Occupational Therapy Commons^™

A New Opportunity For Occupational Therapists To Open Cases In Home Health, Amy Oselio, Bryan M. Gee, Kimberly Lloyd

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

As of January 1, 2022, licensed occupational therapists have the permanent ability to open home health cases for the first time since 1999. This ability creates opportunities for occupational therapists to case-manage in the home health setting and showcase the benefits of occupation-based interventions for their clients. Further, occupation-based interventions create opportunities to establish aging-in-place and other cost-saving strategies. Occupational therapists will need to inform their home health agencies about this new ability, emphasizing the benefits of a more substantial presence in home health episodes of care. They will also need to develop new skills in the admission process or …

Use Of Formal And Informal Strategies To Manage Stress During Level Ii Occupational Therapy Fieldwork, Ryan Thomure

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Stress may play a role in the performance of occupational therapy students during Level II fieldwork, but little research exists regarding the causes of stress or the stress management strategies students use. The objective of this study was to determine factors that contribute to fieldwork-related stress and strategies students use to manage that stress on Level II fieldwork.

Students or recent graduates of occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant programs who completed at least one Level II fieldwork experience in the previous 36 months were eligible to participate. An online survey was distributed to participants through snowball sampling. The participants …

Application Of A Model Of Family-Centered Harm Reduction In Community-Based Programming, Johnna Belkiewitz, Victoria G. Wilburn, Sydney Larson, Kate Schrader

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Coupling high substance use disorder rates with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation faces a growing mental health crisis and a shortage of adequately trained mental and behavioral health providers. As occupational therapists work toward recognition as qualified providers in this practice area, we must ensure that future therapists can meet client needs. Traditional mental and behavioral health educational practices in occupational therapy use a model of harm reduction that minimizes negative outcomes for a select subset of the population engaging in specific “high-risk” behaviors, such as individuals engaging in substance use and sexual activity. Expanding our understanding …

Intraprofessional Conversations Begin In The Classroom: An Exploratory Study Of An Occupational Therapist And Occupational Therapy Assistant Joint Class, Patricia Gentile, Michele Mills, Tsu-Hsin Howe

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Effective occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant partnerships are essential for the provision of quality patient care and satisfactory intraprofessional working relationships. Providing OT and OTA students with collaborative educational experiences can enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of each other’s roles, as well as set the groundwork for successful future work experiences.

This project describes the experience of a graduate OT master’s degree program and an associate degree OTA program in a northeastern metropolitan city. Faculty from both programs worked together to design and implement a collaborative learning experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, conducted via Zoom.

The purpose of this …

Addressing The Long-Term Influence Of Neurotrauma On Self-Concept And Self-Identity Development: A Pilot Study, Alyse C. Giallorenzo, Brittany C. Adams, Jessica M. Winter

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Numerous neurotrauma survivors face lifelong disability post injury as a result of an event, yet there are limited specialized continued care services to support future outcomes, specifically self-concept, self-identity, and quality of life. To reduce health care barriers and support health promotion post injury, student researchers explored the influence of a community-based occupational therapy (OT) program for the neurotrauma population.

Methods: Four participants, 37 to 58 years of age, with a history of neurotrauma, participated in a mixed methods study composed of a 6-week community-based educational OT program. Outcome measures included Activity Card Sort, Lawton Brody Scale, …

Physicians' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Practice, Shivani B. Vij

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapy (OT) is a client-centered profession vital to an interdisciplinary team. Despite its importance, medical providers have limited knowledge and understanding of OT's scope of practice. This can lead to limited referrals, ineffective teamwork, inefficient therapeutic outcomes, limited OT practice scope, and consumer access to OT services. This study explored physicians' knowledge and understanding of OT to find opportunities and strategies for education and knowledge sharing to improve awareness of OT practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Method: A descriptive online survey was conducted for physicians in a Virginia suburban hospital to obtain knowledge and perception about OT …

Exploration Of Occupational Therapy Practice For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders In The Dominican Republic, Katherine Lally, Michelle Messer, Vanessa D. Jewell

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: To better understand the current practice trends of ASD treatment globally and promote practitioner collaboration, it is important to complete studies in countries where little is known about the diagnosis and treatment of ASD through an occupational lens. The aim of this study was to gain an insight into how occupational therapists in the Dominican Republic evaluate and treat children diagnosed with ASD.

Method: This qualitative descriptive study explored the perception of occupational therapists (n = 6) and caregivers of children with ASD (n = 28) through a questionnaire and focus group. Interview transcripts and questionnaire text …

Connected Rhythm: A Scoping Review Of Therapeutic Drumming As An Intervention For Autistic Individuals, Zahava L. Friedman, Jorge Ochoa, Dina Prisco, Francine M. Seruya

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurologically-based developmental disorder representing a subdomain of neurodivergence. Occupational therapy intervention for ASD typically incorporates sensory modalities, addressing a multitude of challenges, including mental health outcomes. This scoping review analyzes available evidence of the sensory-based intervention of therapeutic drumming (TD) to improve mental health in autistic clients.

Method: Following the Johanna Briggs methodological framework, Proquest, Ebsco, Scopus and OTseeker databases were searched with the key and related words of “autism,” “therapeutic drumming,” and “mental health,” yielding 448 articles. After removal of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, seventeen articles were included …

Exploring The Use Of Ecological Momentary Assessment Within A Telehealth Intervention For Families Of Children With Autism, Anna Wallisch, Lauren Little, Allison Wainer, Winnie Dunn

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure parent self-efficacy and stress throughout a 9-week occupation-based coaching telehealth intervention for families of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Methods. The participants included seven families of children with ASD 2 to 6 years of age. The parents were sent emails to gather EMA measures weekly during the intervention. We used percentages to examine response rates to EMA surveys and a mixed-model regression to examine changes in parent-self efficacy and stress during the intervention.

Results. The parents responded to …

Establishing Initial Content Validity, Interrater Reliability, And Intra-Rater Reliability Of The Revised Visual Activity Sort For At-Risk Adolescents And Young Adults, Sharon Gutman, Katie O'Day, Ashley Choi, Alexis Kearney, Sandra Rogers

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to establish the content validity and inter- and intra-rater reliability of the revised Visual Activity Sort, which is a card sorting assessment designed specifically for at-risk adolescents and young adults.

Method: Six content experts were selected and asked to rate the relevancy of each of the 121 Visual Activity Sort cards. Two trained raters participated in the establishment of inter- and intra-rater reliability with 30 high school students attending a charter school for at-risk adolescents and young adults in a socioeconomically disadvantaged urban area.

Results: Based on the content experts’ …

Providing Personalized Interest-Based Activities To Prevent Delirium: A Multicomponent Quality Improvement Initiative In An Acute Care Setting, Qianwen Liu, Elena V. Donoso Brown, Shauni Johnson, Autumn Moss-Corcoran

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Hospital-induced delirium is a prevalent condition across inpatient settings, frequently impacting older adults’ recovery. A 10-week multi-component quality improvement (QI) project was designed for an existing delirium prevention program in four acute care units, aiming to support patient and caregiver engagement in delirium prevention activities.

Method: The participants were hospitalized adults who were 70 years of age and older and met specific inclusion criteria. The project provided personalized interest-based activities, orientation stimulation, and caregiver education. An abbreviated version of the Modified Interest Checklist was used to identify the participants’ activity choices. Activity daily logs, satisfaction survey, and …

Thermoplastic Material Selection And Barriers To Custom Orthotic Fabrication: A Survey Of Occupational And Physical Therapists, Priya Bakshi, Daisy Castillo, Heidi Mitchener, Zoee Lagerhausen, Lauren Paisley, Amanda Quinlivan, Brandi Andreae

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: There is limited literature regarding therapists’ selection of thermoplastic material since the 1990s and less is known about the challenges of custom orthotic fabrication.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was designed and distributed to members of the American Society of Hand Therapists in August 2021. The survey included closed-ended questions with option for free-text comments. Descriptive statistics and content analysis was used to analyze categorical data and free-text comments, respectively.

Results: The responses of 333 therapists were included in the study. Drapability, thickness, and rigidity were the main properties the therapists considered when selecting thermoplastic material (82.9%; …

Examining The Delivery Mode Of Mental Practice In Reducing Hemiparesis: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Teresa M. Green, Nicole M. Fromm, Farida Sita Gayle, Jinna Lee, Wanyi Wang, Asha K. Vas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Mental Practice (MP) is an effective intervention to address upper extremity (UE) hemiparesis post-stroke. However, parameters for the delivery mode of MP have not been defined. Therefore, this study's purpose was to define delivery mode parameters by comparing the effectiveness of audio-guided and video-guided MP.

Method: Eighteen participants, < 1-month post-stroke, with UE hemiparesis were randomized to a MP, repetitive task practice (RTP) or control group. The MP groups performed audio-guided or video-guided MP, 5x/week. The RTP group physically performed the functional tasks. The control group received traditional stroke rehabilitation. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) were used to assess change in UE hemiparesis.

Results: Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrated audio MP increased FMA-UE scores from pretest (Mdn = 34.0, Mean = 34.0, SD =9.56) to posttest (Mdn = 49.0, Mean = 49.6, SD =7.5), p = .042, r = .64. Similar improvement in FMA-UE scores was found with traditional therapy. Audio MP decreased WMFT …

Occupational Therapist And Occupational Therapy Assistant: We Are Proud Of These Titles, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Interprofessional Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy And Applied Behavior Analysis, Elizabeth Fairchild

Honors Theses

The fields of Occupational Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis are currently two of the most common treatment approaches for children with autism spectrum disorder. Unfortunately, a lack of understanding and mutual respect between the fields has led to poor interprofessional collaboration among professionals in each practice area, negatively impacting client outcomes. While both fields differ greatly in treatment approaches, collaboration is crucial between practitioners as they address similar skills in a child with autism spectrum disorder. Interprofessional collaboration can allow practitioners to share their individualized background and lens with another field in order to mutually address client goals. This project …

Bridging The Gap From New Graduate To Practicing Occupational Therapist: An Educational Resource In Orthopedics, Rachel Carlson, Helen Carey, Kaylee Munch, Lisa Choe

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

OT is pivotal in the rehabilitation and recovery of individuals with orthopedic conditions (Nelson, 2010). However, as a new graduate occupational therapist, there is limited support as they make the transition to clinical practice (Turpin et al., 2021). New graduates receive support through professional mentorship and peer support but are often focused on the safe practice of basic skills rather than on best practices (Opoku et al., 2021). New graduates would feel more confident in clinical judgment and decision-making with additional support from mentors and accessible up-to-date resources (Adam et al., 2013). Purpose: Develop an accessible resource for new occupational …

Program Development Of Incorporating Mindfulness-Based Practices Within Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Sarah Cottone, Zeida Gutierrez, Katie O'Hara

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project will address the limited literature and provide treatment results on the effective use of mindfulness exercises in pediatric occupational therapy for improved self-regulation. Purpose: This program aims to educate the pediatric clinic on the benefits of mindfulness and to develop mindfulness-based exercises to implement within pediatric occupational therapy sessions for self-regulation treatments. The purpose of the mindfulness exercises was to show efficient, effective, and noninvasive approaches to regulate a child’s emotions and sensory system.

Advocating And Educating The Role Of Occupational Therapy For Adaptive Swim Lessons Among Children With Autism, Charlotte Leonard, Zeida Gutierrez, Jon Edenfield

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of death for children ages 5-14 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Children with autism are 160x more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers (Autism Society of Florida, n.d.). Many parents and caregivers put protective layers in place such as locks, gates, and fencing. However, children with autism are known to wander from safe spaces. According to the Autism Society of Florida (n.d.) children with autism are naturally drawn to water due to its ability to ease sensory needs. Brenner …

Healthy Seniors: Supporting Chronic Condition Management Through Educational And Motivational Materials., Megan Wiggs, Helen Carey

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Within the United States, the older adult population is rising and facing a growing number of chronic conditions (Mirza et al., 2020). Chronic conditions are associated with an increase in hospitalizations, functional decline, and healthcare spending. Largely, chronic conditions are managed under primary care physicians and treatment is not put into place until an exacerbation and hospitalization occurs (Mirza et al., 2020). Thus, a cruel cycle is created in which an individual undergoes functional decline, worsening of the condition, and decreasing quality of life and well-being. The older adult population wishes to age in place and manage their health; however, …

Building Resilience To Treat Trauma And Improve Social Participation With Youth In Foster Care, Rachel Greene, Keisa Boykin, Dana Madalon

Fall 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Childhood trauma is classified by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that caused the trauma. An ACE is a traumatic event that an individual has observed from birth to 18 years old (Atchison & Suarez, 2021). ACEs include but are not limited to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, and neglect. ACEs also include household dysfunctions such as domestic violence, divorce, incarceration of family, substance abuse, food scarcity, poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Building resilience promotes healthy coping skills, the ability to trust and engage with support systems, and the prevention of retraumatization (Bethell et al., 2017). Trauma and resiliency are invertedly related, …