Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Methods For Improving Quality Of Care Within Acute And Post-Acute Settings, Kelly L. Vankoevering

Dissertations

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), over the next 7 years, U.S. national healthcare spending is projected to grow at an average of 5.7% per year, up from 4.8% in 2019. Additionally, personal health care cost is expected to increase by 2.7% per year. As a result, there have been increased efforts among healthcare systems and hospital organizations to improve quality of care while decreasing healthcare cost. The research reported in this dissertation builds upon the existing literature regarding interventions to improve hospital performance and quality metrics. Two of the most researched and effective strategies for improving …

Efficacy Of Work-Related Training For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, E. Anderson, L. Hatton, K. Schlager, A. Shea, K. Watlington, M. Ferraro, M. C. Potvin

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Research suggests that traditional models of work-related training, in addition to a lack of on-the-job support, may exacerbate difficulties experienced by individuals with autism spectrum disorder with obtaining and maintaining employment

The poor employment outcomes experienced by individuals with ASD are well-documented throughout literature and have resulted in the need to examine more effective ways of providing support and work-related interventions.

Although research has investigated the efficacy of work-related training on successful employment outcomes when used with individuals with ASD, a systematic review summarizing this evidence has yet to be published. Therefore, this review examines and interprets current research evidence …

Effectiveness Of Splinting In Adults With Radial Nerve Palsy, Laurel Jeanette Pitman, Logan Buckner, Logan Stem, Sarah Grace Rogers, Emylee Williams

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

The final portfolio contains 5 research articles from national and international journals. The study designs included in this portfolio are one small-scale RTC, one retrospective pretest posttest design, and three case studies. The studies included help answer our PICO question and help draw conclusions about how to care for adults with radial nerve palsy in regards to splinting. Three of the articles compared static splinting and dynamic splinting in regards to improvements in hand function. Two of the articles focused on dynamic splinting as a means of treatment for adults with radial nerve palsy.

Infant Massage And Bonding, Aly Blumenberg, Samantha Davis, Ali Graham, Rachel Medina, Emily Rayder

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

This project aims to appraise evidence of the effectiveness of infant massage for increasing social-emotional bonding. In our research, we focused on two studies considered Level I evidence and three studies considered Level II evidence. Study designs include quasi-experimental and randomized controlled trials. Strong evidence supports that infant massage increases social-emotional bonding and attachment. Based on the evidence, implementation varied from once per day for 10 minutes to 2-3 times per day for 15 minutes. It is recommended to use infant massage in an acute care setting and in the home to increase social-emotional bonding and attachment.

The Effects Of Dual-Tasking On Fall Risks In Adults With Brain Injury, Kaley Campbell, Anayston Casey, Madison Culpepper, Elizabeth Denton, Katie Morgan

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

Clinical Scenario: Dual-tasking combines both physical and cognitive components into one therapeutic intervention. There has been limited research on the benefits of dual tasking in relation to fall risks in adults with brain injury. Currently, it is common for various therapy interventions to spend the majority of time targeting physical or cognitive components, but not both at once. After appraisal, a total of five articles were used. These included two level I studies involving a high-quality randomized control trial and a meta-analysis, two level II studies that were both small-scale randomized control trials, and one level IV study that was …

Long-Term Functional Effects Of Medulloblastoma Treatments, Serena Khiantani, Pamela Ponce, Bailey Diprima, Sarika Maymoundok, Leah Murray

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

All studies relate directly to components of the evidence-based practice question and were used to understand the possible long-term effects of treatment for clients diagnosed with medulloblastoma cancer. This Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) contains 6 research articles from both national and international journals. Study designs include two cohort studies with a control group, 1 cross sectional study with a control group, 1 retrospective cohort study without a control group, 1 descriptive report on a Randomized Control Trial (RCT), and 1 descriptive study. Through these studies, we found that radiation treatment is associated with impaired IQ and academic achievement and that …

Effects Of Occupational Therapy Intervention In Low Vision, Zach Harrington, Juliana Crossett, Carlie Carter, Baleigh Gooch, Liberty Harris

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

The purpose of this CAT is to investigate therapeutic intervention and its effects for improving independence in occupational performance, overall health, quality of life, and mental health in adults over 40 with acquired low vision. This CAT contains nine peer-reviewed research articles from national journals. Study designs include one randomized controlled trial, seven systematic reviews, and one non-randomized controlled trial. All studies relate directly to the components of our evidence-based practice question and will be used to support further research on the optometry and occupational therapy collaboration. All of the articles specifically describe various interventions used in the low vision …

Group Therapy Versus Individual Therapy For Older Adults With A Cerebrovascular Accident, Montana R. Bawcum, Jessica Sorrell, Kaleigh Stevens, Caitlyn Strietelmeier, Madeline Young

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

The purpose of our critically appraised topic is to synthesize the best current evidence regarding the feasibility of group occupational therapy and outcomes related to ADL performance. The final portfolio contains a total of five research articles. Study designs include two pre-post single group designs, two case studies, and one non randomized pilot trial with a control group. All studies related directly to the PICO question and were used to determine best evidence for the feasibility of group therapy of the older adult population in a rehabilitation setting.

Effectiveness Of Aerobic Exercise For Adults With Leukemia, Jalin Davis, Summer Hood, Alex Miller, Sam Stein, Kaylee Stem

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

We wanted to look at the most effective interventions for increasing strength and endurance in clients with Leukemia experiencing functional decline.

A Pilot Study On A Mindfulness Intervention For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Meredith Obaytek

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

This project explores the effects of a mindfulness intervention on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in an occupational therapy setting, as well as explores the attitudes of student occupational therapists on the treatment acceptability for mindfulness interventions in occupational therapy. This paper discusses the current research in mindfulness and explores how it may have an impact on children with ASD, and in particular, within the field of occupational therapy. This project was made up of two components and took place at James Madison University’s Inter-Professional Autism Clinic (IPAC) over the course of three weeks. The first component was an …

Occupational Therapy’S Role With Ventricular Assist Devices And The Promotion Of Travel Protocols, Natasha Chandra, Linda Suplicki

The VAD Journal

An option for individuals diagnosed with end-stage heart failure is to receive a ventricular assist device (VAD). In 2006, Shepherd and Wilding produced an article regarding occupational therapy’s role during the VAD process as they anticipated a growing need for this area of practice. Since that time, there continues to be a lack of supporting literature on occupational therapy’s important role with this population. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to explain an occupational therapist’s contribution on the VAD team, offer opportunities and interventions for enhancing quality of life for this unique population, and discuss an innovative travel protocol …

Treating Trauma: The Occupational Therapy Perspective, Matthew Althaver

Honors Projects

Holistic health trends are increasing in the field of healthcare. The current research examines holistic trends in trauma treatment. Furthermore, it specifically looks at what occupational therapists can do to treat trauma. Survey results provide insight into occupational therapists' views on holistic health and trauma treatment. Overall, therapists bought into the concept of holistic health. Specific characteristics, like the length of time practicing OT, had an effect on their holistic health views.

A Systematic Review Of Occupational Therapy Interventions In The Transition From Homelessness, Roxanne Isard Ms., Carrie Anne Marshall, Leonie Boland, Lee Ann Westover, Sharon A. Gutman

Occupational Therapy Publications

Background: Although systematic and scoping reviews have identified a range of interventions for persons experiencing homelessness, no known reviews have captured the range and quality of intervention studies aimed at supporting a transition from homelessness. Objectives: To capture the range and quality of occupational therapy intervention studies aimed at supporting a transition to housing following homelessness. Method: Using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines, we conducted a systematic review including a critical appraisal and narrative synthesis of experimental studies. Results: Eleven studies were included. Critical appraisal scores ranged from 33.3 to 88.9 of a possible score of 100 (Mdn = 62.5; …

Video Modeling And Occupational Engagement In Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Teresa Le, Brianna Rodrigues, Katherine Blankenship, Gabrielle Ann Tabije, Cassandra Marshall

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts a variety of occupations (Hong et al., 2016). Occupational therapy (OT) intervention is essential for promoting occupational engagement for individuals with ASD. One way in which occupational therapists can promote engagement is through assistive technology (AT). Video modeling (VM) is an evidence-based practice (EBP) for individuals with ASD that falls under the umbrella of AT (Franzone & Collet-Klingenberg, 2008). VM capitalizes on the visual learning strengths of individuals with ASD and minimizes the use of auditory processing, which is an area of relative weakness (Campbell et al., 2015). Motor planning tends to be an …

Social Participation In College Students With Chronic Pain, Megan Chamberlain, Megan Chinn, Jennifer Pineda, Camille Santiago, Jamie Spitzer, Patricia Tran

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

College students with chronic pain often experience difficulty engaging in social activities both on and off campus due to stigma, misconceptions, or social exclusions (Culp & Rojas-Guyler, 2014). To fully understand the barriers to social engagement, the researchers used a qualitative phenomenological approach and semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of 15 college students with chronic pain (pain lasting more than six months). Four main themes were identified: the additional influence of personality on social participation; stigma and lack of understanding of chronic pain; the “domino effect” of pain impacting energy, sleep quality, and ability to function throughout the …

Interrelationship Between Sensory Modulation, Altered Interoceptive Awareness, And Anxiety And Impacts On Quality Of Life, Sara Laughter, Vanessa Mitchell, Natalie Nguyen, Christine Kim

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

OBJECTIVE: The negative impacts of sensory modulation disorder (SMD), anxiety, and altered interoceptive awareness (AIA) on daily occupations reinforced the need for the study of the relationship between sensory modulation, anxiety, and interoception in typical adults. Understanding the relationship between the three constructs is the first step in the ultimate goal of developing effective intervention and treatment measures.

METHODS: This cross-sectional, exploratory study analyzed the relationship between scores on four self-report measures in an online survey: State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Sensory Responsiveness Questionnaire (SRQ), and Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2). …

Ontime Self-Initiated Mobility, Katherine Sanders

OTD Capstone Projects

The project took place at Vanderbilt's Pediatric Rehabilitation, specifically in their pediatric seating and mobility clinic. The focus of the project was the Explorer Mini which is the first exploratory device for infants 12-36 months old. The research team created an literature-based introductory protocol on how to introduce the device to the child. My section specifically focused on the preparatory stage which is the very first stage and when the child explores the device before being put in it. I also created numerous handouts for the seating and mobility clinic along with reference cards for how to use the Explorer …

Occupational Therapy Student Preparedness For Clinical Fieldwork, Jean A. Mccaffery

All Theses And Dissertations

Topic, Problem and Purpose: Experiential learning and occupational therapy student preparedness. Occupational therapy education programs must prepare occupational therapy students for practice. Traditional observational Level I Fieldwork presents challenges to achieve student-learning objectives and often places the burden of supervision on practicing therapist. The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapy students’ perceptions of preparedness for Level II Fieldwork following participation in a skill-based experiential learning opportunity as an alternative to traditional observational Level I Fieldwork.

Research Question and Sub-Questions: What is the graduate occupational therapy student’s perception of preparedness for intensive Level II Fieldwork following a skill-based, …

Exploring The World Of On Time Pediatric Power Mobility, Lauren Hanna

OTD Capstone Projects

Children with delayed or impaired self-initiated mobility are deprived of critical developmental learning experiences. All children deserve access to ON TIME mobility. The Explorer Mini is the first power mobility device in the world to provide ON TIME mobility to children 12-36 months.

Challenges Associated With Occupational Therapy In Nebraska, Delaney Simmonds

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

As part of a fast-growing field, occupational therapists (OTs) in Nebraska face many challenges. This project utilizes interviews with local OTs, analysis of scholarly articles, and online databases in order to understand the challenges faced by OTs and how they may be improved upon at both an individual and a state level. The three most common settings for occupational therapists to be placed for fieldwork assignments and for work post-graduation are hospitals, schools, and skilled nursing facilities (AOTA State Affairs Group 2017). Interviews were carried out with occupational therapists working in these three settings in order to examine the similarities …