RICHES Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
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Visual-Mobility: Occupational Therapy\u27s Role in Promoting Aging in Place among Older Adult Conditions
Get PDFoai:riches.cabarruscollege.edu:mot-student-capstones-1000While the number of aging individuals continues to grow in the U.S., the presence of chronic conditions often minimizes the opportunity to age in place. Moreover, age-related eye disorders inhibit one\u27s access to the environment and participation in valued occupations, leading to a greater risk of falling and being displaced from the home. Despite an older adult\u27s preference to remain in the home, lack of accommodation reduces the potential to do so. As such, an individualized approach to aging in place can be achieved through an occupational therapy practitioner and client partnership, facilitating the use of modifications and adaptations. This paper describes the development of an educational presentation designed for caregivers of older adults with visual impairments, administrative and nursing staff members within a senior living community. Through a Likert-scale pre- and post-survey, 13 individuals participated in the study intended to assess knowledge and confidence regarding occupational therapy\u27s role in aging in place among older adults with visual impairments. Although results of the study displayed an improvement in knowledge among participants, additional research via a larger sample size is suggested to further reduce the gap of knowledge in the target population. As such, the need for caregivers of older adults to have a greater understanding of occupational therapy\u27s role in aging in place is imperative to individualize outcomes for continued participation in choice occupations and fulfillment of occupational roles
Art-Based Occupational Therapy for Adolescents with Mental Health Conditions
Get PDFPediatric and adolescent mental health disorders have a significant impact on occupational performance. This may include difficulty in social situations, decreased ability to engage in selfcare tasks, difficulty problem solving, or difficulty during mealtime. Occupational therapy practitioners can address occupational performance in this population through art-based activities to improve emotional and sensory regulation. Research shows that visual art activities can improve emotional expression, sensory regulation, abstract thinking, communication, and self-esteem. Art-based activities can include textile crafts, painting, drawing, making things with clay, or coloring. A presentation and activity booklet were created to share the impact of art-based occupational therapy on children and adolescents with mental health conditions. The objectives of the presentation and activity booklet included improving participants\u27 understanding of pediatric mental health conditions and art. based occupational therapy. Twelve participants attended the presentation and completed a pre-survey. Nine of those participants completed the post-survey. These surveys gathered demographic information and were used to evaluate the growth in understanding of mental health disorders, art-based activities, and impact of art-based activities on pediatric mental health disorders. Overall, data showed that participants increased their understanding and awareness of art-based occupational therapy and how it can benefit children and adolescents with mental health disorders. In addition, the research showed that children and adolescents with mental health disorders can improve occupational performance when participating in visual art activities. These findings provide further information on an emerging area of practice within occupational therapy and provide caregivers and occupational therapy practitioners with information on evidence-based art-based activities for adolescents with mental health disorders
Heart to Heart: Educating Allied Health Professionals on the Occupational Therapy Role in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management
Get PDFCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are identified as the leading cause of death globally, often stemming from factors such as hypertension, smoking, and obesity. Despite the effectiveness of preventative care services, including occupational therapy, they remain underutilized. Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) can play a vital role in CVD prevention and management by addressing identified research gaps and educating allied health professionals in cardiac rehabilitation facilities. This project emphasizes the importance of occupational engagement and holistic approaches, aligning with principles outlined in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework {OTPF). The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E) are recommended as guiding frameworks for individuals at risk for CVDs, stressing early intervention and collaboration among healthcare providers. To address these issues, a presentation was conducted for a group of six allied health professionals at a local cardiac rehab facility, including nurses, exercise physiologists, respiratory therapists, and dieticians, aiming to advocate for increased occupational therapy involvement. The primary goal was to enhance the participants\u27 understanding of the OT role in preventing and managing CVDs alongside traditional exercise-based rehabilitation. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to gauge knowledge growth, revealing a significant increase in the participants\u27 ability to describe occupational therapy\u27s role, identify common interventions, recognize the benefits of addressing psychosocial factors, and acknowledge the importance of including OT services
Occupational Therapy\u27s Role in Addressing Health Disparities in Transgender/ Gender Diverse Youth
Get PDFThis study investigated the effectiveness of an educational module in improving occupational therapists\u27 knowledge and skills regarding transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth. The research builds upon existing literature demonstrating positive outcomes when integrating TGD population needs into healthcare education programs. The study employs a pre-test/post-test design to assess participants\u27 understanding of critical areas, including culturally affirming care, legal and ethical considerations, social determinants of health and health disparities, developmental stages related to gender identity, and safety considerations for TGD youth. Participant\u3c ; who completed the module demonstrated significant improvements in several key areas. They displayed a firmer grasp of culturally affirming care principles and how to 4 implement them in practice. Additionally, their understanding of legal and ethical considerations surrounding TGD healthcare provision deepened. The study also revealed increased knowledge of social determinants of health and the impact of TGD identities on access to equitable healthcare. Participants better understood how developmental stages relate to gender identity and its influence on occupational engagement. Finally, they demonstrated increased knowledge of safety considerations and protective factors for TGD youth in occupational therapy settings. Findings reveal measurable improvements in participants\u27 knowledge and ability to deliver affirming occupational therapy for TGD youth. The results suggest that the educational module promotes culturally competent and ethical care. Furthermore, these findings suggest that integrating TOD-specific education into occupational therapy curricula can significantly enhance practitioners\u27 ability to provide affirming and effective care for TGD youth
Enhancing Occupational Therapy Practitioners\u27 Confidence in Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue through Occupation and Performance-Based Interventions
Get PDFCancer-related fatigue has the potential to have a lasting impact on the quality of life, engagement in meaningful occupations, and well-being of oncology patients, which negatively impacts occupational performance and causes an increase in demand for each task an oncology patient managing cancer-related fatigue completes. This capstone project explores the importance of enhancing occupational therapy practitioners\u27 (OTPs) confidence in implementing interventions for cancer-related fatigue using an evidence-based educational program presentation. Based on the literature review, there is a gap in the lack of formal training in oncology and OT academic curriculum, which does not highlight general oncology and cancer-related interventions despite it being the most common symptom experienced by oncology patients. The evidence-based educational program described the definition of cancer-related fatigue, discussed occupational therapy\u27s role in managing cancer-related fatigue, reviewed the lack of education and training provided to OTPs, and provided various evidence, occupation, and performance-based interventions for this population. A needs assessment was completed to further guide the capstone project, and the results were gathered and included in the cancer-related educational program presentation to fellow OTPs. To measure the outcomes of the educational program, a pre-and post-survey with the same five questions asked in Likert format was provided to each OTP in attendance before and after the educational program presentation to obtain quantitative data that could be analyzed. The results demonstrated an increase in OTPs\u27 understanding and confidence in the role of OT in managing cancer-related fatigue and appropriate interventions to implement when working with oncology patients who are managing cancer-related fatigue
Acute Post-Surgery Education and Occupational Therapy for Improved Outcomes in Rural Below Knee Amputation Patients
Get PDFBelow knee amputation (BKA) patients who live in a rural setting see poorer functional outcomes, face systemic healthcare barriers, and have limited access to necessary healthcare resources. To improve this population\u27s outcomes a project aimed to improve acute occupational therapy (OT) approaches for BKA patients in rural areas was developed. This project started with a literature review to identify existing best practices and gaps in post-operative care. The study also analyzed current educational materials, therapy protocols, and practices. The project\u27s main goal was to develop educational and intervention materials catered to the health literacy levels of rural BKA patients. These materials aimed to improve functional outcomes and address identified gaps. Core concepts introduced included screenings for cognitive issues, depression, anxiety, providing information on phantom limb pain, skin inspection, and facilitating access to online support groups. To assess the impact of these educational interventions, a Likert scale questionnaire was used before and after the education session. Results showed significant improvement in the healthcare staff\u27s understanding and readiness to implement the key concepts, highlighting the success of the intervention as evidenced by an increase in post-survey scores. This project not only raised awareness among rehabilitation staff about the needs of rural BKA patients but also educated them on patient-centered strategies to improve care. It highlighted the critical role of cognitive and psychological screens, the accessibility of healthcare, and educational materials customized to match the health literacy levels of clients in improving patient outcomes
Impact of Incorporating a Sleep Hygiene Routine in Children with Developmental Disabilities
Get PDFThe paper explores the impact of incorporating a sleep hygiene routine in children with developmental disabilities, aiming to decrease maladaptive behaviors and improve occupational performance. The objectives include identifying maladaptive sleep behaviors, creating a sleep hygiene routine, and completing a literature review. The methodology involves conducting an in-depth literature review, creating a PowerPoint presentation, and utilizing pre- and post-surveys to assess the effectiveness of the educational intervention. The results demonstrate an increase in knowledge of the benefits of implementing a sleep hygiene routine with children with developmental disabilities. The conclusions emphasize the importance of addressing maladaptive sleep behaviors in children with developmental disabilities and the potential impact on occupational performance. The paper emphasizes the need to continue education for occupational therapy practitioners to implement sleep hygiene routines in children with developmental disabilities
The Effects of Occupation-Based Programming on Occupational Deprivation for Civilly Committed Mental Health Patients
Get PDFPatients who are involuntarily committed to the mental health hospital are likely to be exposed to occupational deprivation. Through the induction of occupation-based programming, it is believed that occupational engagement can catalyze recovery and support meaningful participation in daily life, decreasing the prevalence of occupational deprivation. This paper investigates the latest evidence-based practices related to mental health and occupational performance in the inpatient hospital setting. To explore the need to educate clinical staff, who are responsible for programming, a pre-survey was distributed, preceding a presentation. A post-survey was then used to examine the effect the brief educational presentation. They survey focused on clinical staffs familiarity, comfort, and knowledge of occupation-based programming, occupational deprivation, and occupational justice. After delivering the 30-minute educational presentation to the clinical staff at a state mental health hospital, the scores improved on all nine questions, demonstrating an increase in knowledge. These results indicate that brief educational opportunities and exposure geared toward front line workers may have an impact on whether occupation-based programming is intentionally implemented on a day-to-day basis. By purposeful use of occupation-based practices a decrease in occupational deprivation is expected. In effect, this will promote decreased frequency of hospitalization, more time engaging in meaningful activities, and increase patient and staff safety
Occupational Therapy\u27s Role in Relapse Prevention Within Substance Abuse Recovery
Get PDFThe devastating rate of relapse continues to impact the roles, occupational participation, and occupational performance of individuals in recovery. The purpose of this capstone project was to positively impact local substance abuse recovery programs by increasing their knowledge and understanding of occupational therapy\u27s (OT) role in relapse prevention within substance abuse recovery using an evidence-based educational in-service presentation. The educational in-service described OT, the common reasons for relapse, evidence-based statistics related to relapse, the effects that substance use has on occupational performance and participation, evidence-based OT interventions, and the benefits of OT in relapse prevention to improve the knowledge and understanding of the participants regarding OT\u27s role in relapse prevention within substance abuse recovery. To measure the outcomes of the educational in-service, a pre-and post-survey with the same five questions asked in Likert format was given to each participant in attendance before and after the educational in-service to obtain quantitative data that could be analyzed. Using the data obtained from the surveys, the results were analyzed and compared to previous evidence-based research to determine the impact of the in-service. The results demonstrated an increase in knowledge and understanding of OT\u27s role in relapse prevention within substance abuse recovery. In the case of this project, the educational in-service was measured as effective in increasing the knowledge and understanding of OT\u27s role in relapse prevention for participants at a substance abuse recovery organization
Transforming Perspectives: Identifying and Addressing Disparities in Sexual Health Education in Occupational Therapy Education Programs
Get PDFThis capstone project aims to address the lack of sexual health education in Occupational Therapy (OT) curricula and improve OT practitioners\u27 ability to address sex and sexuality in 5 their practice. The research sought to understand the practices and attitudes of OT educators and educational programs in the United States concerning sexual health and sexuality within their curriculum. The study employed a survey-based approach, gathering data from a diverse group of OT educators and program directors through an online platform before and after participating in an educational presentation on the subject matter. The results revealed positive views of sex and sexuality as activities of daily living (ADLs) and recognized their significance in holistic OT practice. The intervention positively impacted participants\u27 confidence in educating students about sexual health. However, other statements showed no significant changes, likely due to the small sample size and limited data variability. Participants generally held positive views of sex and sexuality as ADLs and recognized their importance in holistic, client-centered OT practice. The presentation positively impacted participants\u27 confidence in educating students about sexual health. Future research should address limitations and explore additional factors influencing sexual health education in OT. By prioritizing sexual health education, the OT field can better serve its clients and foster a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to healthcare. In conclusion, this survey-based research provides a holistic understanding of current practices and attitudes toward sexual health education in OT curricula. The study highlights the importance of addressing sexual health education in OT academic programs to ensure holistic care and promote occupational justice