Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Decreasing Social Isolation Through An Intergenerational Social Engagement Program, Jacqueline Kendona

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Capstone Projects

Social isolation is the absence of meaningful contact with others. Older adults who perceived themselves as socially isolated are at risk of negative health outcomes. A person’s psychological wellbeing can be improved through engaging in meaningful leisure activities.

The Intergenerational Social Engagement Program, or the ISEP, was developed to connect older adults and high school students to help decrease social isolation in older adults. The ISEP incorporates concepts from the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and is intended for implementation in senior living communities. The program is to be led by an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy practitioners have an understanding …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Helping Individuals With Spmi Gain And Sustain Employment, Jill Blackstock, Emile Castonguay

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Does including occupational therapy services as part of an interdisciplinary mental health team help clients with serious and persistent mental illness to gain and sustain employment?

Occupational Therapy Services In Postsecondary Education Settings, Marissa Eldridge, Courtney Kromko

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Do college students experience improved success by participating in a university program utilizing occupational therapy services?

Return To University After A Stroke: An Autoethnography, Rachel Sieber

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Capstone Projects

Background and Aims: Return to university presents a unique transition for the person with stroke who may demonstrate with impairments and may have difficulties while engaging in this change. This study will explore elements that comprise the needs and factors of the stroke survivor and supports or accommodations that may improve success of the student returning to university.

Methods: An autoethnography was used with narrative journals and poems dated June 2003 to October 2005, interviews with friends, family and professors and a literature review. Data analysis included an open-coding procedure to find themes from the journal entries, interviews and narrative …

A Project To Enhance Quality Of Life Through Stroke Support Group Activities, Sheryl Ann Watson Williams

MOT Student Capstones

Background: In 2015, participants within a stroke support group reported that, they felt ill prepared to care for themselves following a stroke (Boger, Demain and Latter, 2015). Similar feelings as well as decreased socialization, loss of independence, and changes in mood were reported in another stroke support group setting in 2014 (Muller, Toth-Cohen and Mulcahey, 2014). In an effort to enhance an existing stroke support group, purposeful activities were provided in an educational format to allow for new learning and engagement for all stroke survivors. These interventions are also provided as a means to enhance quality of life and improve …

The Use Of Quiet Books With People With Late Stage Dementia: A Case Study, Monique Chabot, Otd, Otr/L, Clipp, Caps, Cla, Jaime Galaton, Mot, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

Discussion of the use of Quiet Books as a method to provide sensory stimulation to people with late stage dementia to reduce agitation and combativeness with activities of daily living. Supporting literature for the use of sensory stimulation with people with dementia is also highlighted.

Poster presented at AOTA 2017 Annual Conference in Philadelphia PA and POTA 2016 Annual Conference

Effects Of A Balance And Strength Training Program On Functional Proprioceptive And Motor Control Abilities In Young Adults With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Victoria Timmons

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

he objective of this study was to determine if young adults, ages 18-22, with neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, Communication Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Specific Learning Disorder, and Motor Disorders, would benefit by adding a propioceptive intervention program to an already existing strength training program. Benefits hypothesized from this intervention were int he areas of agility and balance, two of the three components of propioceptive abilities. Increased agility and balance has been proved to increase functionality and safety as it can decrease fall risks. Subjects were all apart of a transitional program from high school into the adult …

Competency Development In Community-Based Occupational Therapy, Sunny R. Winstead

All Theses And Dissertations

The aims of this study were: a) to discover which strategies community-based occupational therapists (OTs) find most effective for developing the competencies that have been identified as unique to community-based occupational therapy (OT) practice, b) to examine respondents’ perceptions of the effectiveness of their academic training and of current professional development resources, and c) to explore respondents’ suggestions for improving academic training and continuing education for OTs in community-based practice. Data collection was completed using an electronic survey that targeted members of the American Occupational Therapy Association who have experience in community-based OT. The survey was completed by 81 OTs …

The Healing Nature Of Occupation, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Moses Hamilton, an artist based in Hawaii, provided the cover art for the Spring 2017 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Pali Kai” is a 11”x14” painting made from acrylic on canvas. When a tragic car accident left Hamilton paralyzed from the chest down, mouth painting provided an outlet for self-expression and stress relief. Participation in a meaningful occupation helped Hamilton find his path in life. With their colorful impressionist-style, Hamilton’s paintings have brought happiness to people all over the world.

Eudemonic Care: A Future Path For Occupational Therapy?, Charlotte L. Royeen, Franklin Stein, Alivia Murtha, Julie Stambaugh

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The core tenets of occupational therapy date to ancient Greece. Philosophers and physicians alike promulgated that quality of life, or “eudemonia,” is at the center of both ethical and medical concern and can be attained through healthful engagement in meaningful occupation. In more recent times, there has been a strong call to return to the powerful implementation of the eudemonic moral philosophy in health care practice, especially in occupational therapy. Searches of recent occupational therapy research show that integration of wellness initiatives into rehabilitative treatment sessions can have a profound impact on the physical and emotional healthfulness of people with …

How Society’S Philosophy Has Shaped Occupational Therapy Practice For The Past 100 Years, Jim Hinojosa

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The Anne Cronin Mosey lecture seeks to stimulate provocative thinking about issues important to occupational therapy. The speaker is asked to raise a controversial issue and provide a perspective that may challenge many in the audience. In this paper, I examine occupational therapy practice in the context of the dominant philosophical movement of American society. The first part presents the influence of America’s dominant philosophical movements on the profession: pragmatism (1917), modernism (1940), and, currently, postmodernism. I propose that occupational therapy’s acceptance of modernism has resulted in two major opposing viewpoints, prompting polarization and fragmentation in the profession. I argue …

Awareness And Use Of Electronic Health Records In Entry-Level Occupational Therapy And Occupational Therapy Assistant Curricula, Louis F. Dmytryk, Tina M. Deangelis

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requires programs to instruct entry-level occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students in technology that may include electronic documentation systems, distance communication, virtual environments, and telehealth (standard B1.8). At this time, there are no publications describing if and how electronic health record (EHR) instruction is implemented in entry-level OT and OTA programs. The purpose of this study is to investigate awareness and use of EHRs in entry-level OT and OTA curricula. Respondents from 76 nationally accredited entry-level programs (two OT doctoral, 24 OT masters, two OT combined bachelors/masters, and 48 …

Past Negative Time Perspective As A Predictor Of Grade Point Average In Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students, Pat J. Precin

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Time perspective is a fundamental dimension in psychological time, dividing human experiences into past, present, and future. Time perspective influences individuals’ functioning in all occupations, including education. Previous research has examined the relationship between time perspective and academic outcomes, but the same research has not been done, to date, with occupational therapy doctoral students. This quantitative, cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between time perspective and academic success in occupational therapy doctoral students across the United States. Data from the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) and grade point averages (GPAs) were collected from 50 participants via surveymonkey.com. Past Negative time perspective …

Exploring The Activity Of Daily Living Of Sexual Activity: A Survey In Occupational Therapy Education, Helene L. Lohman, Alexandra Kobrin, Wen-Pin Chang

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This study aimed to query occupational therapy educators in professional programs in the United States about the amount of time spent addressing sexual activity and the type and depth of education related to sexual activity. The study aims to inform educators about how sexual activity is taught. A cross-sectional survey research design was used with both closed- and open-ended questions. A total of 51 educators participated. An average of 3.5 hr was spent teaching sexual activity. Many of the participants were comfortable teaching sexual activity. However, some reported that sexual activity was often an overlooked topic in occupational therapy curriculum …

Using Reflective Learning Opportunities To Reveal And Transform Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Skills Related To The Occupation Of Sexual Engagement Impaired By Disability, Rondalyn V. Whitney, Wendy W. Fox

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Sexuality is one area of human occupation that spans across the lifespan and is identified as an activity of daily living. Barriers to engagement in this occupation fall under the occupational therapists’ scope of practice. Teaching that fosters self-reflection about attitudes and perceptions has the power to shape the practice methodology of future practitioners. This paper presents a curriculum module that aims to go beyond basic delivery of content related to human sexuality to instead show how the teaching methodology developed competency in practitioners, changed perceptions that would serve as barriers to empathetic care, and followed the guidelines of best …

Occupational Therapy Students’ Self-Efficacy, Experience Of Supervision, And Perception Of Meaningfulness Of Level Ii Fieldwork, Lynne Andonian

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study explored the relationship of perceived self-efficacy to demographic and fieldwork variables for occupational therapy (OT) students. Self-efficacy is related to student and employee success and competency.

Methods: OT students (n = 306) from 42 OT programs in the United States completed the Student Confidence Questionnaire and the Demographic Questionnaire and Survey addressing demographics, practice setting, students’ experience of supervision, and perceptions of the fieldwork’s personal meaning during Level II fieldwork. Correlational and regression methods examined the relationships among the variables. Analysis of variance methods tested differences between higher and lower self-efficacy student groups.

Results: The degree of …

Traditional Lectures And Team-Based Learning In An Occupational Therapy Program: A Survey Of Student Perceptions, Anne H. Zachry, Brittany H. Nash, Ann Nolen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Team-Based Learning (TBL) is an active instructional approach used in health care education that incorporates group work.

Methods: Two occupational therapy professors adopted a TBL instructional approach in two courses for first- and second-year occupational therapy master’s degree level students. The investigators administered a survey to evaluate student perceptions of TBL and lecture-based instruction (LBI). A principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation identified two 5-item factors: “perceptions of LBI” and “perceptions of TBL.” Internal consistency for each factor was strong (Cronbach’s alpha 5 0.856 [preference for LBI]; 0.865 [preference of TBL]). A Wilcoxon matched pairs signed …

Satisfaction And Occupational Performance In Patients With Functional Movement Disorder, Sarah E. Dahlhauser, Amanda Theuer, John Hollman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Behavioral Shaping Therapy (BeST) is a program that uses a multidisciplinary approach to treat patients diagnosed with functional movement disorder (FMD). While this diagnosis is classified as a psychological disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the BeST program focuses on treating the physical manifestations of FMD. Occupational therapists are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, employing a variety of cognitive behavioral and motor reprogramming techniques to normalize movement patterns.

Method: Patients 18 years of age or older with a confirmed diagnosis of FMD participated in this study. This retrospective chart review used …

A Service Delivery Model For Addressing Activity And Social Participation Needs Of People Living With Hiv, Gayle Restall, Theresa Sullivan, Tara Carnochan, Emily Etcheverry, Kerstin Roger, Pumulo Roddy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational therapy can contribute to the health and well-being of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are experiencing health consequences of living long term with this disease. However, there are no comprehensive rehabilitation service delivery models to guide this emerging area of practice. The purpose of this study was to obtain critical feedback about a service delivery model to address the activity and social participation needs of people living with HIV.

Method: We developed a service delivery model from a synthesis of the literature. Using a qualitative research design, we conducted individual and focus group interviews with 35 …

A Sleep Intervention For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study, Sarah A. Schoen, Sheryl Man, Chelsea Spiro

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Parents of children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) commonly report sleep problems, which typically exacerbate daytime behavior problems. This pilot study sought to identify the short-term effects on sleep, behavior challenges, attention, and quality of life of children with ASD following use of the iLs Dreampad^™ pillow, which delivers bone conducted music and environmental sounds. Aims were to demonstrate acceptability and feasibility, identify measures sensitive to change, and describe individual characteristics responsive to change.

Method: Parent report questionnaires assessed sleep behavior, attention, autism-related behaviors, and quality of life from 15 participants before and during intervention. A …