cronin et al., 2022). Cancer survivors experience many changing side effects during and after treatment that influence the way …

Exploring Postpartum Care: A Guide For Mothers, Amber Joy Matlock

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Exploring Postpartum Care: A Guide for Mothers

Background: Thousands of babies are born in hospitals each year. Before being discharged home from the hospital, mothers receive education from interprofessional team members about their infant’s care, but there is a lack of information and education provided to mothers about their care and postpartum recovery. Without having adequate information on a mother’s recovery, there is an increased risk for poor maternal outcomes to occur during the postpartum journey. Maternal health is an emerging practice area for occupational therapy practitioners; the population is within the scope of practice for the profession. Currently, …

Inclusive Physical Education And Its Impact On Adolescents With Disabilities In A School Setting, Ashley Renee Freund

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Adolescents with disabilities frequently encounter barriers preventing participation in physical education alongside their peers. The absence of inclusive practices and adaptations tailored to students with disabilities poses challenges that impact students' physical health and mental well-being (Carbone et al., 2021). Fostering improved mental and physical health for adolescents with and without disabilities is related to group-based programming as well as instructor leadership and knowledge regarding disability and activity modification (Shirazipour et al., 2020). By integrating these elements, physical education teachers can optimize the benefits of participation in physical education, including enhanced mental health, increased physical participation and engagement, and …

Addressing Health Care Needs Of Farmers In Rural Areas Through The Lens Of Occupational Therapy, Josie Lynn Huot

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Addressing Health Care Needs of Farmers in Rural Areas through the Lens of Occupational Therapy

Background: Over three million farmers and farm laborers across the United States (U.S.) perform one of the most essential careers to support human life (Hildebrand et al., 2019; USDA, 2020). Farming is considered a highly dangerous job, putting farmers at risk for numerous health concerns, with a high prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries (Fethke et al., 2015; Hildebrand et al., 2019). Low back pain is a leading source of musculoskeletal pain, closely followed by neck pain, both of which are associated with the spine (Davis …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Fall Prevention In Rural Health, Casidi Pullar

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Hospital-acquired falls can lead to severe injuries and complications, posing significant challenges for patient safety and the healthcare facility (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2023). Healthcare workers in rural, Critical Access Hospitals often handle a wide range of responsibilities due to the smaller staff size, limited resources, and difficulty retaining or recruiting staff due to the remote location, typically resulting in fall prevention being less prioritized (Abelsen et al., 2020; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2023). Addressing patient safety and fall prevention strategies is an organizational and systemic challenge that requires evidence-based education and an interdisciplinary team …

Nature-Based Therapy Supporting Veterans With Mental Health Difficulties, Kaitlyne Dittberner

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Using nature has been linked to improvements in well-being for individuals with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Bettmann et al., 2019). Combining nature with physical activity can increase feelings of revitalization, positive engagement, and energy with decreased feelings of tension, confusion, anger, and depression (Coon et al., 2011). Group-based activities for veterans can assist with the reintegration process back into the community as combat veterans value connections with like peers (Hawkins et al., 2016). Occupational therapy practitioners have the skills to analyze activities to make accommodations to allow veterans to be successful in the occupations in the nature-based …

Physical And Psychosocial Wellness For Individuals With Neurological Impairments, Emmalee Burtsfield

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Neurological impairments have been identified as the first leading cause of disability across the world and the second leading cause of death globally. There is a substantial financial impact associated with neurological conditions. Therefore, it is essential to consider how effective use of best therapy practices can help to reduce costs accompanying neurological impairments and promote quality of life amongst patients. The goal of this scholarly project was to promote physical and psychosocial wellness for individuals with neurological impairments. The project serves as a resource that can be utilized by patients and caregivers alike. The materials in this resource …

Increasing Success For Children With Sensory Processing Difficulties: Education And Support For Individuals Working With Children In Community Settings, Alyssia D. Pucel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Integration into community settings with limited ability to control one’s exposure to sensory stimuli is often challenging for children with sensory processing difficulties (Isamel et al., 2018). To self-regulate, children often exhibit behaviors that appear to others as abnormal or inappropriate to the expectations within the social environment but are out of the child’s control (Brown et al., 2019). Individuals who do not know about sensory processing may respond to the behavior in a way that is unsupportive to the child’s sensory needs and overall daily functioning. To advocate for children in natural community contexts, Success with Sensory provides individuals …

Occupational Therapy Intervention To Promote Rest And Its Role In Inpatient Rehabilitation Recovery, Kjerstin Drugan

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Insufficient sleep is a public health epidemic that affects 10-30% of the population, impacts brain functioning, mood, attention, memory, and healing (CDC, 2015) and increases the likelihood of serious medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease (Ho & Sui, 2018). The rate of sleep difficulties increases to 47-67% in the hospitalized population (Miller et al., 2019). According to Poole et al. (2022), 98% of occupational therapists reported believing that sleep assessment and intervention are important in rehabilitation, but less than 25% implemented any intervention. The physical effects and stress of illness and the inpatient rehabilitation …

The Wyld Outdoors: A Community Based Occupational Therapy Program To Address Mental Health Strategies In Rural Wyoming, Emily Ray

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: The WYld Outdoors: A Community-Based Occupational Therapy Program to Address Mental Health Strategies in Rural Wyoming

Background: Globally, there is an expressed need to address mental health promotion and prevention strategies in community-based settings (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). To work toward meeting these needs it is important to start at a local level. Statewide initiatives in Wyoming have risen in recent years with goals to expand upon mental and behavioral health, but culture and lack of environmental means significantly impact accessibility to these resources (State of Wyoming [SOW], 2023). Based on literature findings there are even fewer local …

Supporting Community Integration For Veterans With Mental Health Conditions Through The Lens Of Recovery: Rise-Ing Together, Erin Marie Ferebee

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Supporting Community Integration for Veterans with Mental Health Conditions Through the Lens of Recovery: RISE-ing Together

Introduction: This paper delves into the VA's commitment, aligned with AOTA guidelines, to enhance Veterans' well-being through the PEO model in occupational therapy during community reintegration. Highlighting recovery as a transformative process, it addresses mental health challenges, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, underscoring the central role of occupational therapy practitioners in providing tailored care. Shifting focus to the environment, drawing on studies (Pedersen & Wiser, 2021; Phelan et al., 2018; Sayer et al., 2021), the paper accentuates challenges and opportunities, …

Expecting Better When You’Re Expecting: Empowering Mothers Through Occupational Therapy, Ann K. Landreville

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The maternal health crisis of the United States presents an opportunity to improve the level of care provided to the maternal population. A new standard of care must be established, going beyond decreasing maternal mortality and morbidity rates, but instead working to promote the health and well-being of mothers. While many well-recognized health professionals currently play a role on the interdisciplinary care team for postpartum mothers, occupational therapists are emerging in this field, proving they have a vital role in providing services that addresses the current gap in care. Many professions largely address physical health; occupational therapists have a holistic …

An Occupational Therapy Approach To Chronic Condition Self-Management, Makayla Marie Tucker

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background Chronic health conditions often lead to decreased engagement in valued occupations, habits, roles, and routines secondary to the effects of the diagnosis (Lorig et al., 2020). This community project aims to explore occupation-based intervention approaches to assist adults in self-managing their chronic conditions. Additionally, the project aims to fill the gap in healthcare to improve healthcare professionals’ collaboration to improve clients’ health outcomes. Occupational therapy’s role in health management may include developing habits and management strategies for nutrition, physical activity, medications, stress and coping, and improving social skills for problem solving and communication. A literature review and informal interviews …

Supporting Clients And Caregivers Of Full-Time Wheelchair Users At Risk For Pressure Injuries, Jessica Lynn Wetzel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Title: Supporting Clients and Caregivers of Full-Time Wheelchair Users at Risk for Pressure Injuries

Purpose: Wheelchair users are classified as a population at a great risk for developing pressure injuries due to their decreased sensation and extensive time seated on bony prominences (Mervis & Phillips, 2023). Affecting around three million adults each year in the United States alone, the number of pressure injuries is a cause for concern (Mervis & Phillips, 2023). More severe pressure injuries can cause sedentary lifestyles, further leading to occupational deprivation of the individual experiencing them. Although there are many strategies to prevent pressure injury formation, …

Improving Occupational Performance For Survivors Of Sex Trafficking: An Executive Functioning Program, Riley P. Thomas

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: In 2021, the U.S. reported 10,360 human trafficking cases, of which 7,499 or 72% were explicitly identified as instances of sex trafficking (National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2021). Sex trafficking is “a form of modern-day slavery in which individuals perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion” (National Human Trafficking Hotline, n.d., para. 1). Due to survivors of sex trafficking being exposed to dehumanizing and traumatic events, this may impact the ability to participate and engage in daily activities related to an individual's executive functioning and life skills. The purpose of this scholarly project was to analyze …