Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Interventions Used By Occupational Therapists And Allied Health Providers In Regards To Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Kara L. Maatz, Jared Q. Zimmerman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the most widely known disability in the American health care system (National Institute of Health [NIH], 2010). Chronic pain affects how individuals are able to engage in meaningful activities of daily life. Unrelieved pain can potentially result in longer hospital visits, emotional distress, and increased re-admission rates to hospitals (The American Academy of Pain Medicine, 2012). A review of research in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) database revealed that few clinically useful references were available for practitioners regarding interventions used with chronic musculoskeletal pain (AOTA, 2014). As a result, it was determined that effective …

Occupational Therapy Based Guide For Caregivers Of Individuals With Muscular Dystrophy, Chelsea Hesby, Macaila Pagel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a holistic guide that could be provided by occupational therapists (OTs) to caregivers of individuals with muscular dystrophy (MD). A comprehensive literature review was conducted on the impact that caregiving for individuals with MD has on quality of life, stress management and mental health. The review of literature also explored caregivers’ access to resources and common difficulties experienced. The literature revealed that there have been recent advances in medical fields which have led to an increased lifespan for individuals with MD to an average age of 27 years old (Eagle et …

Collaboration To Impact Occupation-Based Practice During Level Ii Fieldwork, Krista Coleman, Natalie Senger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of the product was to develop a collaborative learning process between the fieldwork educator and the student to promote the use of occupation-based and client-centered practice during level II fieldwork experiences in adult physical rehabilitation settings. The literature review revealed many obstacles that constrain occupation-based and client-centered practice from being utilized by occupational therapists in the medical setting. The product uses the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) as a catalyst to promote implementation of occupation-based practice throughout the fieldwork experience. A collaborative approach to learning using the social collectivism perspective is used. The product provides opportunity through participation …

A Pilot Study: Examining The Effectiveness Of Managing Fatigue Post-Stroke Via Telehealth, Nicole Gronhovd, Hannah Muehlberg

Occupational Therapy Capstones

There is currently a lack of research on the effectiveness of energy conservation techniques to treat the fatigue experienced by individuals following a stroke. Because of this, the purpose of this research study was to explore the effects of Managing Fatigue: A Six Week Course for Energy Conservation, developed by occupational therapists, Packer, Brink, and Sauriol (1995), on the level of fatigue individuals experience following a stroke. As telehealth is an emerging area in occupational therapy service delivery, the present study also aimed to determine the effectiveness of occupational therapy services delivered via teleconference.

A pilot study using a pretest-posttest …

Addressing Social, Emotional, And Organizational Goals For A Child With An Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) Using The Cognitive Orientation To Daily Occupational Performance (Co-Op) Approach:, Gina Czmowski, Shea Willert

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have social, emotional, and organizational deficits. These are frequently addressed through behavioral-based skills training which often does not result in generalization of skills.

Methods: This single case study sought to understand if the Cognitive Orientation for daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach, an approach developed to assist children in problem solving their own motor planning difficulties, is an effective approach for addressing social, emotional, and organizational goals with a child with an ASD.

Results: Pre and post-intervention assessment ratings on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and the Performance Quality Rating Scale completed by the …

The Teaching Self-Reflection Tool And Skills Checklist, Arlene Lorch, Otd, Otr/L, Ches

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE.

To provide occupational therapy faculty with a collaborative system to review and improve teaching skills within the educational program.

METHOD.

Six faculty members completed a self-assessment using self-reflection tools and feedback from an interview with a fellow faculty member serving as consultant. Surveys evaluated perceptions of the experience.

RESULTS.

Survey responses indicated strong approval of the peer review process as a valuable method for faculty development. Results identified aspects of the process that needed revision, specifically, the burden of time required to complete the process.

CONCLUSION.

Findings support the need for a peer review process because it benefits faculty, …

Grip Strength, Multimorbidity, And Disability, Amy M. Yorke

Dissertations

The presence of two or more chronic health conditions, also known as multimorbidity, is one of the most prevalent health disorders experienced by adults. Adults with multimorbidity and functional limitations represent clinical and financial challenges to the current health care system. The purpose of this three-paper dissertation is to examine the relationship between grip strength, multimorbidity, and the prediction of disability in adults. Data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative, longitudinal study completed on Americans age 50 years and over, are used for the dissertation.

The objective of the first paper is to investigate the …

An Intervention For Sensory Difficulties In Children With Autism: A Randomized Trial., Roseann C Schaaf, Teal W. Benevides, Zoe Mailloux, Patricia Faller, Joanne Hunt, Elke Van Hooydonk, Regina Freeman, Benjamin E Leiby, Jocelyn Sendecki, Donna Kelly

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

This study evaluated a manualized intervention for sensory difficulties for children with autism, ages 4-8 years, using a randomized trial design. Diagnosis of autism was confirmed using gold standard measures. Results show that the children in the treatment group (n = 17) who received 30 sessions of the occupational therapy intervention scored significantly higher (p = 0.003, d = 1.2) on Goal Attainment Scales (primary outcome), and also scored significantly better on measures of caregiver assistance in self-care (p = 0.008 d = 0.9) and socialization (p = 0.04, d = 0.7) than the Usual Care control group (n = …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To The Prevention Of Infant Torticollis And Plagiocephaly, Anne H. Zachry, S. K. Slaughter

Faculty Presentations

Research suggests that parents are more likely to carry out positioning recommendations from a health care professional than any other source. Occupational therapy practitioners can play an important role in educating parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers about the importance of providing tummy time and limiting infant time spent in baby gear.

A Transformative Experience For Occupational Therapy Students In A Simulated Learning Environment, Kitsum Li, Barbara Mccamish

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Simulation is being integrated into nursing and medical curriculum nationally and it is well integrated into the Nursing program at Dominican University of California, However, use of simulation in allied health professionals is only an emerging practice. The aim of this program is to integrate simulation into the OT curriculum in order to facilitate the development of therapy foundation skill.

Home-Based Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Following Hip Fracture Surgery: What Is The Evidence?, Kathleen Donohue, Richelle Hoevenaars, Jocelyn Mceachern, Erica Zeman, Saurabh Mehta

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Objective. To determine the effects of multidisciplinary home rehabilitation (MHR) on functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes following hip fracture surgery.

Methods. Systematic review methodology suggested by Cochrane Collaboration was adopted. Reviewers independently searched the literature, selected the studies, extracted data, and performed critical appraisal of studies. Summary of the results of included studies was provided.

Results. Five studies were included. Over the short-term, functional status and lower extremity strength were better in the MHR group compared to the no treatment group (NT). Over the long-term, the MHR group showed greater improvements in balance confidence, functional …

Computer-Based Cognitive Retraining For Adults With Chronic Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Study, Kitsum Li, Julie Robertson, Joshua Ramos, Stephanie Gella

Collected Faculty Scholarship

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a computer-based cognitive retraining (CBCR) program on improving memory and attention deficits in individuals with a chronic acquired brain injury (ABI). Twelve adults with a chronic ABI demonstrating deficits in memory and attention were recruited from a convenience sample from the community. Using a quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design, a significant improvement was found in both memory and attention scores postintervention using the cognitive screening tool. This study supported the effectiveness of CBCR programs in improving cognitive deficits in memory and attention in individuals with chronic ABI. Further research is recommended to validate these findings …

The Fieldwork Planning Matrix – Maximizing The Learning Environment In Non-Traditional Community Based Settings, Arlene Lorch, Otd, Otr/L, Ches, Tina Angelis, Edd, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

OBJECTIVES

•Learn about a matrix guided tool utilized to plan and structure unique fieldwork experiences.

•Identify key elements associated with “matrix” implementation.

•Understand multi-faceted uses of the manual.

BACKGROUND - NONTRADITIONAL FW

•More community-based sites are needed to meet FW placement demand

•Typically, these FW sites rely upon non-traditional, distant supervision.

•These learning environments require high degree of structure to support experiential self-directed learning

•High structure requires detailed planning

•A planning matrix method to maximize the learning environment is proposed.

Creating An Infrastructure To Support Faculty Outcomes Research On Teaching And Learning, Susan Toth-Cohen, Phd, Otr/L, Susan Wainwright, Phd, Pt

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

This presentation discusses the Teaching and Learning Initiative (TLI), a comprehensive program for building faculty capacity to design and implement educational research in a school of health professions. The TLI is a staged program based on Eade's (1997) approach to capacity building, which the authors apply to the academic environment. The TLI consisted of 4 stages:

1. Initial planning and data gathering.

2. Training faculty in educational outcomes research.

3. Faculty submission of educational outcomes research for intramural funding.

4. Participatory action research approach to further develop faculty capacity for the scholarship of teaching and learning, including educational outcomes …

Clinical Reasoning In The Use Of Slings For Patients With Shoulder Subluxation After Stroke: A Glimpse Of The Practice Phenomenon In California, Kitsum Li, Naoko Murai, Simon Chi

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Literature reports the frequent use of shoulder slings by occupational therapists for the management of post-stroke shoulder subluxation despite the low evidence for its efficacy. To understand the clinical context that defies current research evidence, a survey was distributed among California occupational therapists. One hundred and sixty-eight participants responded to the survey, answering questions regarding the occurrences and clinical reasoning in the use of shoulder sling with patients post stroke. 81.5% of the respondents reported the use of shoulder sling. However, the actual sling prescription was limited to 28.4% of their patients. Slings were primarily prescribed for upper extremity management …

An Organization-Wide Service Improvement Approach, Jennifer Jasmine Arfaa, Phd, Mhsa, Cynthia Line, Phd, Nora Kramer, Msn, Rn, Karen Montoro, Rn, Richard D. Blob,, Maria Francesco, Jaime Stazi, Rn, Elisabeth Kunkel, Md, Susan Krekun, Md, Lizanne Mason, Rn, Kathy Evans, Rn, Lorraine Weikel, Rn, Ann D. Clark, Ms, Otr/L, Ray Wisniewski, Teresa Heavens

Department of Nursing papers and presentations

APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING

High priority index questions from HCAHPS and Press Ganey surveys, including overall ratings, communication with RNs and MDs, hospital environment and response to concerns and complaints, were targeted for improvement. These high priority indices served as the basis for redesigning Patient Services using a multi-faceted approach to improve patients’ experiences.

At Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH), high performance on the Patient Experiences of Care Survey has been driven by a successful multi-tiered approach to patient services:

·Hospital leadership guided and implemented new approaches to ensure excellence in patient services is an ever-present and obtainable goal

·Physician …

Evidence-Based Practice In Occupational Therapy Curricula., Tina Angelis, Edd, Otr/L, Thomas G Dimarco, Susan Toth-Cohen, Edd, Otr/L

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

The purpose of this study is to describe currently used educational strategies for teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) in entry-level master's degree occupational therapy programs in the United States. Fifty-eight entry-level occupational therapy program directors completed a survey. Results showed that occupational therapy programs consistently use a wide variety of EBP resources for teaching EBP including database searches, literature reviews, and the development of a research proposal. Less commonly used strategies include the use of case stories and journal clubs. The current study provides a baseline of existing strategies taught in entry level programs that may be built upon to gather …

Early Intervention Provider Use Of Child Caregiver-Teaching Strategies, Philippa Campbell, Phd, Catherine Ehret-Coletti, Ms

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Most current early intervention approaches emphasize the importance of a provider role as teacher or coach, a role in which providers give parents or other caregivers information about how to optimize children’s growth and development (Stremel & Campbell, 2007). However, few studies have examined the information that should be provided for caregivers or how this information is best delivered to caregivers although a number of rating scales are able to distinguish between roles of direct service provider for the child (e.g., traditional) and triadic interaction among provider, caregiver, and child (Campbell & Sawyer, 2007; Salisbury & Cushing, 2013). Related factors …

Picturing Life, Molly Bathje

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The cover art of the summer 2013 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy provided by Jonathan Darnall reflects his unique life perspective, current roles, and values. An exploration of Jon’s life experience reveals how creative arts, including photography, have positively influenced his life and inform OT practitioners about the benefits of photography as an intervention and an occupation.

Enhancing Client-Centeredness In Parkinson's Disease Care: Attending To The Psychosocial Implications Of Lived Experience, Jeffrey D. Holmes, Sara Lutz, Mike Ravenek, Debbie L. Rudman, Andrew M. Johnson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Evidence-based practice requires that clinicians interpret the best research evidence in the context of their clinical experience, while at the same time considering client knowledge and experiences. Although clinicians are becoming increasingly skilled at the evaluation of research evidence, the evidence-based practice process often neglects client values and self-identified health issues. Ignoring these key aspects of client-centered practice may lead to interventions that fail to target the implications of a client’s disease that are important to occupational participation and quality of life (QOL). A focus on client-centeredness is particularly important in progressive neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, where there …