Occupational Therapy Commons^™

The Impact Of A Multi-Method Approach For Ethics Education On Occupational Therapy Students’ Self-Efficacy And Confidence, Brittany Nash, Jeffery Etheridge, Sierra Sosa, Verenice Macias, Araya Bradley, Kayla C. Osowski, Natalie Cornwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a multi-method approach for ethics education. The investigators measured occupational therapy (OT) students’ self-efficacy for ethical decision-making and explored their perception of what contributed to their confidence in understanding the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics. This one-group mixed methods study included twenty Master of OT students. Self-efficacy was measured via a pre-test and post-test using an adapted version of the New General Self-Efficacy Scale, and open-ended questions captured data regarding student perceptions of what contributed to their confidence. Students presented with high …

The Influence Of Student Personality Traits On Satisfaction And Success In Online Education In Higher Education: A Systematic Review, Elizabeth G. Hunter, Jayna Niblock, Samantha Barefoot, Jackson Miller, Jason Hughes, Lydia Kite, Edith Scarletto

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Online learning is a growing area in occupational therapy education. It is important for faculty to use the modality of online learning to understand the influence of student personality traits, defined as relatively stable characteristics that influence thinking and behavior, on student satisfaction and success in graduate level programs. By understanding the influence of personality traits, faculty can better develop online materials that are flexible enough to support individuals who may have a higher risk of low satisfaction and success. There has been plentiful research in the areas of education and psychology assessing the influence of personality on the online …

Trauma-Informed Care In Occupational Therapy Education, Cristina H. Scionti, Mary Shotwell, Donnamarie Krause

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Students bring their life histories, including traumatic experiences, to their learning and education. Potentially up to 75% of the student body of occupational therapy programs may have experienced a traumatic event, which often leads to occupational disruption and challenges in academic performance. Thus, it is critical for occupational therapy educators to mitigate the impact of trauma by identifying the barriers and facilitators to occupational participation in education for occupational therapy students affected by trauma. Despite the high prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), research shows that few health professions education programs, such as occupational therapy, attend to ACEs or utilize …

Exploring Student Experiences And Perceptions Of Digital Storytelling In Occupational Therapy Education: A Comprehensive Analysis And Evaluation, Alexis M. F. Morin, Justin R. Eck

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the need for digital transformation in higher education, emphasizing the importance of incorporating digital pedagogy. This study explored student experiences and perceptions of digital storytelling, a multimedia-based narrative technique, as an innovative assessment method in occupational therapy education. First-year, first-semester entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy students created digital stories on mental health topics and completed self-reflection papers. A retrospective qualitative descriptive method was employed, analyzing 14 consented self-reflection papers. Emerging qualitative themes revealed that digital storytelling enhanced students' understanding of occupational performance impacts, led to the development and utilization of transferrable skills for clinical practice, and …

Harnessing Social Media For Occupational Therapy Graduate Program Recruitment, Rebecca Ozelie, Annika Knuth

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The occupational therapy (OT) profession faces a national enrollment decline, with many United States graduate programs struggling to fill seats. As social media use continues to rise among young adults, OT programs may benefit from leveraging digital platforms to enhance visibility and attract qualified applicants. This study explored how prospective students engage with OT program social media accounts and what content influences their admissions decisions. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 161 current or incoming OT graduate students from programs across the United States were surveyed about their social media habits during the admissions process. Results revealed that 69.5% of participants …

Demographic Factors As Predictors Of Academic Performance In First- And Second-Year Occupational Therapy Students, Eileen Du Plooy, Daleen Casteleijn, Denise Franzsen, Gopika Ramkilawon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Significant disparities in academic performance that may be associated with specific demographics can be utilized for supporting diverse student cohorts. Strategies can be developed for students to enhance equity and inclusivity in undergraduate occupational therapy education to ensure student success. This study aimed to determine the predictive demographic factors influencing academic performance among first- and second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students at a university in South Africa. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was utilized, and the sample included 129 first- and second-year students. Data were collected retrospectively from university records and student dashboards. Key demographic and academic variables were analyzed, including personal …

The Effectiveness Of Blended Online Do-Live-Well Workshops For Occupational Therapists, Sungha Kim, Rebecca Gewurtz, Sandra Moll, Nadine Larivière, Lori Letts

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The Do-Live-Well (DLW) framework was developed by occupational therapists (OTs) to demonstrate how engaging in various activities can impact health and well-being of people. The DLW team has provided education for OTs across the world, and there has been a need for online learning with synchronous features. This study aimed to examine the impact of blended online DLW workshops that combined asynchronous and synchronous educational formats for OTs. We evaluated changes in participants’ knowledge of the DLW framework, factors influencing framework adoption in practice, satisfaction with the workshop, and actual use of the framework. Descriptive statistics were used for the …

Implementing Visual Supports Through Vocational Training Modules For Students Preparing To Exit School-Based Services, Kaitlynn Karthan

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Unemployment and underemployment remain persistent barriers for autistic and developmentally disabled individuals, with up to 75% of autistic adults in the United States experiencing difficulty obtaining or maintaining meaningful work. To address this disparity within school-based transition services, this capstone project evaluated the effectiveness of video modeling as an instructional method for vocational skill acquisition among seven young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD). Grounded in the Occupational Justice framework, this study utilized a quantitative pretest–posttest–follow-up quasi-experimental design to measure accuracy and task completion time on two vocational tasks: rolling silverware and filling condiment cups. …

Systems Evaluation Supporting Feeding Program Development, Marquetta Moore

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Prior to the development of a feeding therapy program, a system evaluation was completed in an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. Changes were implemented to support the program, while planning and the initial phases of the feeding therapy program began.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to enhance daily clinic operations and initiate the development of a feeding therapy program, with a focus on establishing evidence-based, family-and child-centered care.

This capstone project addressed the following objectives:

1. Assess clinic systems to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as threats and opportunities while evaluating existing processes that may impact program …

Addressing Fine Motor Skills In Kindergarten Through Embedding Occupational Fine Motor Skills In Classrooms, Mary L. Hesterwerth

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Fine motor and visual–motor delays are becoming more common among young children, driven by the shift from traditional physical play to screen time and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues are particularly concerning for kindergarten students, whose academic demands for handwriting and classroom participation are increasing despite their limited prior school experience.

Purpose: This Capstone project aimed to evaluate the effects of an occupational therapist-led training workshop for kindergarten teachers, focusing on how it helps integrate fine motor activities into daily bellwork routines. The main research question was whether this Tier 1, classroom-based strategy could enhance students’ fine …

Mind The Gap, Klaire Perry

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

I went in to OT to make the world more accessible. I love how OT views people as their hopes, dreams, values, strengths, and facilitators...NOT as an injury or disease. At this point, every room I enter becomes a personal case study of accessibility. I can't help but wonder how many spaces have hung huge signs that say "YOU ARE NOT WELCOME" that are only visible to some. I'm thankful for my love ones who agreed to help me with this project. While I can never fully understand their experience, I can listen.

Klaire Perry, Class of 2027

Summer School: The Experience Of An Occupational Therapy Student Exploring Culture In Spokane!, Lulu Brady

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

This zine illustrates my experience in this OTD 721 Cultural Responsiveness class, led by Dr. Kirkpatrick. The class took place in the summer of 2025. It was absolutely inspiring, and I wanted to be able to share my takeaways and learnings from my experiences in this class. Culture is so relevant to the field of occupational therapy (OT) because occupations are often shaped by culture, OT cannot be truly client-centered without respective culture. Not only did this class help me grow as a future occupational therapist practitioner, but it also helped me grow as a person. It showed me the …

Welcomed In: A Love Letter To Okinawa, Taylor Fernandez

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

This zine is a personal, reflective project exploring Okinawan culture through my lens as a long-term guest -- first as a military child, then as an adult returning "home" to visit the island where my parents still live. While I am not Okinawan, the culture has deeply influenced my values, worldview, and understanding of community, aging, and wellness.

Through this project, I have sought to honor the richness of Okinawan traditions -- not as an authority, but a someone shaped by the grace of being welcomed in. The pages blend scholarly knowledge, lived experience, and cultural observation to explore how …

Occupational Apartheid, Kimberly Dewey

OTD 721: Cultural Responsiveness & Occupation

Occupational apartheid is a term that is often misunderstood. I wanted to bring more awareness and understanding to a very real concept that happens every day. I hope to have provided education and examples that make it easy to follow along and see how apartheid shows up on a daily basis. Let's work together as future OT professionals to expand our knowledge and practice to decrease experiences of occupational apartheid.

Kimberly Dewey, Class of 2027

Assessing The Impact Of High-Fidelity Simulation Experiences On Student Confidence In A Controlled Academic Environment, Jillian K. Pindar, Peyton Belton, Madison Griffin, Abbi Hancock, Lucero Limones, Kristi Self, Elizabeth K. Schmidt

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

A quasi-experimental one group pretest-posttest design was utilized with 19 first-and-second-year doctoral occupational therapy students at a university in Tennessee to evaluate confidence, performance, benefits, challenges, and recommendations from an acute care simulation experience. Student confidence was evaluated using a researcher-developed survey immediately before and after a high-fidelity simulation using a pre-programmed mannequin and standardized script. A performance assessment evaluated students' skills during the simulation. The post-test survey included open-ended questions on perceived benefits, challenges and recommendations. Overall, students demonstrated increased confidence in vital sign monitoring and modification (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate), medical equipment identification, and safe patient …

Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Student Fieldwork Readiness In The Acute Care Setting, Jackie Dusing, Lisa Borrero, Elizabeth Horrall Stith, Kristina Watkins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy student readiness for Level II fieldwork is necessary for preparing novice clinicians and is challenging to assess, as it requires applying didactic knowledge in real-world clinical settings. There is currently a gap in the literature regarding student perceptions of their readiness for Level II fieldwork, especially in the acute care setting. The aim of this qualitative study is to better understand Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students’ perceptions of readiness for Level II fieldwork in an acute care setting. This basic interpretive qualitative research study utilized a purposeful sampling with students completing their Level II fieldwork in various …

Pitch It Big: Cultivating Entrepreneurism Through Use Of An Innovative Competitive Business Plan And Presentation, Margaret (Peggy) Grill, Erin Epley

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This educational innovation aimed to explore the effectiveness of a student assignment titled ‘Pitch it Big,’ designed to enhance understanding of the business aspects outlined in the accreditation standards for occupational therapy programs. Limited research evidence exists for business education related to occupational therapy. Working in self-chosen groups based on their targeted area of interest, students collaboratively wrote a business plan for a fictitious occupational therapy business or product invention. Students then participated in a competition modeled after the popular television program Shark Tank, where they pitched their business proposals to a panel of experts acting as judges. The panel …

Intentional Grouping: Impacts On Cognitive And Social Presence In A Hybrid Classroom, Bridget Scheidler, Kelly Layne, Marian Gillard, Barbara M. Doucet

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Hybrid learning models in healthcare education often present challenges related to reduced cognitive and social presence. This study explores the impact of intentional grouping of students, using Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) scores, on cognitive and social presence in a hybrid Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. Over four seven-week terms, students were grouped intentionally based on their LASSI scores, which measured anxiety, motivation, and test strategies. Quantitative data were collected using the Community of Inquiry survey, and qualitative data were gathered from open-ended questionnaires. Student responses revealed that consistent intentional grouping improved perceived work quality, time management, and relationship …

Improving Self-Regulated Learning Among Occupational Therapy Students, Pola Ham

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Many occupational therapy students, particularly first-generation students, face significant academic and social challenges in higher education that affect their self-regulated learning (SRL). SRL involves goal setting, self-monitoring, strategy implementation, and reflection. The rigorous academic demands, combined with the unique challenges experienced by many first-generation students, exacerbate these difficulties, particularly in developing SRL skills, which are essential for academic and professional success. While first-generation students often lack these skills due to a variety of factors, many occupational therapy students also struggle to develop these skills, regardless of background. This narrative review examines the role of SRL in occupational therapy education and …

Development And Clinical Validation Of The Sensor-E Exoskeleton For Objective Hand Function Assessment In Stroke Rehabilitation, Madison Bates

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Hand function is often impaired following neurological trauma or in conditions such as stroke, limiting independence and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Current clinical assessments rely heavily on subjective rating scales that lack the resolution to detect subtle changes in motor performance, which can limit access to rehabilitation. Recent advances in wearable technologies highlight the potential for hand-worn devices to provide objective, real-time measures of hand function. However, most systems focus solely on kinematics and rarely capture both movement and exerted force. Moreover, integration into rehabilitation frameworks and brain-computer interface (BCI) protocols remains limited. To address …