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Education Improves Knowledge and Awareness of Childhood Trauma for Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Other Individuals within the Community
Get PDFChildhood trauma has been linked to biological structural changes in the brain that impact its function and stress response that can cause psychological and physiological harm. There is an increased need to promote early awareness and its prevalence to help change the trajectory. This research examines the impact of childhood trauma and its impact on the quality of life for the victims and educate on the effectiveness of trauma-informed approaches in early developmental care through adulthood by occupational therapists. To conduct this research, a literature review was produced to gain information on childhood trauma and evidenced-based interventions to treat it. A PowerPoint presentation was provided to IO participants on childhood trauma, its impact, the role of occupational therapy, coping strategies, and resources. A presurvey was administered prior to the presentation to determine their knowledge on the effects of childhood trauma on occupational performance and occupational therapy\u27s role in intervention. A post-survey was administered following the presentation to determine improved knowledge. The results identified a positive correlation between childhood trauma, obesity, early drug use, poor sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. The post-survey showed that participants were unaware of childhood trauma and how it impacts victims, occupational therapy\u27s role, and available resources for intervention. The study suggests that the consistent negative impact on early development is the foundation of negative behaviors in early and later adulthood
The Proposed Implementation of an Occupation-Based Wellness Program to Reduce Chronic Disease and Illness for Employees of a Large Factory Corporation
Get PDFChronic disease and illness can have debilitating effects on factory workers, their productivity, number of missed workdays due to sickness, and quality of life. As employers grapple with increased amounts of missed workdays due to sickness, subsequent loss of money, pushed-back deadlines, and scrambling to cover shifts of sick individuals, the need for occupation-based wellness programs is increasing. Occupation-based wellness programs are beneficial as they are client-centered. To combat the issue of chronic disease and illness among factory workers, an in-service was created and presented to members of management within a large factory corporation. Objectives of the presentation included educating managers about negative effects of chronic disease and illness, how their company could be affected, teaching the benefits of occupation-based programs, and increasing knowledge about the three levels of prevention. A total of nine participants attended the in-service and were presented with pre- and post-surveys to complete before and after the presentation. The surveys included ten questions based on a five-point Likert Scale to allow for quick interpretation of the quantitative data. The pre-survey contained an additional three questions gathering participants\u27 demographic information. Overall, the data gathered demonstrated an increase in knowledge from participants regarding their overall knowledge of occupational therapy (OT), occupation-based wellness programs and strategies, the three levels of prevention, and the impacts of chronic disease and illness within their company. ln addition, the in-service was successful in improving access to knowledge and understanding regarding occupation-based wellness programs and the role of OT within wellness
Occupational Therapy\u27s Role in Increasing ASL (American Sign Language) Intelligibility in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Get PDFOver the years, the occupational therapy profession has worked diligently to provide holistic treatment to all populations throughout the lifespan; however, gaps in practice do exist. One gap that was identified, by this paper\u27s author, involves the Deaf and hard of hearing (D/hh) student population. In American Sign Language (ASL), there are twenty-two different handshapes that make up the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, all of which must be formed through the use of fine motor movements of the wrist, forearm, and digits. In typically developing children, these fine motor movements that ASL production requires are not challenging, but they do pose a challenge for those who have experienced atypical development, such as the D/hh population. It is well documented that there is a high occurrence of motor delay in those who are Deaf or hard of hearing (Kamel et. al., 2021 ); however, there is no available research surrounding occupational therapy services for improving signed language skills in this population, specifically research that relates to fine motor skill development for improved ASL intelligibility. The importance of intervention in this population not only surrounds the lack of available research for fine motor skills or the well-documented occurrence of motor delays for this population but also the potential effects of not providing intervention because of the effects of poor language intelligibility. For example, the inability to utilize language has been correlated with higher emotional and mental health challenges, low self esteem, peer rejection, higher rates of suspension, increased depression, and lack of language accessibility in the home and community in adolescents and children (Hall et al., 2017). The purpose of this paper is to improve and encourage conversation surrounding this population\u27s unique needs and providing evidence on the importance of intervention within this population, as it relates to ASL intelligibility, while also indicating an untapped and undocumented area of practice that is well within the occupational therapy scope of practice
Occupational Therapy\u27s Role in Stress Management in the Older Adult and Geriatric Population During Transition Services
Get PDFMany older adults and individuals of the geriatric population transition from their living environments to a facility to receive medical and rehabilitation services due to an injury. illness, or change in functional status. Engagement in transition services can be life-altering and stressful for any individual but has been found to impact older adults and the geriatric population profoundly. Although there is an immense amount of research regarding stress. stress management. older adults, and the geriatric population. there is little information on the impact of stress and occupational therapy\u27s role in managing stress among the older adult and geriatric population during transition services. This project aimed to address the existing gap by providing occupational therapy-specific education to key stakeholders utilizing stress management techniques. A pre-survey was conducted with six statements in Likert format about knowledge of the physiological effects of stress. signs of stress. stress management techniques for the adult and geriatric population. and the impact of stressful transition on occupational performance. An in-service PowerPoint presentation was presented about the above topics. and a post-survey was conducted with the same statements to compare the results. The results of the surveys revealed an increase in knowledge in all areas. The presentation material effectively increased participants· understanding. ultimately allowing the author to meet the project\u27s objectives. The project can also effectively increase the likelihood of implementing stress management techniques to increase occupational performance and engagement of older adults and the geriatric population during transition services
Effect of Using a Daily Bladder Diary to Decrease Frequency of Nocturnal Enuresis in Children
Get PDFOccupational therapy (OT) practitioners are skilled in identifying meaningful and purposeful activities to use and facilitate a client\u27s independence in working towards their goals. A goal in which OT practitioners can work with pediatric clients towards is increasing bladder continence, especially at night. Children who have difficulty with bladder incontinence at night, also called nocturnal enuresis (NE), may demonstrate poor social skills and social participation, and decreased sensory registration. Occupational therapy practitioners can work with clients to increase independence towards bladder continence through focused intervention on sensory integration, social skills training, and the use of a daily bladder input/output diary that provides insight into environmental factors that may impact continence. An in-service was provided to pediatric OT practitioners in western North Carolina on the benefits of the use of a daily bladder diary as an intervention for the treatment of NE. The OT practitioners who participated in the in-service report increased confidence and competence with providing this intervention when treating NE. A daily bladder diary can improve a child\u27s body awareness and provide objective data to the therapist and parents/caregivers to create a holistic treatment plan that may facilitate a decrease in NE
Effects of Caregiver Education on Emotional Regulation in Foster and Adopted Children
Get PDFThere is a large demographic of American children that are in foster care or have been adopted. These children experience occurrences of adversity than children living with their biological families, including issues such as high conflict, housing instability, family isolation, abuse and neglect, and inadequate attachments with caregivers. The trauma from these factors affects the child\u27s emotional regulation skills, leading to deficits in their social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Caregivers of children with emotional regulation dysfunction often feel ill-equipped to handle their child\u27s behaviors and emotional disturbances. Caregivers often report a poor mental state, affecting time management skills, daily routines, and occupational performance. Providing foster and adopted children with emotional regulation coping strategies can help mitigate the effects of emotional dysregulation, promoting increased occupational participation and success in academic, play, leisure, and self-care occupations. The purpose of this capstone project is to emphasize the importance of the role of caregiver education in developing emotional regulation skills in foster and adopted children. By providing education on emotional regulation and coping strategies, caregivers are empowered to implement techniques to promote emotional regulation into their everyday routines. Throughout this project, an educational presentation defining emotional regulation, describing signs of dysregulation, and providing emotional regulation coping strategies was provided to caregivers of foster and adopted children. The outcome of this education indicated that once caregivers gained knowledge on emotional regulation and coping strategies, they were better equipped to recognize and address dysregulation and implement coping strategies when needed. This implies that providing caregiver education on emotional regulation to caregivers of foster and adopted children is an effective way to improve the emotional regulation skills of this population and to increase carryover outside of occupational therapy intervention
Dancing with Dementia: Using Dance and Movement to Combat the Negative Effects of Occupational Deprivation in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Get PDFAs human beings, it is natural to crave interaction with others and to engage within our surrounding environments. Unfortunately, individuals with dementia often lose their ability to independently access and participate within their environment; resulting in occupational deprivation. Occupational deprivation is seen frequently in residents with dementia within a skilled nursing facility (SNF) as they are often left disengaged and seated idle within the facility. Occupational deprivation can lead to psychological and physical illnesses, it can also enhance the progression of dementia, and result in premature death. The use of dance and movement with these residents can provide them the opportunity to discover new occupations, decrease social isolation, and improve their quality of life. Residents with dementia in the SNF setting rely on staff members for their care, limiting their ability to engage in meaningful occupations. It is important for staff to understand the typical progression of dementia, the negative effects of occupational deprivation, and how to provide residents with opportunities for occupational participation. An in-service presentation was provided to staff members at a SNF to provide education on how the use of dance and movement can benefit their residents. A pre- and post -survey were administered before and after the in-service using a 5-point Likert scale to create quantitative, measurable data. This data was compiled and analyzed to determine the percentage increase in knowledge and the effectiveness of the presentation
Let Food Be Thy Medicine: The Role of Whole Food Consumption and Mental Wellness in Children
Get PDFMental Health is one of the most neglected areas of health in the U.S healthcare system, yet there continues to be an alarming rate of individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders. This group of affected individuals includes the presence of children with 3 out of 4 children predicted to experience behavior problems and mood fluctuations before the age of 17. To 3 combat mental illness, psychotropic medications are prescribed at a startling rate with children as young as 2 being placed on mental health prescriptions. Although psychotropic medications have positive outcomes on mental illness, long terms use of this class of drugs can have adverse effects on users. These adverse effects can include but are not limited to stunted growth, personality changes, increased risk for diabetes, hyperlipidemia, sleep disturbances, and weight changes. These long-term side effects have the potential to impact the quality oflife of users which is why alternative methods should be considered in conjunction with reduced dosages of psychotropic medications. One area of conservative treatment that has shown positive results in combating mental illness symptoms is nutrition and diet modifications. Various research has shown positive correlations between reduced symptoms of mental illness and the consumption of natural, unprocessed foods with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. However, this research is not readily available to individuals due to external factors such as socioeconomic status, education levels, available community resources, and geographic location. The purpose of this research project is to provide nutrition education to parents and guardians of children between the ages of 3 and 17 to increase the occurrence of diet modifications as a first line of defense against mental health tribulations. An evidence-based education session on diet modifications for mental health was presented to a group of 26 parents and guardians who had at least one child enrolled in a local head-start/ Georgia Pre-K program. Participants\u27 prior
knowledge and current nutrition practices were assessed through a pre-assessment survey. An interactive power-point presentation was provided to participants that included current nutrition and mental health facts and creative ways to increase healthy food consumption amongst children. Knowledge and potential future nutritional practices were assessed through post-surveys after the implementation of the education session. Surveys provided positive evidence that if health promotion resources and benefits of healthy food consumption were more readily available to parents and guardians, they are more inclined to utilize diet modifications as a first line of defense against mental health impairments. Learning the positive benefits of nutrition at an early age creates the infrastructure for adopting lifelong health behaviors and creating generational wellness
How Occupational Therapy Can Assist with Successful Aging in .Place for Baby Boomers
Get PDFAging in place is an emerging concept within the occupational therapy (OT) profession and is described as the ability to live in one\u27s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level (CDC, n.d.). It can be successfully achieved with early planning, appropriate home modifications, community and family support, and available resources. Aging in place is desired in the senior population, specifically the Baby Boomer generation, and can positively affect one\u27s life satisfaction and quality of life. As an emerging area of practice within OT, professionals can play a role in the success of aging in place. A lecture presentation was provided to second-year occupational therapy assistant students to share information gathered from research and literature review. A total of fifteen students were present during the lecture and all participated in pre- and post-surveys related to 0 the presentation provided. The identical surveys consisted of six questions administered on a Likert scale to allow the data to be analyzed. Overall, the data demonstrated an increased knowledge about aging in place and confidence in their ability to discuss resources and evidence-based research related to aging in place
Body Mechanics and Ergonomics to Decrease Low Back Pain in Nursing Staff
Get PDFDue to the high incidence of low back pain in nursing staff, the purpose of this project was to explore the efficacy of training in body mechanics and ergonomics principles on the incidence of low back pain in direct care nursing staff. Current research indicates that training and education in body mechanics and ergonomics principles can decrease the incidence of low back pain. Direct care nursing staff completed a survey to ascertain low back pain incidence and severity prior to training. Training on basic body mechanics and ergonomics principles was then provided. Follow-up with the same nursing staff occurred one month after the training to determine the incidence and severity of low back pain. This project found no statistically significant change in the incidence of low back pain. In fact, no change was found in the incidence of low back pain. However, this project did find a statistically significant difference in the severity of low back pain experienced in nursing staff who reported having low back pain, indicating that training in body mechanics and ergonomics principles was effective with respect to the reported severity of low back pain