Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Role Of School-Based Occupational Therapy Practitioners: Perspectives From Teachers And Ots, Kristen A. Ollison, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Schools are the third largest employer of occupational therapists (OTs) in the United States (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). Occupational Therapists have the distinctive ability to observe the child in their natural context of the school, a place where children participate in a variety of activities (Benson et al., 2015). The problem is that there continues to be discrepancies in the understanding and utilization of OT services in the school setting that affect the perceptions of both OTs and teachers regarding the OT role in school, and general service provision (Bolton & Plattner, 2020; Seruya & Garfinkel, 2020; Truong …

Culture Change For Occupational Therapists On Safe Patient Handling And Mobility (Sphm): Advocacy For Sphm Policies For A National Organization., Guldana Alizakhova, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Safe patient handling and mobility is an ergonomic approach consisting of policies, programs, and equipment to reduce WMSD and facilitate a culture of safety among patients and healthcare practitioners. Due to occupational therapy’s established role in ergonomics, practitioners are skilled to utilize SPHM to provide evaluative, consultative, preventative, and therapeutic services to patients while preventing WMSDs to healthcare practitioners. Despite OT’s contributions to SPHM, occupational therapy practitioners are not recognized as leaders in SPHM. To address this problem, in the Spring 2021 meeting, the AOTA Representative Assembly was presented a request for action by a taskforce that also recognized this …

Coaching In Context: Implications For Practice & Parent Perspectives, Rachel Y. Kim, Otd, Otr/L, N. Gerhardt, Ms, Otr/L, Cbis, Bernadette Alpajora, Otd, Otr/L, Mj Mulcahey, Phd, Otr/L, Fasia, Clcp

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Introduction

• Informal care partners experience high levels of guilt, stress, anxiety, depression, and overall decreased health and wellness1-3.
• There is a gap in accessibility of services for informal care partners of individuals with chronic conditions4.
• Care partners of individuals with chronic conditions need long-term support and skill-building for the health & well-being of their care recipient and themselves5.

Coaching in Context

• Coaching in Context (CinC) (Figure 1) is a client-driven approach that leverages client’s strengths and addresses challenges through problem-solving skills.
• Coaches connect with clients to build a trusting relationship. The coach uses skillful questioning to enable the client to …

Spinal Cord Injury-Movement Index (Sci-Mi) Fine Motor Item Pool: Development And Preliminary Validation, Rachel Y. Kim, Otd, Nicole Gerhardt, Ms, Otr/L, Mj Mulcahey, Phd, Otr/L, Fasia

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Purpose: Describe the conceptual framework and preliminary results from pretesting for content validation of the Fine Motor Item Pool of the SCI-MI.

Exploring A Piloted Occupational Therapy Toolkit For Military Children And Youth In Addressing Occupational Performance, Mirely Murcio, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

In the United States (U.S.) there are more family members than military personal in the Department of Defense force with 62.8% of the 2,619,788 family members are children. Research indicates that children of active-duty service members experience unique challenges compared to same age peers due to military life and culture that create occupational disruptions. Research has shown that evidenced based interventions and assessments are needed to support the resilience of military connected children and youth to support their overall health and mental health resulting from the effects of parental deployment and military stressors.

The problem is that despite growing literature …

Occupation Based Program For African American Crossover Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care, Sadé Barnswell, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Unique challenges and differences surround the population of African American crossover youth and how they successfully transition into adulthood once aged out of foster care as compared to same-aged peers (Kim et al., 2019). The problem is that African American crossover youth aging out of the foster care system, are not receiving occupation-based transitional services focusing on IADLs required for adulthood independence resulting in increased prevalence of homelessness (Armstrong-Heimsoth et al., 2020; Flores et al., 2018; Kelly, 2020; Paul-Ward & Lambdin-Pattavina, 2016; Pérez et al., 2019). The purpose of this program development type project is to develop and implement an …

Exploration Of Occupational Therapy’S Role Within The Lgbtq+ Population, Crystal Garcia, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

There are an estimated 11 million individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ in the United States (Rosendale et al., 2019). With this number steadily increasing, it is important that occupational therapists continue to become culturally competent and educated on different strategies to transform the way individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ are given and receive treatment. The problem is that there is a gap in the literature supporting occupational therapist cultural competence to integrate occupational roles of the LGBTQ+ population into their evaluation and intervention. Without culturally competent educational opportunities, the health care system is inadequately prepared to provide responsive health care …

Descriptive Study Of A Healthy Weight Management Program For Overweight Or Obese Children And Youth, Chad Roberts, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The rise in obesity among children and youth in the last 20 years is a public health concern. The prevalence of childhood obesity has multiplied worldwide in the last four decades (“The Heavy Burden of Obesity and the Economics of Prevention,” 2019). Obesity is a complex chronic disease in which abnormal or excessive accumulation of body fat impairs health (Wharton et al., 2020). Childhood obesity can profoundly affect children's physical health, social and emotional well-being, and self-esteem (Rankin et al., 2016 & Purnell et al., 2018). The problem is a lack of an occupation-based evaluation tool utilized to link occupational …

Advocating For Occupational Therapy’S Role In Secondary Stroke Prevention, Madison Coker Cox, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), or stroke, is a leading cause of death and a major source of disability in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Stroke is classically characterized as a neurological deficit attributed to an acute focal injury of the central nervous system (CNS) by a vascular cause de (Sacco, et al., 2013). Vascular causes include cerebral infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). and is a major cause of disability and death worldwide (Sacco, et al., 2013). Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients are at a high risk for a subsequent …

The Path A Pilot Program Bringing The Hero S Journey To Occupational Therapy, Cole Milkovich, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The "Hero’s Journey" is a powerful narrative therapy tool that uses the hero metaphor to help clients reframe their life circumstances (Robertson & Lawrence, 2015; Williams, 2017). However, this concept has only been utilized in the department of psychology. Occupational therapists utilize narrative reasoning to guide client-heroes through a rehabilitative rite of passage through the collaboration (Kelly, 2007). As mentors, clinicians assist client-heroes to create their stories that will be acted out to reflect their identity. Therefore, the therapeutic process aims to empower the client and enact a real positive storyline through meaningful occupation (Clark, 1993; Mattingly, 1998).

The challenge …

Supporting Foster Care Transition Into Adulthood And Independent Living, Victoria Bui, Karen Park, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The focus of this project was to enhance currently existing foster youth programming to promote engagement and participation in independent living skills (ILS) development. Research shows that although such programming exists to support foster youth transitioning into independent living, services are underutilized and may greatly benefit from a more personalized and holistic approach to engage participants. The process of this project included conduction of a needs assessment to understand site-specific areas of concern impacting occupational performance. Findings from the needs assessment informed development of a manual containing occupational therapy strategies for program staff to address concerns and promote engagement and …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Development Of Behavior Management Programs For Elementary School Teachers And Staff, Lauran Minark, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Behavior, how one acts, influences occupation, the things one needs and wants to do. When a student struggles with the ability to regulate their behavior and actions, they are more likely to exhibit behaviors in the classroom that negatively impact their overall ability to participate in academic learning in the classroom (Walls & Rauner, 2015). Examples of these student behaviors include: Eloping from the classroom, yelling, tantrums, task refusal, physical and verbal aggression, standing on furniture, throwing materials, etc. Dealing with difficult student behaviors is difficult. This can impact a teacher’s ability to perform their responsibilities required of their …

Adaptive Fashion: Access, Advocacy, And Occupational Therapy, Tiffany Truong, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Adaptive apparel is specially designed to make the dressing experience easier for individuals with disabilities (Azher et al., 2012). Some barriers to accessing adaptive apparel include limited retailers, limitations in design, and affordability. Though dressing is an occupation within occupational therapy’s scope of practice, there are limited research, programs, and projects defining occupational therapy’s role and presence in adaptive clothing.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine and understand individuals with disabilities' perceptions and experiences of fashion and apparel, and to better define occupational therapy’s role in this field.

Methods: The qualitative study used …

Understanding Ot’S Role In Fall Prevention And Analyzing The Perceived Barriers From Nurses And Occupational Therapists In An Inpatient Setting, Kyle B. Esguerra, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The aim of this project was to analyze current fall prevention strategies, work and environmental-related barriers, and OT’s role in fall prevention in a hospital setting. Two online surveys consisting of quantitative questions (multiple-choice, select-all-that-apply, and Likert scale) with the option for open-ended answers were given to OT practitioners and nurses with inpatient experience. A total of 341 OT practitioners and 21 nurses completed the survey. The results were transferred to a password-protected Microsoft Excel document in preparation for analysis. Data analysis derived several themes including lack of resources, lack of training, inter-professional collaboration, workload, work culture, cognitive and physical …

Ot’S Role In A Social Enterprise Jobs Training Program For Homeless Youth, Luke Drohan, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone outlines a jobs training program for transition-aged youth (TAY), ages 18 – 25, currently residing at Urban Street Angels, a transitional housing facility for youth experiencing homelessness located in San Diego, California. The purpose of this project was to incorporate occupational therapy services into the site’s dormant social enterprise program, 8West. 8West produces a line of artisanal hand soaps created in-house by the youth living at Urban Street Angels. Through experiential and didactic learning, youth developed integral skills in customer service, communication, sales, marketing, professionalism, and production. The project addressed an unmet need for job skills training and …

Promoting Belonging Among Occupational Therapy Students Transitioning To Doctoral Studies, Gina M. Delgado

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Tendon Transfers And Rehabilitative Strategies In Hand Therapy, Alyssa Kopp

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Adaptive Scuba Diving Industry, Erin Wallace, Karen Park

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Adaptive scuba diving is an activity that provides many therapeutic benefits to individuals living with physical, visual, and/or cognitive disabilities. Occupational therapists (OTs) specialize in using valued activities as therapeutic interventions, however, the literature supporting the profession’s value in the adaptive scuba diving industry is limited. There are no clearly defined job descriptions for OTs contributing to the adaptive scuba diving industry although evidence shows the therapeutic potential that OTs can contribute to it.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate OT’s value in the adaptive scuba diving industry by creating an adaptive diving reference …

Assessing Occupational Access And Enhancing Occupational Engagement At Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities, Cristina Ruelas, Susan Macdermott, Ingrid Leu

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Many individuals at inpatient psychiatric facilities experience limited participation in activities of daily living, minimal opportunities for purposeful occupations, very few productive roles, and almost no occupational choice and autonomy (Murphy & Shiel, 2019). Many people report experiencing boredom throughout their stay (Marshall, et. al., 2020). This boredom can lead to poor patient satisfaction, frustration, aggression, or incidents of self-harm (Foye, et al., 2020). Individuals at psychiatric facilities are deprived of participation in daily occupations (Murphy & Shiel, 2019) and they experience an injustice of occupational deprivation.

Occupational Therapy And The Transition Into Fatherhood, Rheanne Sager, Karen Park, Aaron Bonsall

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: There are few resources that address the postpartum time period in fathers and the transition period of becoming a new parent specifically for males (Goldstein et al., 2020). Males experience postpartum symptoms almost as frequently as women (Madsen, 2009); however, men display different symptoms than women and are often not thought of because they did not physically carry the infant (O’Connell-Binns, 2009). The transition period for becoming a new parent is stressful on males as well as females, yet the male role is not always clear for the individuals (Asenhed et al., 2014).

Purpose: The purpose of …