Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Community Resource Programs Impact On Marginalized Communities Access To Health Care Services: A Program Development Project, Alexis N. Foehrkolb

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Caring for children and meeting their needs comes with a variety of considerations regarding temperament, developmental progress, and socioeconomic impact. For children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN), those considerations become more complex. Community resource programs are designed to help families of CSHCN get access to the resources they need regarding general and healthcare services. A program was developed in collaboration with Parents Place of Maryland (PPMD) to create materials effective in educating parents of CSHCN on desired topics of interest, create a virtual environment where parents felt safe asking questions regarding specific topics of interest, and determine the most effective …

Editorial Welcome, Stacy Smallfield, Nancy Krusen, Nicole Martino

Translational Science in Occupation

No abstract provided.

Translational Science Is Occupation, Stacy Smallfield, Wanda J. Mahoney

Translational Science in Occupation

No abstract provided.

Intersections Of Occupational Therapy And Translational Science, M Nicole Martino

Translational Science in Occupation

No abstract provided.

Knowledge Translation Through A Camera Lens, Nancy E. Krusen

Translational Science in Occupation

The journal Translational Science in Occupation (TSO) embraces art and science through the inclusion of a humanities section within the journal. Health humanities gives insight into the human condition (Health Humanities Consortium, 2021). Health humanities enables us to explore daily life occupation, reveal our similarities and differences, and to translate human experience through a variety of media. The following photographs represent concepts of knowledge translation through my camera lens.

Pilot Study Evaluating A Brief Chronic Pain Education Program In Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Occupational Therapy Students, And Lay People, Rose Mcandrew, Jacob Sturtevant, Vicki K. Kaskutas

Translational Science in Occupation

Background: Chronic pain and resultant disability can persist long after tissue healing. Past research suggests educating individuals about chronic pain is efficacious in changing knowledge, health beliefs, and healthcare utilization. This study piloted an educational intervention to teach participants about the nature of chronic, nociplastic pain.

Design: Pre-post study using three groups: occupational therapy (OT) practitioners, OT students, and lay people.

Methods: Participants rated their agreement with four statements pre-intervention regarding the relationship between chronic pain, tissue damage, and activity performance to ascertain accurate knowledge. Participants were presented with studies comparing acute and chronic pain and acknowledging that some people …

Evaluation Of A Student Experiential Learning Clinic For Hand Therapy Using A Logic Model, Rose Mcandrew, Nathaniel Baniqued, Vicki Kaskutas

Translational Science in Occupation

Student clinics (SC) provide experiential learning opportunities in occupational therapy (OT) education that develop clinical reasoning, while providing much needed rehabilitation to under and un-insured patients in the community. The Student Experiential Learning Clinic for Hand Therapy (SELC-HT) is a SC that used a logic model for planning, implementing, and evaluating the SELC-HT. The purpose of this study is to report on outcome data on students and patients, as outlined in the evaluation phase of the logic model.

The 13 OT master/doctorate students, who delivered care in the SELC-HT, demonstrated growth in self-reported hand therapy knowledge (p=0.002) measured with …

Examining Occupation-Based Outcome Measure Use In A Neurologic Outpatient Occupational Therapy Setting: A Knowledge Translation Initiative, Elizabeth Yost, Suzanne Trojanowski, Taylor Jarnigin, Kevin De Bear, Amy Yorke

Translational Science in Occupation

Abstract

Importance: Occupation-based outcome measures (OBOMs) are an evidence-based recommendation for occupational therapy evaluations. Knowledge translation (KT) is a process used to help integrate evidence into clinical practice. The authors identified a KT opportunity to examine occupational therapy practitioners’ (OTPs) use of outcome measures in an outpatient practice setting and assess a Know-Do Gap as the first step in the Action phase of a KT initiative.

Objective: Describe the frequency and types of outcome measures documented in occupational therapy (OT) evaluations, with a focus on OBOMs.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting: Three outpatient clinic sites (under one parent company) in …

Mapping Occupational Therapy Interventions In Adult Patients With Post-Covid Diagnosis: A Scoping Review, Jennifer Ng, Hannah Franks, Marissa Halvorson, Sarah Malone, Claudia L. Hilton Phd, Karthik Mani

Translational Science in Occupation

Importance: Post-COVID patients experience difficulties in their everyday lives due to the persistent nature of their symptoms. This scoping review explores the role of occupational therapists in treating post-COVID patients and examines occupational therapy intervention options for this population.

Objective: This scoping review seeks to answer the following questions: What does the literature say about the role of occupational therapy with post-COVID patients? Which rehabilitation interventions are currently being utilized for treatment? How often are occupational therapists involved in the treatment of and research of post-COVID patient care?

Data Sources: Articles were obtained through an exhaustive search in the following …

Computer-Based Simulation In Occupational Therapy Lecture Courses: A Program Evaluation Of Simulation Implementation, Lacy Wright, Lauren Foster, Lisa Mische Lawson

Translational Science in Occupation

The COVID-19 pandemic expedited the use of computer-based simulations in occupational therapy educational programs. Research supports computer-based simulations as an alternative to in-person clinical fieldwork experiences. However, a knowledge gap exists for the instructional design and implementation of computer-based simulations within occupational therapy lecture courses. In this program evaluation, faculty explored and implemented computer-based simulations in pediatric lecture courses, combining simulation best practices and varying instructional designs. Entry-level occupational therapy doctorate students shared their perspectives through a survey design quality improvement study. Student responses were gathered using the Simulation Evaluation Tool-Modified (SET-M) questionnaire and Student Feedback Survey to gather quantitative …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Evaluating Hope: A Trauma-Informed Sensory Training For Early Childhood Educators, Andrea Houtras, Otd, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences create challenges in sensory integration (Perry, 2006) impacting preschoolers’ participation and occupational performance (May-Benson, 2016). Professional development in trauma-informed sensory training is essential to support early childhood educators working with this population (Loomis, 2018; Perry, 2006).

Objectives: To develop a trauma-informed sensory training and evaluate its validity and usefulness for early childhood educators.

Methods: We used a modified Delphi method to evaluate the training’s adherence to Ayres Sensory Integration® and trauma-informed care principles of practice and usefulness for early childhood educators. A convenience sample of three expert groups reviewed the training and completed surveys to …

The Object Play Of Young Children On The Autism Spectrum: A Narrative Review Of Strengths-Based Literature, Sharon Eva

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The play in young children with autism has been historically seen as deficits-based, with a focus on the limitations of autistic object play. More recently, there has been a shift towards a strengths-based view of autistic object play, where their play preferences and skills are viewed as vehicles for meaningful engagement and as having potential for learning. The aims of this narrative review are two-fold: to identify themes in the existing literature regarding the object play of young children with autism; and, to summarize the existing literature specifically examining object play in young autistic children from a strengths-based point …

How Traits Of Emotional Intelligence Affect Perceived Stress In Entry-Level Doctor Of Occupational Therapy Students, Heidi A. Carpenter, Chelsey Edwards, Scott Richardson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Students in an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) programs are subject to high levels of stress and emotional burnout. Effective management of stress impacts life satisfaction and academic performance. Emotional intelligence (EI) has been shown to relate to lower stress levels in allied health students. Despite this, little has been done to investigate the emotional demands of an occupational therapy education. Methods: Participants were a convenience sample of 51 entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Students recruited from the Southwest and Midwest cohorts of an OTD program. The participants were surveyed approximately 30 days after beginning their semester curriculum. …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Physical Activity In The Intensive Care Unit And Post-Intensive Care Unit Hospital Stay: Patient Characteristics, Symptom Burden, And Experiences Of Postoperative Adults, Christina Bach

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Physical activity (PA) beginning early in the intensive care unit (ICU) can reduce adverse outcomes commonly experienced by individuals after ICU discharge. Patient-centered approaches to PA in the ICU and reliable activity evaluations are essential for understanding PA's impact on patient outcomes.

Objective: This dissertation sought to evaluate patient-related factors associated with PA in the ICU and post-ICU hospital stay.

Methods: The purpose of the dissertation was to conduct: 1) a concept analysis to define ICU survivorship and identify critical care aspects important for patient recovery; 2) an integrative literature review to assess early mobility (EM) interventions with physical, …

Honoring Neurodiversity As An Occupational Therapist, Haley Munson

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to discover if and how current occupational therapists use neurodiversity affirming practices through their work with clients that identify as neurodivergent. Neurodiversity refers to variations in cognitive functioning that are considered normal since no two brains function the same. Occupational Therapists (OTs) frequently work with clients that identify as neurodiverse, including with individuals with diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and sensory processing disorder. This study uses a qualitative approach with a semi-structured interviews to gain insight into OT’s integration of ND affirming principles into practice. Learning how OT’s implement ND affirming practices will …