Occupational Therapy Commons^™

A Lifestyle Modification Program For Community Dwelling Adults With Obesity, Ashlee M. Lee, Julie A. Stolt

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Obesity is significantly rising among adults in the United States. The Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2009e), estimates that obesity increased by 15% to 32.9% within a 20 year span (1985 – 2008). Clinical obesity is defined as having a BMI 30 and over; it is correlated with secondary complications that include hypertension, type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, cerebral vascular accidents, sleep apnea, and respiratory illnesses (CDC, 2009d; World Health Organization [WHO], 2009). Beyond the many health consequences caused by obesity, there are also psychosocial, genetic, and discriminatory aspects of this disease that negatively impact the quality of …

An International Service Learning Guide For Occupational Therapy Students And Clinicians, Alicai D. Bohrer, Emily A. Kringle

Occupational Therapy Capstones

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop" -Mother Teresa

Increased diversity within the U.S. demands the education of occupational therapy clinicians who can deliver culturally responsive care. The number of immigrants to the U.S. is at an all-time high and the African-American and Hispanic populations are expected to double by mid-century (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). Occupational therapy students and entry-level clinicians have identified the need for more information, resources, and experience with people from different cultures (Murden et aI., 2008). Service …

Easing The Transition Into Long Term Care: An Occupation Based Approach, Sarah Boroos, Janel Ludenia

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to present methods to help ease the transition process for older adults into a long term care (LTC) facility using a meaningful occupation based approach. An estimated .9% of the community dwelling individuals versus 72% of long term care residents exhibit some form of depression (Harris & Haffer, 2003; Harris, 2007). Consequently residents experience decrease functional status and decreased quality of life. A comprehensive literature review of adults' transitioning into LTC facilities was conducted using PubMed, Ebsco, Psychlnfo, Scopus, OT search, CINAHL, AJOT, textbooks, and the internet. The literature supp0l1s the need for …

Integrating The Nintendo Wii Into Therapy: Resources For Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Ashley Bowersox, Sarah Lund

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Therapists have the challenge of identifying a variety of interesting, meaningful, and purposeful intervention activities for individuals needing rehabilitation services (Weiss, Rand, Katz, & Kizony, 2004). The purpose of this project was to develop educational resources for occupational therapists on the integration of the Nintendo Wii as an intervention.

An extensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, professional journals, and news articles to investigate the health related effects of utilizing virtual reality and video games in the rehabilitation process. Currently, there is minimal research identifying the benefits of video games in occupational therapy practice and no protocols were …

An Exploratory Study Examining Interprofessional Collaboration Between Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy Practitioners And Students, Matthew Cappetta, Roberta Carrlson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between occupational therapy and physical therapy students and practitioners. Historically there has been limited research conducted that pertains specifically to the interprofessional collaboration of occupational and physical therapy students and practitioners. For the purposes of this study the researchers examined the relationships between occupational and physical therapy students, the relationships between practicing occupational therapists and physical therapists, and differences and similarities of their relationships with respect to variables thought to impact interprofessional collaboration.

Methods: A non-experimental survey research design was used to gather and analyze information from the participants. …

Activity Strategy Workbook For Mothers Experiencing Multiple Sclerosis, Skylar Davis, Elizabeth Meyer

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a resource for mothers diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) to promote optimal success and independence in the motherhood role. The resulting workbook targets the mothering activities of individuals who have been newly diagnosed with MS and are raising young, pre-school aged children. The product provides education and guidance to optimize the mother's ability to care for herself and her child or children.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine current best practice and treatment guidelines for MS, the influence of MS on both the parent and child, and also common …

The Promotion Of Pediatric Sensory Integration Using Small Animals In A Clinical Or Classroom Environment: A Resource For Occupational Therapists, Nina Perez Jackson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create and provide a program to assist occupational therapists in setting up, managing, and providing animal assisted activities and therapies (AAA/T) as a useful conjunction with sensory integration therapy.

A review of the literature revealed a lack of information for occupational therapists to provide AAA/T with children. The research revealed that the use of sensory integration therapy as a pre-established framework to implement AAA/T would provide a research based platform to present a program incorporating animals into therapy.

Based on the literature findings, a product was developed to guide occupational therapists in …

Elderly In Prison: A Programming Protocol, Chelsey Hunt, Sarah Janke

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The current U.S. correctional system is structured for the young, well, able-bodied prisoner and does not take into consideration the extensive needs of elderly inmates. The number of elderly inmate has been steadily increasing and is going to continue to rise with the increase of age expectancy of the average American and changes in in sentencing policies that increase the length of stay in prisons (Potter, Cashin, Chenoweth, Jeon, 2007; The Sentencing Project, 2005). Currently elderly inmates make up 12% of the federal prison population (Mauer, King, Young, 2004, p. 24).

An extensive literature review was conducted to determine the …

An Occupational Therapy Program To Help Community Dwelling Seniors Age In Place, Amy Lundberg, Kayla Novacek

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: It is estimated that by 2030, one in five people in the United States will be 65 or older (US Census Bureau, 2008). An aging in place initiative has come to the forefront of health care to help seniors cope with the age related challenges, allowing seniors to experience productive aging in their own homes. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an occupation based aging in place wellness program for community dwelling elderly.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify the current challenges associated with aging. In addition, the literature review identified strengths and limitations …

Heart Transplant Rehabilitation: An Occupational Therapy Program, Amos Hartsell, Kirsten Slominski

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation program following the acute inpatient stay after heart transplantation. This project can be applied in community based and in home rehabilitation settings.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using the SCOPUS and Pub Med databases. Information was gathered regarding rehabilitation of cardiac transplant recipients, problems facing recipients, occupations/activities, and occupational therapist roles. In addition information was gathered from medical facility web sites regarding existing cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Results: Designed from the perspective of the Occupation Adaptation Model, a rehabilitation home program was developed for heart transplant recipients. …

A Cultural Competence Guide For Occupational Therapists: Addressing Major Health Issues Of The Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Tribes, Crystal Nelson, Ashton Wilcox-Brown

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The authors have created a cultural competency guide on the history, culture, and beliefs of the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes as well as an overview of current health concerns and resulting health disparities. The creation of the guide is necessary in order to provide information about these cultures to occupational therapists (OT) working with them. However, there is considerable lack of resources for discussing cultural competency regarding these tribes in relation to occupational therapy.

In preparing to create the guide, an extensive literature review was conducted to determine cultural issues and health disparities of the two tribes. Secondary …

Life Coaching: Possibilities For Occupational Therapy Practice, Amy L. Heinz, Karen Mccarthy, Wendy Pentland, Camille M. Dieterle, Jennie M. Antolak

Collected Faculty Scholarship

No abstract available

The Relationship Between A Teacher Check List And Standardised Tests For Visual Perception Skills: A South African Remedial Primary School Perspective, Janet Richmond, K Holland

Research outputs pre 2011

Occupational therapy in remedial education settings has been questioned by the South African Government as they see occupational therapy as a costly service and thus has challenged occupational therapy clinicians’ approach to assessment. This study was undertaken to establish whether the results of standardised tests of visual perception skills, relate to teachers’ observations in respect of primary remedial school age children (six to eleven years) attending a short term remedial school because of low scholastic achievement despite having average or above intellectual ability. The Test of Visual Perceptual Skills – Revised, the Developmental Test of Visual Perception-2, the Jordan Left-Right …

Pubertal Trajectory And The Management Of Menstruation In Females With Rett Syndrome And Down Syndrome, Olivia Annelies Knight

Theses : Honours

Background: Puberty is a challenging transition for all young women and particularly so for those with an intellectual disability. Individuals with an intellectual disability often experience both cognitive and physical impairment and a wide range of comorbidities. This review explores research into the pubertal trajectory and the management of menstruation in two syndromes within intellectual disability. Rett syndrome which is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder and Down syndrome which is a chromosomal birth disorder. Aim: The purpose of this review was to identify research exploring pube1ial trajectory and menstrual management in females with Rett syndrome and Down syndrome and …

The Outcome Star: A Tool For Recovery Orientated Services; And, Exploring The Use Of The Outcome Star In A Recovery Orientated Mental Health Service, Emma-Louise Keen

Theses : Honours

Objective: The primary objective of this review was to examine the Outcome Star and its utility as a tool for use in recovery oriented mental health services. The secondary objective was to examine similar instruments and their use within mental health services. Methods: Electronic databases Psycinfo, CINAHL, Medline and Proquest were searched. Manual searches of reference lists of retrieved articles and specific journals were undertaken to identify research relevant to describing the structure and properties of the Outcome Star, and its use in mental health settings. Results: A review of the literature revealed that there is a paucity of research …

The Experience Of Retirement For Individuals With An Intellectual Disability, Megan Flowers

Theses : Honours

Retirement is a significant life transition that affects all workers; it is therefore important that individuals in the workforce are aware of the issues that can occur during the retirement years. The retirement experience has been researched in depth, however studies into the experience of retirement for individuals with an intellectual disability is severely lacking. Robert Atchley researched the factors that facilitate successful retirement adjustment for individuals in the normative population; this narrative review discusses these factors in relation to the barriers that individuals with an intellectual disability face in achieving a smooth retirement adjustment. The results found that: individuals …

The Work Practices And Employment Patterns Of Parents Of A Child With Rett Syndrome, Jessica Coles

Theses : Honours

Objective: To review the literature examining the work practices and employment patterns of parents of a child with an intellectual disability, with a specific focus on Rett syndrome. Method: Electronic database searches of Medline, Cinahl and ISI Web of Knowledge and manual searches of reference lists were conducted. Government Reports obtained from Australian Bureau of Statistics were also examined. Quality of articles was assessed using Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment Checklists from Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers used to assess quality of literature. Results: The work practices and employment patterns of parents of children …