Occupational Therapy Commons^™

An Occupational Perspective: Supporting The Paternal Role And Transition Home From The Nicu, Bryana Salazar, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify occupational therapy’s role in supporting paternal wellness and mental health through routines and occupations, following the transition from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) back home.

Study Design: Online surveys (n=32) and virtual interviews (n=11) were collected in order to complete a mixed-method design study. Interviews were manually transcribed and coded onto Dedoose. Thematic analysis was conducted in order to derive overall themes.

Results: This study delved into the experience of fathers’ post NICU discharge. Five overall themes were identified in this study Adjusting Expectations of the initial transition, …

Self-Regulation For Adolescent Survivors Of Sex Trafficking: An Occupational Therapist’S Perspective, Elyse Harmon, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Adolescent survivors of sex trafficking (SST) are susceptible to being in a continual dysregulated arousal state due to a lack of mastery in self-regulation. During the trafficking experience, many adolescent SST experience severe trauma and are deprived of opportunities that foster essential regulatory capacities needed for occupational engagement. The use of sensory-based approaches that focus on addressing arousal dysregulation and the impact it has on occupation is an evidence-based practice grounded in occupational therapy research.

This capstone sought to support community reintegration for adolescent SST through the development of sensory-based programming that fosters self-regulation, a skill necessary for lifelong occupational …

Enhancing Quality Of Life For Individuals With Dementia Through A Virtual Ot Based Equine-Assisted Activities Program, Lauren Fearn, Becki Cohill, Karen Park, Martha Gipson

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals living with dementia typically experience progressive, cognitive, and functional decline which limits their ability to communicate and fully perform activities (Pimouguet el al., 2019). Horses have been shown to benefit individuals with dementia by improving well-being, physical health, functional capacity, and social relationships (Fields et. al., 2019). A 6-week OT based virtual equine-assisted activities program was conducted to determine if participation in equine-assisted activities could improve the quality of life of individuals with dementia. Outcomes of the program resulted in improvements in mood, energy level, engagement, communication, memory, socialization, and overall quality of life.

FromSubjectReceivedSizeCategoriesLauren FearnAbstract for Poster7:11 PM26 …

Workplace Wellness For Educators Of High-Risk Youth, Charissa Endow, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Teaching is well-documented as a high-stress career and teachers who work with high-risk youth are exposed to additional stressors exacerbating this problem (Bottiani et al., 2019).

An in-depth needs assessment was conducted using an online survey, observations, interviews, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educator Survey. The needs assessment revealed demand to increase communication and positive acknowledgment, promote a healthier lifestyle, and provide more wellness resources.

A program was developed and proposed to address high psychological stress and burnout which can result in teachers experiencing dissatisfaction, absenteeism, and high turnover. The program is designed to help enhance workplace wellness for teachers and …

Life After Death: An Occupational Therapy Perspective On Supporting Hospice Caregivers In The Transition Out Of The Caregiver Role, Shreya Patel, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

A phenomenological study was conducted to evaluate the occupational impact of transitioning out of the hospice family caregiver role in order to define and advocate for occupational therapy’s role in hospice and bereavement care, during and after hospice services. This study was conducted using qualitative in-depth interviews of former hospice family caregivers recruited from Facebook groups, online caregiver forums, and snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded using the software Dedoose, and analyzed thematically. The results of the thematic analysis suggested that the occupational impact of losing the caregiver role is correlated to (1) the quality of support systems, (2) …

Exploring Accessibility And Social Inclusion For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children In Residential Camps Through The Occupational Therapy Lens, Tiffany Coles, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Children engage in various play, leisure, and social participation activities to enhance the development of life skills, independence, and social skills. Residential camps provide an opportunity to engage in leisure activities while learning to become independent and self-confident while socializing and making new friends. However, having a disability such as deafness and hearing loss may impact the camper’s experience.

This digital guidebook offers videos, pop-in information, and links to valuable resources for working with and understanding the Deaf and Hard of Hearing culture. The guidebook incorporates inclusionary strategies to help the campers and the staff develop inclusive mindsets and social …

Increasing Engagement In The Occupation Of Camping For Older Adults, Brittney Grant, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Older adults report they disengage from adventurous leisure activities as they age, such as camping, because it becomes more physically difficult to complete and it is challenging to find peers willing to participate. A study was developed to determine strengths and challenges (if any) older adults (65+) experience while participating in the occupation of camping. Mixed methods virtual surveys (n=64) and semi structured interviews (n=19) were implemented to develop qualitative and quantitative data. The results were categorized into five themes: barriers and challenges affecting participation in camping, camping for socialization, upgrade in accommodation for increased “creature comforts”, camping as a …

Creating A Sustainable Occupational Therapy International Collaboration Through The Development Of A Cross-Cultural Pediatric Experience, Melissa Valencia, Becki Cohill, Beverly Hoffman, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The multicultural population is expected to rise to 56% by the year 2060 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). Despite the ongoing increase in cultural diversity of the U.S. population, there still continues to be limited diversity in the field of occupational therapy (Crowe et al., 2016). In academia, it is recognized that there is a need for a necessary to focus on culture and occupational therapy. However, it is questioned to what extent this is actually implemented into the academic curriculum as what constitutes cultural competency in entry level practitioners varies (Humbert et al., 2012). Society is becoming less mono-cultural, indicating …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In School Disciplinary Practices, Trisha Irwin, Angela Blackwell, Anne H. Watson, Steven M. Gerardi

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The capstone project discusses disproportionate rates of disciplinary practices utilized in public education and examines the negative impact current disciplinary practices have on adolescent well-being, school climate, student engagement, and student outcomes. Public schools across the United States are utilizing exclusionary disciplinary practices wherein the consequence often is more extreme than necessary, influencing continued student misconduct, failing to address trauma and deficits in social-emotional skills, and limiting academic performance and participation for all students.

The purpose of this project is to inform occupational therapy practitioners of their potential roles in addressing school disciplinary practices to better support students in promoting …

Occupational Therapist Role In Post-Secondary Education Transition Program: Emphasis On Self-Advocacy Skills, Nikki Voorhees, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

It is becoming increasingly important for individuals to obtain post-secondary education in order to gain employment (Alverson et al., 2019; Chandroo et al., 2018). This increased importance to attend post-secondary education makes it imperative for students who are graduating from high school to be fully prepared for the transition to post-secondary education (Rothman et al., 2008). The transition from high school to post-secondary education is difficult for any individual. However, it is even more difficult for students with learning differences, as they tend to have problems in the areas of social skills, communication, problem solving, self-advocacy, and executive functioning (Alverson …

Providing A Safe Space For Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Alexis Garcia

Honors Theses

Health care professionals are continuing to learn about childhood trauma and the implications on health and development. With time, there has become a better understanding of how to determine and provide the resources needed for families and children who have experienced childhood trauma. Additionally, information about childhood trauma is slowly being understood throughout public school districts. This allows teachers to better understand children and accommodate their needs. This honors thesis will discuss childhood trauma and the development of a resource that can be used to provide elementary school-aged students with a place to go when they need assistance with regulation. …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Guide For Caregivers, Camryn Keane

Honors Theses

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition that affects infants who have faced exposure to certain drugs in utero. The incidence of NAS is dramatically rising in the United States. This increase is primarily due to the growth in opioid prescribing to pregnant women. NAS has an immediate effect on four primary areas of occupation: activities of daily living (ADLs), sleep, social participation, and play. This paper aims to review the background of NAS, then describe how this condition impacts an infant’s occupational performance. Moreover, this paper identifies models of occupational therapy intervention that can guide the treatment of NAS. …

Ieat, Vannida Nguyen, Elly Lara, Felicia Markfield, Jesus Aguilar, Joshua Ulloa, Justine Manalo, Richelle Talamantes, Tailar Johnson

Occupational Therapy Student Research

What: iEAT is a meal ordering service and database for school meal distribution, accessible via a smart device.

Why: Interactive way to increase awareness of portion control and appropriate nutrition in an effort to build autonomy in elementary and middle school age children.

Problem Solved: Research indicates that young children are highly susceptible to overeating when given larger portion sizes, eating about 16% more. iEAT addresses proper portion control sizes pertinent to the child’s age. Further, it increases a child’s autonomy and health knowledge when making dietary decisions impacting health outcomes.

How: iEAT’ features an empty plate compartmentalized into five …

Sensory Approach To Self-Regulation For Adolescent Survivors Of Sex Trafficking: An Occupational Therapist's Perspective, Elyse Harmon

Student Capstone Papers

Adolescent survivors of sex trafficking (SST) are susceptible to being in a continual dysregulated arousal state due to lack of mastery in self-regulation. During the trafficking experience, many adolescent SST experience severe trauma and are deprived of opportunities that foster essential regulatory capacities needed for occupational engagement. The use of sensory-based approaches that focus on addressing arousal dysregulation and the impact it has on occupation is an evidence-based practice grounded in occupational therapy research.

This capstone sought to support community reintegration for adolescent SST through the development of sensory-based programming that fosters self-regulation, a skill necessary for occupational participation. A …

Master's Degrees With A Mission

Scientia

DePaul's College of Science and Health has added three new master's degree programs: community psychology, speech-language pathology and occupational therapy. The directors of these programs discuss particulars of each field and what study entails.

From The Editors, Natasha Menard, Kelsie Fournier

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

This welcome letter from the editors of the Student Journal of Occupational Therapy introduces the inaugural issue of the journal and outlines its mission to engage student researchers at all levels of the research publication process and its commitment to ethical, open-access publication.

A Critical Review Of The Abductor Pollicis Longus Electromyographic Activity, Hisham Arabkabeya

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

The aim of this study was to review the current evidence of the abductor pollicis longus electromyographic activity during thumb movements. The author performed an electronic thorough search for EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Knowledge articles. Nine pieces in particular were found to explore the electromyographic activity of the abductor pollicis longus during thumb functional and non-functional movements. Consistent results were noticed, all emphasizing the key role of abductor pollicis longus in stabilizing the thumb's carpometacarpal joint. All target studies provided useful information about the abductor pollicis longus electromyographic activity. However, none of them examined the relationship between abductor …

Quels Sont Les Déterminants Du Retour Au Travail Durable Des Travailleurs Seniors Ayant Subi Une Lésion Psychologique Ou Physique?, Alessia Negrini, Marc Corbière, Jessica Dubé, Andrea Gragnano, Marc-Antoine Busque, Martin Lebeau, Margherita Brondino, Samantha Vila Masse

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le vieillissement de la population est un thème complexe et sensible qui concerne plusieurs acteurs et sphères de la société (emploi, santé, finances). Cette étude porte sur le retour au travail durable[1] après une lésion de nature psychologique (LÉS_PSY; p. ex. : dépression) ou physique (LÉS_PHY; p. ex. : troubles musculosquelettiques) chez les travailleurs « seniors » âgés de 45 ans et plus. Au Québec, l’analyse des données de la Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) de 2013 à 2015 a permis de constater que le groupe de travailleurs âgés …

Healing The Mind And Soul With Art And Music, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Gracie Fisher, an artist and composer based in Santa Barbara, California, provided the cover art for the Fall 2020 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “The Fruit of Spirit” is a 16” x 20” oil painting on canvas. When a rare neurologic condition left Gracie paralyzed from the neck down, art and music helped to heal her mind and soul. Upon returning home from the hospital, Gracie’s wish was to create an inclusive environment where children of all abilities could engage in art and music. She founded the Grace Fisher Foundation so others could experience the healing …

Toward A Defined Role For Occupational Therapy In Foster Care Transition Programming, Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth, Molly Hahn-Floyd, Heather J. Williamson, Catherine Lockmiller

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Youth who age out of the foster care system and transition to adulthood face challenges that are exacerbated by a history of trauma, severed relationships, and instability of living and educational placements. A review of the literature demonstrates poor outcomes overall for this population. Occupational therapists are positioned to meet the needs that arise during this time; however, a review of emerging roles for occupational therapists is necessary to describe how occupational therapists can best fulfill gaps in current programming. Through a review of the literature and a preliminary mixed-methods study, this paper establishes a direction for the inclusion of …