Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Addressing Opioid Misuse And Abuse Through Interprofessional Engagement And Education, Marta J. Brooks, Suzanne E. Holm, Shelene Thomas, Amy J. Rich

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this initiative was to develop and implement an interprofessional panel aimed to expose a university audience to the magnitude of opioid misuse and abuse, as well as demonstrate each health professional’s role in curbing the epidemic. Further, this experience was to provide a platform for interprofessional discussion and to share with attendees tangible action items to begin combatting the opioid epidemic.

Methods: An interdisciplinary committee of healthcare professionals collaborated to initiate a dialogue around opioid misuse and abuse to highlight the power of interprofessional (IP) collaboration in addressing the opioid epidemic. Each panel member shared …

Education On Fall Prevention To Improve Self-Efficacy Of Nursing Staff In Long Term Care: A Pilot Study, Mark D. Leverenz, Jennifer Lape

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Fall prevention is an ongoing concern in long-term care. Self-efficacy of nursing staff affects their performance levels related to fall prevention. Research concerning falls in the elderly is plentiful but there are no published studies addressing self-efficacy of nursing staff for implementation of fall prevention strategies in long-term care. The authors hypothesize that fall prevention education by an occupational therapist would be effective to improve the self-efficacy of nursing staff for implementation of fall prevention strategies and self-efficacy to prevent resident falls.

Method: A pre-test post-test pilot study implementing a five-week, multifaceted, fall prevention education course was conducted by …

An Inpatient Rehabilitation Interprofessional Care Pathway For Traumatic Hip Fracture: A Pilot Quality Improvement Project, Sarah Plante

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Each year over 300,000 older adults are hospitalized for hip fracture. The impact of the cost of hip fracture on the US health care system is estimated to be as high as $9 billion, with the typical cost of a hip fracture episode around $30,000. Formalized pathways have been developed and successfully utilized for many patient presentations, including hip fracture, in the acute setting. Although this research is important to the comprehensive care of the elderly hip fracture patient, very little research exists that outlines evidence-based best-practice for patients in the post-acute recovery period.

Purpose: The primary aim of …

Innovations In Occupational Therapy Education: The Centralized Service Learning Model, Lauren E. Milton, Robyn Otty

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Partnerships between community organizations and engaged university members creates realistic learning experiences for occupational therapy students while encouraging civic responsibility. The authors propose service learning as the core of an innovative course design framework using the Centralized Service Learning Model (CSLM). Three phases are described. Phase One provides a description of the CSLM using a generalizable model, with specific application within existing occupational therapy program coursework. Phase Two provides leadership opportunities for a subsequent cohort of students within the curriculum. Finally, Phase Three integrates faculty scholarship. To understand students’ knowledge-level awareness, a survey based on course objectives can be administered, …

Admission Requirements And Practices In Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Programs, Patricia Bowyer, Cynthia Tiongco, L. Kaye Rubio, Judy Liu, Sandra M. Whisner

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

When establishing admission processes for entry-level doctoral programs, admission requirements for master-level programs provide a comparison for consideration. The purpose of this study was to provide information about admission practices for graduate-level occupational therapy programs. The three aims included: 1) to describe admission requirements of a sample of entry-level master’s programs; 2) to examine the relationship between attrition and admission requirements for the sample; and 3) to provide a summary of admission requirements used by entry-level master and doctoral programs in the United States. Results of the study provided a synthesis of information about admission requirements that included programs’ minimum …

An Online Training To Prepare Occupational Therapy Students To Work With Clients With Limited English Proficiency And Interpreters, Elizabeth A. Harrison, Mansha Mirza

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Effective communication between occupational therapists (OTs) and their clients is key to quality, client-centered services. Most OTs can expect to work with clients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Language barriers may negatively impact client safety and client satisfaction. Working with language interpreters is a key means for OTs to best serve clients with LEP; however, few OT curricula provide adequate training in working with interpreters. This paper presents a new, innovative online training for preparing OT students to work with clients with LEP and interpreters. The brief online training used informational slides, video role plays and written case studies to …

The Impact Of Academic Self-Efficacy On The Occupation Of Education In College Athletes Who Experience Concussion, Samantha Colaw

Honors Theses and Capstones

An emerging area of inquiry for occupational therapists (OT) is consideration of the impact of concussion on a person’s ability to engage in and perform meaningful everyday activity. The perspective of student-athletes (SA) living with post-concussion symptoms has received limited attention in research and there is a lack of focused attention regarding the role of being a student. This research adds to the growing body of literature regarding the implications of concussion on academics, specifically academic self-efficacy (ASE) and their self-perceived roles. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in ASE between college athletes with and without …

The Editors’ Perspective: A Successful First Year Of The Journal Of Occupational Therapy Education, Cynthia L. Hayden, Renee Causey-Upton, Dana Howell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

No abstract provided.

Clinician, Educator, And Student Perceptions Of Entry-Level Academic Degree Requirements In Occupational Therapy Education, Whitney M. Lucas Molitor, Ranelle Nissen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Entry-level occupational therapy degree requirements have varied since the establishment of the profession. Currently multiple degree paths exist. There are cited benefits for a multiple degree path system; however, barriers also exist. Most notable among these are confusion among recipients of services and other health care providers. As other healthcare professional programs have transitioned to a single point of entry at the doctoral level, occupational therapy, until recently, had not yet made this change. A nationwide online survey was used to assess perceptions of the entry-level doctorate. Participants included current occupational therapy practitioners (clinicians or educators) and students in entry-level …

Using International, Interprofessional Service Learning To Promote Transcultural Self-Efficacy And Interprofessional Attitudes In Health Science Students, Shana L. Cerny, Lana Svien, Julie Johnson, Bethany Hansmeier

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Interprofessional teams of occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and dental hygiene students from the University of South Dakota participated in a service-learning experience in Guatemala. Student perceptions were measured using the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale and the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool. Qualitative data were obtained through written reflections and discussions during the immersion component of the service-learning experience. Students reported statistically significant improvements in transcultural self-efficacy as defined by their confidence in interviewing individuals from different cultures; their values, attitudes, and beliefs regarding cultural awareness, acceptance, appreciation, recognition, and advocacy; and their knowledge on how cultural factors influence care. Slightly different …

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Programs’ Emphasis On Play: A Survey, Anita W. Mitchell, Jennifer Hale, Meg Lawrence, Erwin Murillo, Katie Newman, Hannah Smith

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Play is a key occupation for children. Despite this, research suggests that pediatric occupational therapists primarily use play as a modality rather than addressing it as an outcome. Lack of education related to play has been identified as a factor contributing to the limited use of play in intervention; therefore, this study examined entry-level occupational therapy programs’ emphasis on play in their curricula. Faculty from entry-level occupational therapy programs in all regions of the U.S. responded to a validated survey. The majority (82%, n = 33) reported meeting Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards related to play, notwithstanding …

Using Online Professional Development To Increase Self-Efficacy In School-Based Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Educators, Meghan Suman, Ingrid Provident

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to determine if school-based occupational therapists who participated in a series of online professional development modules on the topic of fieldwork education reported increased feelings of self-efficacy regarding the ability to fulfill the role of fieldwork educator. In this single-group design, participants completed a series of six online professional development modules. Each module consisted of a narrated slideshow presentation, case study activity, and online discussion board. Participants completed a self-efficacy survey before and after completing the series of modules. Results indicated a significant increase in self-efficacy related to fieldwork education following completion of the …

Applying The Social Change Model Of Leadership To An Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program, Lorry Liotta-Kleinfeld, Debra Gibbs, Yvette Hachtel, Teresa Plummer

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy educators are tasked with preparing the future leaders in the profession. This responsibility requires a thoughtful and evidence based approach to reviewing and revising curricula to address changing professional and societal needs while aligning with a university’s mission and vision. While the need for occupational therapy leadership has been a topic of much discussion in the literature, little has been written about evidence-based curricular practices to develop and prepare students for leadership roles. This article demonstrates how one entry-level occupational therapy doctorate program incorporated the underpinnings of the Social Change Model of Leadership Development (Wagner, 2006) into the …

The Impact Of Classroom Instruction On Cultural Awareness And Sensitivity In Occupational Therapy Students, Sierra Grady, Kym Brungardt, Joy Doll

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

As the population in the United States increases, it is essential that occupational therapy students and practitioners be aware of, respond to, and effectively interact with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Current literature identifies a gap in the cultural competence education for occupational therapy students and has demonstrated the importance of developing a culturally sensitive curriculum that will prepare students for today’s work environment. This study employed a quasi-experimental approach with a one group pretest-posttest design to explore the development of cultural awareness in occupational therapy students with classroom instruction on culturally sensitive practice. Data was collected from 43 students …

On-Campus Occupational Therapy Clinic Enhances Student Professional Development And Understanding, Kelly Erickson

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Changing healthcare systems impact clinical sites that provide fieldwork for occupational therapy programs and require students to be prepared for the pace and demands of the clinical settings. Occupational therapy programs strive to enhance hands-on experiences in didactic curriculum to better prepare students for Level II fieldwork. An on-campus clinic course was implemented over two semesters with students engaging in the occupational therapy process with adult and pediatric clients from the community under the supervision of faculty. Student surveys and focus group data were analyzed over five years. Survey responses to open-ended question were triangulated with data from focus group …

Professional Behaviors And Fieldwork: A Curriculum Based Model In Occupational Therapy, Gabrielle R. Hackenberg, Susan Toth-Cohen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Professional behaviors have been identified as imperative for fieldwork success in occupational therapy, and are held to high expectations by fieldwork educators. This study consisted of three phases. Phase one was a retrospective analysis of past Fieldwork Performance Evaluations (FWPE; n=319). Phase two consisted of the development of a curricular model and Level I Fieldwork Seminar with a focus on low-scoring professional behaviors on the FWPEs, which included verbal/ non-verbal communication, written communication, professional responsibility, work behaviors, and time management. Finally, phase three was a review of the course by the Philadelphia Region Fieldwork Consortium and edits to the seminar …

Exploring Students' Use Of Feedback During Occupational Therapy Level Ii Fieldwork Experiences, Karen Snyder

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Researchers confirmed that the use of feedback assists with the improvement of students’ confidence and performance. Multiple studies focus on the provision and acceptance of feedback; however, it was not known if, or how, students internalized the feedback to apply it successfully. Since there is a difference between providing feedback and the interpretation of its true message, this phenomenon was studied to add empirical knowledge regarding students’ feedback interpretation. This qualitative study explores the perceptions of how students interpret information received from Level II fieldwork educators and what meanings students attributed to the feedback. The use of phenomenological methodology guided …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Transformative Learning Within An Online Leadership Course, Melissa M. Sweetman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

As the profession of occupational therapy enters its second century of existence, it is important to recognize that for continued sustainability and strength through the effects of healthcare reform, strong leadership is required. While experts agree that leadership development for occupational therapists needs to begin in the classroom setting, there is little existing research on occupational therapy leadership education. Built upon a theoretical framework of the transformative learning theory, this qualitative study sought to determine whether students in an online leadership course within a post-professional doctor of occupational therapy degree program believed they experienced a transformation in their leadership knowledge …

Thriving In The First Semester Of Graduate School: A Process Of Rebalancing And Self-Determination, Judith Malek-Ismail, Sheila R. Krajnik

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Beginning graduate school can be an overwhelming experience dominated by changes in roles, restructuring of routines and habits, and shift in one’s balance of daily activities. The researchers employed a phenomenological design to explore perceptions of this experience among 33 graduate students during their first semester of a full-time entry-level Master of Occupational Therapy program. One overarching theme, turbulence and rebalancing, and four superordinate themes emerged: (I) anxiety, (II) contextual stress, (III) social supports, and (IV) self-determination. The stages the participants appeared to go through were cyclical in nature, where students experienced a recurring movement of turbulence and rebalancing, progression …

Increasing Self-Efficacy Through Role Emerging Placements: Implications For Occupational Therapy Experiential Learning, Amy Mattila, Elizabeth D. Deiuliis, Ann B. Cook

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Fieldwork education is an essential component of occupational therapy curriculum design and student development. Today’s students are faced with a variety of challenges in the changing, diverse healthcare system, and educators need to ensure there are placements that best prepare them for these demands. Role emerging fieldwork offers an opportunity to not only meet the curricular requirements of fieldwork education, but also afford students the chance to develop confidence and skills unique to this kind of placement. The purpose of this explanatory case study was to explore graduate occupational therapy students’ self-efficacy before and after a Level I role emerging …