Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Simulation Enhances Soft Skills Among Inter-Professionals Participating In An International Service-Learning Experience To A Resource-Limited Country, Suzanne Trotter, Sharon Dunnivan-Mitchell

Physical Therapy Collection

Soft skills are the hallmark of a master healthcare provider. One of the most effective ways to teach soft skills is through service-learning. Evidence suggests that adding simulation as part of a service-learning team’s pre-departure training (PDT) will better prepare them to resolve ethical and cultural dilemmas plus facilitate soft skills. We hypothesized that simulation could improve soft skills of healthcare providers delivering rehabilitation services on a one-week service-learning experience in Guatemala

A convenience sample of 21 physical and occupational therapy students and clinicians who participated in four 1-hour PDTs were included in this qualitative study using grounded-theory methods. Training …

Evaluating Knowledge Of Falls Risk Factors And Falls Prevention Strategies Among Lower Extremity Amputees After Inpatient Prosthetic Rehabilitation: A Prospective Study, Susan W. Hunter, Jordan Higa, Courtney Frengopoulos, Ricardo Viana, Michael Payne

Physical Therapy Publications

Purpose: Falls are prevalent among people with lower extremity amputations. A knowledge of risk factors is important in preventing falls, though no research has evaluated patient understanding of falls in this population. The study objective was to evaluate knowledge of falls risk factors and falls prevention strategies at discharge and 4-months after inpatient prosthetic rehabilitation.

Methods: Participants completed a falls questionnaires with four sections: (1) falls during rehabilitation and after discharge, (2) falls self-efficacy using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, (3) knowledge of falls risk factors, and (4) falls prevention strategies. Questionnaire responses were quantified using means and standard deviations …

Development Of A Physical Therapy Faculty Workload Measurement Tool, Wanda Nitsch, Kathleen Manella, Jodi Liphart, Cherie Peters-Brinkerhof, Terri Roberts

Education Collection

Counting credit hours is not an equitable way to measure faculty workload in physical therapy education considering online delivery with heavy workloads negatively impacting satisfaction, learning outcomes, and research productivity. The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate-level institution in the United States, with seven Doctor of Physical Therapy programs offered in four US locations. USAHS faculty workload includes 50% teaching, 20% scholarship, 30% a combination of service, administration, release, and discretionary time. The aim of this study was to develop a faculty workload measurement tool that quantifies productivity, was easy to use, and equitable. Two …

The Road To Resilience: Traveling The Path Less Followed To Realize What Is Possible, Jennifer Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Dr. Bernadette Mineo, PhD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist and mixed media artist based in Portland, Oregon, provided the cover art for the Winter 2019 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The piece, titled “Paper Dolls” (2009), consists of 37 individual paper doll sculptures made from mixed media. Dr. Mineo believes that being an artist is about connecting with one’s creative heart. Her art is about being playful, challenging oneself, and setting up experiments. Engaging in a daily creative art practice has brought joy to Dr. Mineo’s life. Art has empowered her to take risks, build resilience, and …

Increasing Functional Abilities Of People With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Through Occupational Therapy, Jennifer R. Dochod, Cynthia A. Grapczynski

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The level of functional impairment that people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) experience is life changing. Reduced engagement in purposeful and meaning activities because of functional impairments increases the emotional impact of POTS and decreases quality of life. By including occupational therapy early on in treatment, people with POTS can learn ways to adapt, cope, and incorporate changes into their lifestyles. Increasing participation in purposeful and meaningful occupations that are of value to the individual leads to increased quality of life, increased participation in desired roles, increased sense of well-being, and increased perception of health.

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Functional Literacy, Lenin C. Grajo, Sharon A. Gutman

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In this Opinions in the Profession article we aim to uniquely articulate the distinct value of and need for functional literacy development in the clients we serve. Functional literacy, as coined in this article, is the ability to interpret common written materials needed to effectively carry out basic daily life skills and participate in meaningful occupations and social roles. We propose three specific strategies through which occupational therapists, across practice settings, developmental stages, and populations, can assume active roles in literacy support as it is embedded in occupation: literacy (a) as a form of occupational justice promotion; (b) as an …

Role Emerging Placements: Skills Development, Postgraduate Employment, And Career Pathways, Sobiya Syed, Andrea Duncan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy educators are increasingly using role emerging placements (REPs) as a forum for students to develop skills required to work in emerging areas of practice. This study explores the impact of REPs on skill development, postgraduate employment, and career pathways for occupational therapists. An online survey was sent to occupational therapists across Canada (n = 1,763). Occupational therapists who had completed a REP responded to the online survey (n = 88). Descriptive analysis was used to examine trends in the quantitative data, and content analysis was used to code categories derived from qualitative survey data. Results indicated five skills …

Collaborative Care Best Practices Model (Ccbpm) Development For Nursing And Occupational Therapy Assistant Interprofessional Simulation, Carrie M. O'Reilly, Lisa P. Simmons, Mary L. Romanello

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The use of simulation as a teaching and learning stratagem is well supported in the professional literature. The development of a collaborative care best practices model (CCBPM) was undertaken to help the creation and implementation of an interprofessional education (IPE) learning strategy between occupational therapy assistant (OTA) and pre-licensure nursing students at a private liberal arts college. The project goals and outcomes involved faculty development, CCBPM development, and OTA and nursing novice student competency acquisition in their respective professions. Twenty-three students (10 OTA and 13 nursing) completed the IPE learning simulation exercise. A mixed-method approach to data analysis was used …

Enhancing Collaborative Practices With Preprofessional Occupational Therapists And Early Childhood Special Education Student Teachers: A Pilot Study, Kathleen M. Farrand, Megan Troxel Deeg, Oaklee Rogers, Allison M. Mullady, Stephanie S. Williams, Bjorg T. Lesueur

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This article presents the Collaborative Design Model as a tool for developing collaboration and self-efficacy for preprofessional educators and service providers. As student populations continue to become more diverse, preprofessionals entering the classroom must be prepared to collaborate with colleagues effectively and efficiently to address the variety of needs presented in the classroom. Little research exists on the collaboration among preprofessional teachers and preprofessional occupational therapists. The proposed model provides a method for supporting preprofessionals in collaborating to meet the needs of students at risk for or with disabilities. Initial pilot findings suggest the Collaborative Design Model could potentially increase …

Occupational Therapist Licensure Revocation By State Licensing Boards, Regina Drummond, Myrel Agbayani, Christine Chong, Chris Josko, Shelby Murley, Brenda M. Coppard

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists must abide by certain standards to maintain a license to practice. Despite the existence of various studies on licensure revocation in other health care professions, no prior research has been conducted regarding occupational therapist licensure revocations. The purpose of this study was to examine reasons for occupational therapy licensure revocations in the United States from 2005 to 2015. A retrospective descriptive study design was completed. Data were collected from public databases on state websites or through communication with state licensure board representatives. From 2005 to 2015, 65 occupational therapists had their licenses revoked in 40 states and the …

A Scoping Review Of Challenges And The Adaptation Process In Academia: Implications For Occupational Therapy Educators, Maria Concepcion C. Cabatan, Lenin C. Grajo, Erlyn A. Sana

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The fulfillment of role expectations and responsibilities as one builds an academic career can be challenging. Increased demand for occupational therapy faculty merits examination of academic experiences from the literature. This study describes the experiences of educators using adaptation models (Savickas & Porfeli, 2012; Schkade & Schultz, 2003) as a theoretical lens. Arksey and O’Malley’s Scoping Study Framework (2005) was used in the study. Researchers reviewed literature from 2005-2017 from four databases. Researchers analyzed 28 articles from higher education and the health professions using quantitative and qualitative methods. Twenty-two of the 28 articles were published from 2010-2017. The studies analyzed …

The Effects Of The Leisure Activity Of Coloring On Post-Test Anxiety In Graduate Level Occupational Therapy Students, Brittney N. Burton, Mary F. Baxter

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study examined the effects of the leisure activity of coloring on the anxiety levels of graduate level occupational therapy students after taking a high stress exam. This study also examined the effects of the leisure activity of coloring on the students’ perceptions of preparedness for and performance on the exam.

Method: The participants were recruited for this quantitative, pre/posttest study through a purposive convenience sample and randomly assigned to either the leisure activity or the control. A self-report assessment was used for data collection. The changes in anxiety levels were examined using a repeated measures analysis …

The Feasibility Of Conducting Task-Oriented Training At Home For Patients With Stroke, Veronica T. Rowe, Marsha Neville

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Task-oriented training for upper extremity hemiparesis following a stroke is an effective intervention with evidence of its application in the clinic setting. However, the home provides an enriched and practical environment to implement this intervention. This report presents the feasibility of implementing task-oriented training at home.

Method: Stroke survivors with limitations in upper extremity movement and function were assessed before and after a Task-Oriented Training and Evaluation at Home (TOTE Home) program, and 1 month later. Areas of process, resources, management, and scientific value were analyzed for the feasibility of a larger randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Results …

Older Adults And Photo-Elicited Perspectives On Shopping For Groceries In A Changing Community, Lori E. Breeden, Alessandra Planera, Lauren Kirchner, Samantha Asencio, Matthew Branden, Evan Dunlap, Alex Robinson, Samantha Stevens, Sally Wasmuth

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: A community experiencing gentrification created challenges for older adults and their ability to access food. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine barriers and facilitators perceived by three urban-dwelling older adults during their grocery shopping experiences.

Methods: The researchers conducted photo-elicitation supported interviews to gather information on grocery shopping from three older adults attending a local senior center. Photo-elicited interviews were conducted, and the thematic analysis examined the participants’ perspectives on their experiences.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed the participants’ experiences in a changing landscape. In the categories of community resources, transportation, and the store, …

The Sensory Processing 3-Dimensions Scale: Initial Studies Of Reliability And Item Analyses, Shelley Mulligan, Sarah A. Schoen, Lucy Jane Miller, Andrea Valdez, Deborah Magalhaes

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Sensory Processing 3-Dimensions Scale (SP-3D) is a performance-based measure for assessing sensory processing abilities and challenges, including sensory modulation, sensory discrimination, and sensory-based motor disorders. Initial studies of reliability were conducted, and item response theory was applied to assist in refining the measure.

Methods: Descriptive and correlational methods were used to examine internal consistency of the scales and inter-rater reliability. Item response theory using Rasch analyses was applied to examine unidimensionality of scales, model fit, and item difficulty.

Results: Internal consistency for most measures was acceptable, demonstrating the subtests, domains, and behavior scales as distinct …

Effects Of Partnerships Between Adolescents With Developmental Disabilities And Service Dogs, Terry K. Crowe, Jean C. Deitz, Melissa Y. Winkle, Rachel A. Nelson, Jennifer Woolf

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: With increasing frequency, service dogs are being placed with children with developmental disabilities (DDs). Occupational therapists and other professionals have advocated for the therapeutic use of service dog partnerships to facilitate greater independence and quality of life. There are no studies that examine service dog intervention with adolescents.

Method: This study focused on the effects of partnerships between service dogs and three participant dyads, each including an adolescent with DDs and a parent. A single-subject, alternating treatment design was used to compare the effects of two conditions (service dog present or not present). The effects were examined …

The Lived Experiences Of Occupational Therapists In Transitioning To Leadership Roles, Shawn Sasha Shams, Ravneet Batth, Andrea Duncan

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Several studies on leadership in occupational therapy have discussed the key qualities of leadership and its importance, even though little is known about the transition process into leadership roles. This research examined the lived experiences of occupational therapists who have transitioned from a clinical to a leadership role and identified the supports and challenges that were found to be important.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to gain insight into the transition process of five occupational therapy professional practice leaders. NVivo software was used to organize and analyze the qualitative data.

Results: Three common themes were identified as “supports” for …

State Of The Journal: Moving Forward, Diane Powers Dirette

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

No abstract provided.

Physical Therapists’ Perceptions Of Barriers To The Use Of Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Intervention With Individuals Of 65 Years Of Age Or Older, Charles Agbonghae

Student Dissertations

Falls are a problem in the elderly population. Evidence-based fall prevention programs are available but physical therapists do not always utilize them. The literature identifies a number of barriers to clinician’s use of evidence-based interventions in general but there is limited knowledge of barriers to the use of evidence-based interventions in the clinical practice area of fall prevention. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers perceived by physical therapists to the use of evidence-based fall prevention interventions with individuals of 65 years of age or older. The study utilized an on-line survey of physical therapists licensed in Texas. …

Ballroom Dance For Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Feasibility Study, Alexander V. Ng, Sheri Bunyan, Jimin Suh, Pamela Huenink, Tyler Gregory, Shannon Gambon, Deborah Miller

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the exercise intensity and feasibility of recreational ballroom dance for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Seven persons with MS participated in 2 one-hour dance sessions per week for 6 weeks. Dance types included rumba, foxtrot, waltz, and push-pull. Six other persons with MS comprised a control group that did not dance. Heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored during the sessions. Outcomes included: quality of life, fatigue, depression, self-efficacy, timed up and go, Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index and the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite comprising 9-hole …