Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Animal-Assisted Therapy In An Outpatient Pediatric Occupational Therapy Setting, Peyton N. Stolle

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The use of animals to assist in the healthcare industry has been around for some time now, however, only recently have those in the occupational therapy industry begun looking at the effects that it would have on patients within their scope of practice. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has various uses, and recent studies have shown that the use of dogs within a healthcare setting can greatly increase patient motivation and well-being. However, prior literature shows that there are limited studies on the effects of AAT in a pediatric occupational therapy (OT) setting, specifically an outpatient setting. My capstone project aimed to …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Promoting Occupational Participation And Well-Being, Kallie Alexander

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone project is to enhance occupational participation and well-being of persons living with ALS and care partners and address barriers to occupational justice through physical, social, and psychosocial needs.

Lets Get Connected: Promotion Of Technology And Social Interaction For Older Adults, Sarah Brown

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in helping individuals engage in activities they need and want to do. As the number of older adults continues to increase the need for older adult focused interventions are required to meet that demand. Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, influencing how we communicate, manage healthcare, and grocery shop. Equipping older adults with the necessary skills and knowledge to use technology is a vital aspect of occupational therapy, essential for maintaining their autonomy and quality of life.

Enhancing Adaptive Recreation, Abby Bruff

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project is to utilize occupational therapy’s role and scope by using a holistic approach to address personal and environmental contexts that enhance participation for individuals with disabilities. Educational training modules were created to foster competence and confidence for non-healthcare professionals working with individuals with disabilities. The OTD student gained knowledge and understanding of barriers to adaptive recreation through a systematic review of literature, professional communication, observation, and surveys.

Occupational Therapy And Accessible Air Travel, Katie Cunningham

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project consists of developing a program reference guide directly related to promoting health and wellness in individuals with disabilities who travel to ensure autonomy, safety, inclusion, and occupational opportunity through self advocacy. The evidence-supported travel accessibility quick reference guide will promote safe travel and enhance knowledge to individuals with disabilities. This will help bridge the lack of facilitators for traveling with a disability.

A Respite Care Program For Caregivers Of Children With Disabilities, Abby Kincade

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The capstone project was developed and implemented at the capstone site and provided to the caregiver and care recipient population as a Parents Night Out: Respite Night.

Nature-Based Occupational Therapy: Promoting Functional Skill Development In Children, Darcie Gibson

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to enhance health and wellness for children by utilizing aspects of the natural environment to promote functional skill development.

Promoting Workplace Safety Within An Industrial Setting, Jordan Profit

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project aimed to develop the Workplace Safety program at Post Consumer Brands to improve overall safety and promote health and wellness among industrial workers. The program promotes health and wellness, injury prevention, and mental health.

Improving Postpartum Care Through Occupational Therapy, Madison Savage

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The present study aimed to determine the potential role of occupational therapy in caring for women during their postpartum period. The study also aimed to discover the current goals of the practitioners and the needs of postpartum women.

Back To The Basics: Integrating Biomechanical Frame Of Reference Into The Arkansas State University Otd Curriculum, Krysta Nash

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to increase OTD student learning in the Biomechanical Frame of Reference evaluation and intervention process.

Aging In Place Safely: The Impact Of Home Modifications, Noel Walters

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the capstone project is to advocate for and educate community dwelling older adults in the Columbus, Ohio area to safely age in place and remain independent to avoid institutionalization.

Promoting An Inclusive Learning Environment For Children With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities At Childcare Centers, Mehak "Mickey" Rajani

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project is to see how well early intervention centers promote a successful and inclusive learning environment for children with IDD through the nurturing competence of childcare providers. Thereby, a successful program can be created for childcare centers to enhance the quality of life for everyone at the center to flourish and succeed beyond the status quo.

Say Neigh To Poor Health: Exploring The Impact Of Equine Assisted Services On Children's Health, Courtney S. Barrus

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background: Currently, in the United States, one in six children has a developmental disability (CDC, 2022). According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (2021), developmental disabilities negatively influence an individual's ability to solve problems, social skills, life skills, ability to form relationships, and ability to learn. Equine-assisted services are a group of services, including hippotherapy and adaptive riding, which have been shown to have a positive impact on physical, emotional, and social deficits (Haig & Skinner, 2022; Helmer et al., 2021; Madigand et al., 2023; Zoccante et al., 2021). Methods: The capstone was completed in two steps. …

Exploring Occupational Therapy’S Role In Childcare Settings, Makayla Hamling

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This study focused on exploring the occupational therapist's role in childcare settings. The program development, observations, and hands-on activity allowed for first-hand experience of the role occupational therapists could play in a daycare setting. Incorporating meaningful participation, education, and environmental modifications were a part of this study. The study was conducted in Northeast Nebraska, with a total of 31 participants.

Early detection is key to addressing developmental delays in many areas (play, social, leisure, dressing, eating, etc). Developmental screenings can assist caregivers and specialists in knowing and understanding how a child is developing compared to his or her same-aged peers. …

Beyond Rehabilitation: Exploring The Field Of Occupational Therapy And The Transformative Impact Of Care, Sierra C. Fox

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

As a profession that implements unique approaches to empower people of all ages and abilities to actively participate in activities that are meaningful to them, occupational therapy is an essential service for providing holistic healthcare (Darawsheh, 2018). As an undergraduate approaching graduation, the process for applying to graduate school programs has finally begun, and it has become obvious the lack of public knowledge there is regarding the profession. Even among other healthcare professionals, there is often an inadequate understanding of the field, which can be problematic and result in patients not being referred to receive the services that may benefit …

Restoring Meaning Through Leisure: Exploring The Benefits Of Leisure-Focused Occupational Therapy For Individuals With Neurological Diagnoses, Elizabeth Rose Stoutland

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

There are limited findings in occupational therapy literature on leisure, despite being a highly meaningful area of occupation that has implications for both physical and mental health. This poster describes an occupational therapy Capstone experience in adaptive sports and inpatient rehabilitation at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center related to leisure restoration. The student investigated the role of occupational therapy in restoring leisure and recreation for individuals with neurological conditions and achieved the following main goals: (Goal 1) to gain skills in adaptive recreation for individuals with neurological conditions, and (Goal 2) to determine how leisure exploration can be implemented in …

The Importance Of Preferred Meaningful Occupations For Children With Medically Complex Conditions, Kaylee S. Schmit

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children with medically complex conditions experience limitations in their ability to engage in preferred meaningful occupations. Additionally, when these children are in the hospital setting, the environment poses another barrier to accessing preferred meaningful occupation opportunities. This capstone project aimed to explore how preferred meaningful occupations could be utilized with children with medically complex conditions in the pediatric inpatient setting. The literature and needs assessment indicated the need for preferred meaningful occupations to be used as a motivator and a way to target specific skills a patient wanted to regain. With the focus of occupational therapy on return to occupation …

Occupational Therapy Services In Pediatric Mental Health, Hallie Jerome

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children and youth experiencing mental health concerns often have limited or decreased engagement in meaningful occupations. Additionally, children and youth who experience mental health concerns at an early age are more likely to experience negative health outcomes such as poor occupational engagement, academic achievement, adverse childhood experiences (ACES), maltreatment/abuse/neglect, family and peer conflict/rejection, low self-esteem, early substance use, and many others impacting their overall health and well-being. My capstone project aimed to administer occupation-based interventions in a pediatric mental health program while I advance my skills working with an interdisciplinary team. The literature and needs assessment indicated a need for …

Incorporating Occupation-Based Activities Into Treatment For Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders To Increase Self-Efficacy, Brea E. Westberg

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

In 2022, over 48.7 million people aged 12 and older reported having a substance use disorder in the past year. Adolescents are increasingly becoming involved in substance use behaviors that impact their lives daily. There is limited evidence for providing mental health interventions, including those provided by occupational therapy practitioners, to adolescents with SUDs within the substance use treatment setting. Self-efficacy is an important part of the substance use recovery process. Therefore, the purpose of the capstone project was to determine the effects on self-efficacy after incorporating occupation-based activities into programming for adolescents in treatment for SUDs. The Model of …

A Program Based On Meaningful Occupations To Improve Perceived Health And Well-Being For People Experiencing Homelessness, Annika Overgaard

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Individuals experiencing homelessness face a variety of barriers to occupational performance and participation, thereby negatively impacting their quality of life, health, and well-being. Occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to address the health and well-being needs of individuals experiencing homelessness due to their holistic client-centered approach, their efforts in promoting occupational participation, and providing opportunities for occupational empowerment. Occupational therapy with this population is a growing area of practice, and there is a lack of literature focusing on interventions related to meaningful occupations. My capstone project aimed to create a meaningful occupation-based program for individuals experiencing homelessness at a drop-in day …