Sensory Integration In The Classroom: Meeting Children’S Needs Through Educational Programming For Teachers,
2023
Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Sensory Integration In The Classroom: Meeting Children’S Needs Through Educational Programming For Teachers, Hannah Irvin
Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones
The Doctoral Capstone promotes health and wellness for children by addressing their sensory needs and allowing them to fulfill their role as a student. The client-centered approach adds value to the profession by advocating for school-aged children to be able to meet their sensory needs and using occupational therapy expertise to deliver education on the importance of fulfilling sensory needs for children. Sensory integration in the classroom allows a child to meet their sensory needs and fulfill their role as a student in their natural environment, which is different from other professions.
Viability Of Equine Assisted Activities And Therapies For Individuals With Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review,
2023
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Viability Of Equine Assisted Activities And Therapies For Individuals With Developmental Disorders: A Systematic Review, Faith Pinson
Honors Theses
The objective of this review is to determine whether Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) are a viable form of therapy for people with various developmental disorders. A viable form of therapy is one that is more beneficial than traditional forms of therapy that already exist, as traditional therapies may be generally less expensive and have plentiful research to support their use). In order to be beneficial, EAAT would need to yield improved results when either compared side by side with traditional therapy or used as a complementary therapy with traditional therapy. In this systematic review, the included studies examined the …
Occupational Therapy In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) & Implementation Of The Test Of Infant Motor Performance,
2023
University of South Dakota
Occupational Therapy In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) & Implementation Of The Test Of Infant Motor Performance, Juliana C. Keane
Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations
Current literature identifies the recognizable value of occupational therapy within the NICU; however, not all NICUs utilize therapy services. The purpose of this project was to highlight the role of occupational therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and implement the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) within this setting through a variety of goals, objectives, and produced deliverables. Als’ Synactive Theory of Development and the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) Model guided this capstone project. In addition to in-depth clinical practice, education and program development were the methods utilized to achieve the project’s goals. The results of this project further support …
Promoting Sleep Hygiene For Individuals Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease: Occupational Therapy’S Distinct Role,
2023
University of South Dakota
Promoting Sleep Hygiene For Individuals Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease: Occupational Therapy’S Distinct Role, Hunter O. Wookey
Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations
Those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are more likely to experience sleep performance issues which significantly contribute to poorer health outcomes and earlier institutionalization (Bollu, 2017). Though the field of occupational therapy acknowledges the importance of sleep for overall health and wellbeing, the profession’s role in improving sleep outcomes is largely unexplored. The purpose of this 14-week capstone project was to promote better sleep hygiene practices for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, this project sought to advocate for the profession of occupational therapy’s distinct role in sleep management. A variety of goals and objectives were achieved through completion of this project, …
Addressing The Needs Of Parkinson’S Disease Care Partners,
2023
University of South Dakota
Addressing The Needs Of Parkinson’S Disease Care Partners, Jenna Wall
Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that can affect all aspects of life, requiring individuals with this condition to require support from a care partner. The extensive support PD care partners provide impacts their health and well-being resulting in an increased prevalence of negative health outcomes. Furthermore, these care partners do not receive adequate support which only compiles the effect of caregiving. The main goals of this capstone project were the development and implementation of a 4-week PD care partner support protocol, the creation of an electronic resource, and improving community awareness about PD and PD care partner needs. …
Development Of A Post-Op Transgender Care Program For Acute Occupational Therapy Practice,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Development Of A Post-Op Transgender Care Program For Acute Occupational Therapy Practice, Marieliz Llanos
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Transgender people have experienced adverse health outcomes and barriers to care, ranging from the inability to provide a safe environment for inclusive and equitable care, lack of social support, and limited cultural competency and healthcare provider training. Furthermore, the scarcity of research in transgender care within the field of occupational therapy contributes to the disconnect between the needs of the transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) populations and the lack of preparedness in addressing the occupational performance deficits of transgender clients and individuals undergoing the transitioning process contribute to disparities that are reflected deeply in the experiences of these individuals. In the …
The Importance Of Educating Patients And Staff About Implementing The Neurogenic Bowel Training Program (Nbtp) For Spinal Cord Injury (Sci) In The Acute Care Phase,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The Importance Of Educating Patients And Staff About Implementing The Neurogenic Bowel Training Program (Nbtp) For Spinal Cord Injury (Sci) In The Acute Care Phase, Silvia Lobaina
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
According to Borsh et al. (2019), a spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to a tight bundle of cells and nerves, the spinal cord, that send and receive signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. A direct injury can cause damage to the spinal cord itself or to the tissues and bones that surround it, which can cause temporary or permanent changes in sensation, movement, strength, and body functions below the injury site (Borsh et al., 2019). Unfortunately, the extent of the disability depends on the severity and location of the SCI; an injury higher …
Promoting Early Detection In Primary Care: Program Evaluation Of The Dementia Care Aware Program In Orange County,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Promoting Early Detection In Primary Care: Program Evaluation Of The Dementia Care Aware Program In Orange County, Ennah Cabading
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
The aging population is growing quickly, raising concerns about the increasing numbers of those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, as age is the common risk factor for acquiring the disease. The increase in the elderly population may influence higher healthcare costs and the need for more healthcare professionals like primary care professionals. However, primary care professionals face challenges meeting this population's demands due to the lack of training, confidence, and understanding of dementia care. A new California initiative called Dementia Care Aware aims to support primary care professionals by offering training, tools, and resources to increase early detection and …
An Immersive Virtual Reality Treatment Learning Module For Unlv Occupational Therapy Students,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
An Immersive Virtual Reality Treatment Learning Module For Unlv Occupational Therapy Students, Paolo Castro
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Virtual reality refers to the technology used to create multi-sensory, three-dimensional environments its users can interact with. Occupational therapists may find virtual reality-based therapy appealing as it allows them to access many virtual environments and tasks that would be difficult to recreate in traditional settings. Despite literature suggesting their willingness to use it in practice, there is an evidence-to-practice gap caused by low self-efficacy and knowledge of how to operate and apply it. The author created a learning module for occupational therapy students to see how it affects perceived clinical competency. The results of the learning module showed statistically significant …
Acquired Brain Injury: A Vision Screening Protocol For Occupational Therapists,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Acquired Brain Injury: A Vision Screening Protocol For Occupational Therapists, Sebastian Cheung
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Occupational therapists have a unique set of skills that allow them to assess individuals with an acquired brain injury who have visual impairments. However, it is frequently neglected in practice owing to a lack of confidence, knowledge, or training. There is a need for a vision screening protocol that will help occupational therapists learn more about visual impairments in adults with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and feel more confident in their ability to identify them. This quality improvement capstone project was a feasibility study and consisted of a sample size of N = 6, utilizing a one group pretest-posttest …
Addressing Vision Impairments Following Neurological Injuries: A Vision Protocol For Occupational Therapists,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Addressing Vision Impairments Following Neurological Injuries: A Vision Protocol For Occupational Therapists, Dyrin Cordero
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Vision impairments have a high prevalence in adults with a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI), potentially affecting up to 90% of this population. However, these impairments are often overlooked during the rehabilitation process due to a lack of education and training provided to occupational therapists (OTs). Limited research also contributes to no standardized best practice guidelines for OTs to follow (Aravich & Troxell., 2021). This issue is important to occupational therapy practitioners because vision impairments negatively affect a person's capacity for recovery, quality of life, safety, and mental health (Berger et al., 2016). Occupational therapists aim to utilize holistic …
The Efficacy Of An Educational Toolkit To Enhance Knowledge Of Pediatric Reflux Management Among Occupational Therapists,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The Efficacy Of An Educational Toolkit To Enhance Knowledge Of Pediatric Reflux Management Among Occupational Therapists, Kelly Cullerton
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
This manuscript describes a quality improvement project completed by a student in the University of Nevada Las Vegas Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program. The project tests the efficacy of an educational toolkit for occupational therapists staffed at an acute care hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, to increase their perceived knowledge of and ability to educate families on conservative management techniques for pediatric reflux management. Results indicate that the toolkit demonstrated efficacy in achieving this objective. The toolkit provided useful staff education and parent handouts for the occupational therapists to utilize in patient care as appropriate. This project’s ultimate aim was to …
An Educational Sleep Hygiene Module For Unlv Students To Promote Occupational Performance,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
An Educational Sleep Hygiene Module For Unlv Students To Promote Occupational Performance, Therese Fernandez
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Does participation in a sleep hygiene educational module improve perceived ability to practice habits supporting increased engagement for leisure occupations in UNLV students? Sleep hygiene refers to a set of rules or practices to promote and allow for better sleep quality. Poor sleep quality is a prevalent problem among college students due to numerous reasons, including poor sleep hygiene. Since there is a strong correlation between poor sleep quality and daily function and given that occupational therapists assist clients to function optimally in activities of daily living despite impairment, it is essential to expand this area of practice to include …
Utilizing An Interdisciplinary Approach: Education Of Early Progressive Mobility Protocol In The Icu/Acute Setting,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Utilizing An Interdisciplinary Approach: Education Of Early Progressive Mobility Protocol In The Icu/Acute Setting, Mary Ashley Galan-Gornal
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Early Progressive Mobility (EPM) was used more frequently in an interdisciplinary approach to improve patient outcomes. The aim is to create a protocol that takes an interdisciplinary approach and makes use of early progressive mobility. In the acute setting, occupational therapists are equipped to promote quality of life and independence both, during and after hospitalization, which is critical for early mobilization being beneficial for patients who are able to participate in therapy.This Doctoral Capstone project was aimed at demonstrating the value of occupational therapists in the intensive care unit (ICU)/acute setting by utilizing EPM in …
Increasing Self-Perceived Competence In Performing Independent Living Skills Among Unhoused Youth And Young Adults,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Increasing Self-Perceived Competence In Performing Independent Living Skills Among Unhoused Youth And Young Adults, Stacie M. Gomez
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Purpose: The aim of this project is to determine if the development and implementation of an independent living skills workshop would improve the perceived competence of unhoused youth in performing independent living skills.Methods: The Casey Life Skills Short Assessment was used as a pre-test and post-test. It was found that unhoused young adults generally scored low on finding affordable housing, budgeting, banking skills, education training, and feeling a sense of pride in their lives. A four-week independent living skills program was designed and implemented, which included workshops focused on identified needs. The data was analyzed using a Paired Samples t-Test …
Nonpharmacological Pain Management Of Adult Patients In The Burn Unit: An Interdisciplinary Toolkit Through The Occupational Therapy Lens,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nonpharmacological Pain Management Of Adult Patients In The Burn Unit: An Interdisciplinary Toolkit Through The Occupational Therapy Lens, Taylor Harrison-Merrill
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Interdisciplinary care is the standard for individuals admitted to a burn unit, yet there is a lack of uniform education among different professionals regarding pain management (Kuhlmann & Tallman, 2022). Occupational therapists offer a unique and holistic lens to pain management by using nonpharmacological interventions to reduce patients’ perception of pain (American Burn Association, 2017; Nielson et al., 2022). The purpose of this quality improvement doctoral capstone was to apply this occupational lens in an educational toolkit designed for the interdisciplinary team that addressed nonpharmacological pain management for adults in the burn unit; effectively closing the knowledge gap across disciplines …
Increasing Foster Parent Awareness Of An Occupation-Based Approach To Child Well-Being,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Increasing Foster Parent Awareness Of An Occupation-Based Approach To Child Well-Being, Taylar Hirte
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Foster parents are an integral part of the child welfare system. They provide temporary care to children who otherwise cannot stay in their homes. They are required to be state or county licensed and each licensing agency has their own requirements including varying hours of training. The literature indicates foster parents do not receive enough training to feel prepared and confident to care for children with increased mental health, behavioral, school-related, cognitive, and peer relationship challenges that foster children often experience (AOTA, 2017; Lotty et al., 2020; Paul-Ward et al., 2014; Smith, 2022).The purpose of the present capstone project was …
Perceived Usefulness, Ease Of Use, And Satisfaction Of A Swaddle Bathing Educational Guide Among Parents/Guardians Of Nicu Premature Infants,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Perceived Usefulness, Ease Of Use, And Satisfaction Of A Swaddle Bathing Educational Guide Among Parents/Guardians Of Nicu Premature Infants, Makenzie Leigh Hogbin
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
The current availability of high-quality and comprehensive educational resources made available to parents and guardians with infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is limited in terms of content and provision. Additionally, there exists a plethora of information regarding the impact of the sensory environment on premature and critically ill infants as well as interventions to mitigate these effects that are not efficiently conveyed to their families. Previous research asserts that consistency with the application of sensory interventions with these infants bodes well for positive outcomes, leading one to believe that caregivers may benefit from learning these strategies so …
Effectiveness Of A Workshop For Improving Awareness And Identification Of Racial Microaggressions Among Occupational Therapy Faculty And Students,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Effectiveness Of A Workshop For Improving Awareness And Identification Of Racial Microaggressions Among Occupational Therapy Faculty And Students, Hannah Kalegzabher
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
As a professor or student in occupational therapy (OT), an important role is advocating for students and clients. Taking action is important to practice and promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within the profession. This quality improvement project aimed to determine the effectiveness of a racial microaggression workshop for OT, OT assistant (OTA) students, and faculty to improve awareness and ability to identify racial microaggressions to support Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). Participants were recruited by convenience sampling through email to members of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) and COTAD-Educators (COTAD-ED). The workshop was …
Assistance Dog Considerations: A Lecture For Occupational Therapy Students,
2023
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Assistance Dog Considerations: A Lecture For Occupational Therapy Students, Kayla Kinney
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Assistance dogs can mitigate the effects of an individual’s disability. Occupational therapists consider the whole being when providing interventions through the individual’s meaningful occupations to improve health, well-being, and quality of life. Occupational therapists can make referrals or become a valuable team member for clients who wish to explore assistance dogs as an assistive technology option to improve physical, mental, and psychosocial considerations for increased independence in their clients. Few occupational therapy practitioners are educated about the benefits and disadvantages of the partnership between assistance dog and handler. Therefore, they are unable to adequately recommend assistance dogs for their clients, …
