Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Elevating Student Understanding: Irish Occupational Therapy Students’ Experience Of A Service Learning Project, Karen Mccarthy, Marian Mccarthy

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Service learning is a pedagogy that embraces learning in action and addresses community needs. Since the adoption of the Occupational Therapy Competencies in 2008 and the launch of national occupational therapist registration in Ireland in 2015, there has been limited research on the effectiveness of service learning pedagogies in Irish higher education for meeting core competencies. The majority of research focusing on evaluating service learning have been North American studies which brings to question the relevance of these service learning outcomes beyond North America and specifically Ireland. This qualitative study examined 11 occupational therapy students’ journal reflections, portfolio entries, and …

Social And Cultural Concepts Module: Curricula To Foster Cultural Responsiveness, Elizabeth Ching, Elsa Contreras, Precious Dimalanta, Linda Duran, Robert Freeman, Ursula Hawe, Susannah Hong, Wilton Ramos

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The lack of racial diversity in the occupational therapy profession as well as its educational programs are obstacles in providing culturally responsive care to serve all people, populations, and communities. Research has shown that student engagement in case studies, activities that emphasize exposure to diverse populations, reflective journaling, and interviewing someone from a different culture are effective in developing practitioners who are more culturally responsive. Students from one culturally diverse occupational therapy program took a nine-hour Social and Cultural Concepts Module (SCCM) that incorporated best practice pedagogy for teaching cultural responsiveness. A one group pretest-posttest design was utilized to explore …

Hybrid Learning To Develop Safe Patient Handling Judgement In Occupational Therapy Students, Steven D. Eberth, Ingrid Provident, Carla Chase

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The goal of this mixed methods pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of a hybrid pedagogy to develop safe patient handling knowledge, self-efficacy, and skills in occupational therapy students. Developing safety judgment is integral to occupational therapy education programs, which requires the deepening of knowledge associations. As evidence suggests, patient handling is taught in academic programs with traditional pedagogy. Safe patient handling requires teaching the breadth of the most relevant and contemporary theory and techniques. A growing body of evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of online education. The project author developed an evidence-based hybrid pedagogical approach that included four narrated …

Interprofessional Education Enhancement: Inclusion Of Occupational Therapy, Julie Woodnorth, Heather A. Davidson

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The increase in interprofessional education (IPE) opportunities provides an excellent opportunity for occupational therapy (OT) educators to partner with other health professions to deepen the understanding of how the OT profession adds value to future healthcare teams. The purpose of this study was to describe the development and impact of a curricular unit about the OT profession that was integrated into an established IPE program for medical, advanced practice nursing, pharmacy and social work students. A Needs Assessment was conducted by embedding an OT consultant within interprofessional student teams working in clinical environments over six weeks to observe baseline understanding …

The Short Assist Scales: Measurement Properties In A Sample Of Occupational Therapy Students In The Usa, Tore Bonsaksen, Adele Breen-Franklin

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Shortening measurement scales can improve the scales’ feasibility, but at the same time, their measurement properties can be affected. This study investigated psychometric properties of the short Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) among occupational therapy students in the United States. The students (n = 120) completed the ASSIST and provided basic socio-demographic and education-related information. Scale structure was examined with Principal Components Analysis (PCA), while consistency between scale items was assessed with Cronbach’s α and inter-item correlations. Three factors were confirmed, but three items showed poor or ambiguous fit with the proposed scales. These items were …

The Effect Of Instructor-Produced Videos As Supplemental Material For Training Visual Screening Procedures In Occupational Therapy Education, Holly Grieves, Noralyn Davel Pickens, Tracy Young, Theresa M. Smith

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The aim of this study was to explore student perceptions of instructor-produced videos to enhance knowledge, self-efficacy, and clinical skill with administering visual screening procedures. The video library, hosted by Vimeo™, consisted of 26 videos, with an average video duration less than 90 seconds. The videos were made available to occupational therapy students as supplemental material. Three focus groups consisting of 23 participants captured students’ perceived value of instructor-produced videos to enrich their learning. Three categories emerged from the data analysis including clinical application, learning preferences, and elements of video production. Students commented on how the videos positively influenced their …

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Students’ Beliefs About Knowledge And Knowing: Findings From Three Masters Level Programs In The Us, Diane M. Long, Anita W. Mitchell, Carla Chase, Bernadette Mineo

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

One of the expected outcomes of higher education for all entry-level occupational therapy (OT) students is to develop the capacity to think critically and engage in complex clinical reasoning. Beliefs about the justification of knowledge (epistemic cognition) and the nature of knowledge (ontological cognition) underlie the ability to develop sophisticated ways of thinking. There is a scarcity of research specific to occupational therapy students in the literature related to epistemic and ontological cognition. Based on a discussion prompted during an AOTA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) workshop in 2014, OT faculty members from three entry-level occupational therapy …

Self-Reflection And Measurement Of Professional Behavior Growth In Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Students, Brenda S. Howard, Rebecca Barton

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy (OT) educators have recognized the need to facilitate student professional development along a continuum of behavior that leads them toward professionalism. Reflection has often been a tool assisting in that process. The teaching of professional behavior has been a curricular thread throughout entry-level OT programs. Few studies exist, however, that have measured use of a self-assessment tool for reflection and development of professional behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine how self-perception of professional behaviors changed in two cohorts of an entry-level occupational therapy program. Investigators compared two cohorts of students at two points in time …

Comparing Outcomes Of Entry-Level Degrees From One Occupational Therapy Program, Stacy Smallfield, Laura Flanigan, Anna Sherman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to compare the professional outcomes of two entry-level occupational therapy degrees: the Master of Science (MSOT) and occupational therapy doctorate (OTD). This was a quantitative, exploratory study using a survey method. An online survey was sent to graduates from one occupational therapy program with known email addresses (N = 711). The survey included items relating to professional outcomes, such as job title, salary, and engagement with evidence-based practice, leadership, research, and interprofessional practice. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to describe and to compare groups. The survey yielded 208 responses eligible …

Part 1: Preparing Entry-Level Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy Students To Promote Health And Wellbeing With Individuals With Disabilities, Brooks C. Wingo, Donald H. Lein Jr., Beth A. Barstow, Christopher A. Eidson, Tara S. Pearce, Laurie A. Malone, David M. Morris

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

To address accreditation standards for health and wellbeing within entry-level occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) programs, the OT, PT, and Human Studies Departments at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) collaborated with community partners to conduct an interdisciplinary service learning activity based on the I Can Do It, You Can Do It Program (ICDI). This program is a structured community health program where individuals without disabilities are partnered with individuals with disabilities to enhance physical activity, healthy eating, and community participation. The purpose of this paper is to describe a formative evaluation of ICDI at UAB, and …

Perceptions Of Low Income By Canadian Student Occupational Therapists, Naomi Newfield, Lucy Bartlett, Ellen Murray, Tim Park, Keri Chambers, Farah Hameed, Lynn Cockburn

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Low income negatively impacts health, access to health services, and overall quality of life. Living with low income is complex, strongly correlated with disability, age, gender, race, and mental illness, and can present barriers to participation in employment, self-care, and leisure occupations. Occupational therapists are well-positioned to reduce these socioeconomic, environmental, and personal barriers. Research on student occupational therapists’ learning and perceptions in working with individuals living with low income is unexplored. This study aimed to understand student occupational therapists’ perceptions and experiences related to low income and their knowledge of their professional roles in working with low income populations. …

Elevating Student Understanding: Irish Occupational Therapy Students’ Experience Of A Service Learning Project, Karen Mccarthy, Marian Mccarthy

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Scholarship

Service learning is a pedagogy that embraces learning in action and addresses community needs. Since the adoption of the Occupational Therapy Competencies in 2008 and the launch of national occupational therapist registration in Ireland in 2015, there has been limited research on the effectiveness of service learning pedagogies in Irish higher education for meeting core competencies. The majority of research focusing on evaluating service learning have been North American studies which brings to question the relevance of these service learning outcomes beyond North America and specifically Ireland. This qualitative study examined 11 occupational therapy students’ journal reflections, portfolio entries, and …

Occupational Therapy In Primary Care: Progressive Neurological Disorder, Amanda Callahan, Danielle Chartier

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to provide occupational therapists with a quick reference guide describing the unique role of occupational therapy to provide treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis within a primary care setting.

A substantial literature review was completed to gather knowledge on multiple sclerosis, occupational therapy, primary care, and the intertwining of these three concepts. The findings from the literature review assisted to guide the development of the product.

A collaborative client and therapist guide was developed to guide treatment for individuals with multiple sclerosis within a primary care setting. Occupational therapists bring a holistic perspective …

The Level Of Knowledge Of Evidenced Based Practice (Ebp) By Ot Managers, Madelin Buscho, Samantha Scheel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Occupational therapy (OT) managers are stakeholders in the expectations of occupational therapists, and hold great influence over evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation (Clark, Park & Burke, 2013). There are no research articles pertaining to the knowledge, attitudes or practices related to EBP among OT managers. The purpose of this research was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers to EBP implementation held by OT managers. Managers who oversee occupational therapists will be referred to as OT managers in this study no matter their professional background.

Methodology: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University …

Enhancing Occupational Therapy’S Role In Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates For People With Cancer, Patrick Finnegan, Jared Skoog

Occupational Therapy Capstones

People with a cancer history have a high likelihood of hospital readmission after discharge due to limitations in functional abilities (Burke et al., 2016; Lee, Williams, Lalor, Brown, & Haines, 2018). Occupational therapy has a significant role in preventing hospital readmissions among people with cancer because of the focus on promoting functional abilities (Player, Mackenzie, Willis, & Loh, 2014). However, occupational therapy is infrequently used for people with cancer. In one research study, only 32% of people with cancer used occupational therapy within two years of their diagnosis (Pergolotti, Cutchin, Weinberger, & Meyer, 2014). The purpose of this scholarly project …

Wellness Programming For Men In Long-Term Care, Katie Hautman, Ashley Heinze

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: The purpose of this project was to develop a wellness guide for staff to implement in long-term care (LTC), to increase participation of meaningful activities and well-being for male residents of all abilities, both physically and psychosocially.

Methodology: A literature review was conducted to understand the need for activities of male residents in LTC. Sources included: online databases, textbooks, and government websites. The Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOPE) was selected to direct the development of the program guide. The CMOP-E promotes engagement in occupations and enablement of occupational performance, both of which are important for male …

Enabling Occupational Competence Through Stress Reduction For Parents In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu), Jenna Nelson, Rachel Trieff

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Each year, thousands of infants are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Research has shown evidence that parents, of babies who are admitted to the NICU, experience increased stress levels and are at an increased risk for mental health issues after discharge from the hospital. The objective of this scholarly project was to develop an occupation-based group protocol that focuses on enabling an occupational adaptive response for parents in the NICU, through the use of evidenced-based stress reduction techniques. An extensive literature review was conducted to identify research to be used to support the development of this product. …

Evolution Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Fred Sammons, Phd (Hon), Ot, Faota, Dalton Fetsch, Jonah Kratochvil

Oral History Posters

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project, Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of this study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way …

Evaluation Of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History Of Thomas Fisher, Phd, Otr, Ccm, Faota, Hailey Axtell, Ty Berg

Oral History Posters

Purpose Statement

This life history is one of 30 life history interviews which are part of a larger project,Histories of Individuals Who Have Been Influential in Developing Occupational Therapy (OT) at the National Level and Beyond. The purpose of study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way …

Life History Of Dr. Neil Harvison Phd, Otr, Fnap, Faota, Kaylee Loken, Bailey Schumacher

Oral History Posters

Objective: The purpose of study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond.

Method: The participant was selected from a participant list compiled through purposive sampling by the project directors. Informed consent was obtained prior to the interview. The project was reviewed by the UND Institutional Review Board and was exempted due to it being a life history. A semi-structured interview …