RICHES Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
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Preventing Occupational Imbalance with Seniors Living in the Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFWhen COVID-19 shut down the world in March of 2020, nobody knew what to expect. What we discovered was seniors no longer had the opportunities to engage in social events, attend classes, or participate in the community. Understanding that engagement in leisure and social activities are important in preventing depression and isolation amongst seniors, finding alternative activities via virtual delivery and socially distanced were identified as a need. 3 An in-service was provided to senior citizens at a community center to address areas identified as a need by community center staff and members. The main objective of the in-service included investigation of the senior\u27s knowledge of available leisure resources and social participation activities via in person and virtual delivery. Additional objectives included: assessing knowledge on available technology and access to WIFI resources in their community. A total of IO senior citizens participated in the in-service and were presented with a pre and post survey to complete prior to and following the presentation. The pre-survey included 6 open ended questions and the post-survey included 6 questions utilizing a Likert scale. This qualitative data suggested that seniors had limited knowledge about the resources available to access technology and participate in virtual leisure and social activities. The data supported the preference of in-person activities which are still limited in their community due to COVID-19. Overall, senior citizens continue to benefit from education and resources to provide alternative options to leisure and social participation activities in order to maintain an overall positive quality of life
Understanding and Mitigating the Effects of Pediatric Cancer on Siblings
Get PDFThe purpose of this capstone is to mitigate the potential effects of childhood cancer on siblings who experience social, familial, and emotional challenges. Data was collected through informal interviews, observational studies, and surveys from families who are currently treating or have treated a child with cancer lo gather empirical information from the families\u27 perspectives. The study included 42 families and 18 siblings who were of age to fill out their own survey. The information gathered was assessed to determine the major life changes that affected siblings ages 2-12. Using this information, a packet with evidence-based interventions was created to mitigate these effects. The post-survey was then sent to find if the packet was perceived by these families as helpful. The results determined that while the top needs are being met within the packets, more specified and unique support is needed within varying siblings\u27 ages, familial differences, and diagnosis/prognosis circumstances to improve family efficacy in supporting the siblings
Impact of Coping Strategies for Caregivers of those with Dementia or Alzheimer\u27s Disease
Get PDFCaregivers of those who have Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) or dementia are challenged by the burdens placed on them in their role including not knowing how to use coping strategies to decrease the burden of care. There has already been research completed on how occupational therapy (OT) can help the client who has dementia or AD and how the caregiver can improve communication with person who has dementia or AD. There is a gap in the research showing how OT can help the caregivers cope with their role. OT can help with the difficulties caregivers have by teaching them coping strategies to decrease the burden of care placed on them, which can lead to an increase in clients continuing to live in their homes. The intention of this research was to explore if coping strategies decrease burden placed on caregivers and increase the likelihood of AD patients remaining in their own homes. Caregivers demonstrated improved knowledge of how OT can help them cope as a caregiver. The methodology used to determine whether or not coping strategies help the caregivers of those with AD or dementia was via a presentation to caregivers with a pre and post survey. The participants were asked in the pre and post surveys if they learned how to use coping strategies to help them as caregivers. The participants in this study either agreed or strongly agreed that they learned how to use coping strategies to help as a caregiver of someone with dementia or AD
Exploring Occupational Therapy\u27s Role in an Adaptive Sport/Leisure Community-Based Program and the Experience of Participating in Sports with Cognitive and Physical Disability
Get PDFOccupational therapy is defined by the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain & Process, 4th edition, as the therapeutic use of everyday life occupations with persons, groups, or populations for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation (AOTA, 2020). This simply proclaims, occupational therapist uses everyday activities to create or restore a person\u27s identity as identified by occupation. Engaging people with disability in active meaningful occupations (adaptive sports), through limiting barriers, occupational therapist have a role in adaptive sports programs. Meaningful physical activity is essential for sustaining a healthy lifestyle for people with disabilities and the way to address this is through using an occupational therapist within an adaptive sports program. The purpose of this capstone was to educate adaptive sports programs using evidence-based research on the role of occupational therapy within an adaptive sports program and the perspectives (facilitating factors and barriers) of participating in adaptive sports or physical active leisure activities. This capstone implemented pre- and post-surveys around an educational lecture to an adaptive sports program. These surveys provided quality data expressing the role of occupational therapy in adaptive sports programs and the barriers people with disability are faced with, when trying to find adaptive sports
Benefits of Farm-Based Occupational Therapy Interventions in Improving Fine Motor and Gross Motor Skill Development in Children at Risk for Early School Failure
Get PDFThis capstone project aimed to research and educate the directors at Bright Start, an early intervention program, on the benefits of farm-based occupational therapy in developing fine motor and gross motor skills in children at risk for early school failure. Recent studies have raised concerns regarding the inadequate motor skills observed in school-aged children entering kindergarten. This study examined the benefits of farm-based occupational therapy in addressing fine motor and gross motor delays in early school-aged children. This project employed an extensive literature review, a needs assessment to survey the opinion of kindergarten teachers on their students\u27 level of fine and gross motor skills, an education session, and a pre and post-test survey to determine the effectiveness of the education session. The literature determined the need for increased outdoor interventions that use motivating multi-sensory approaches. This study utilized electronic statistical software and calculators to determine the accuracy and impact of the presentation and needs assessment. The results of the pre and post-test surveys demonstrated an increase in knowledge and understanding of farm-based occupational interventions and the effect the interventions can have on the development of fine and gross motor skills in children. Furthermore, most kindergarten teachers surveyed had significant concerns over their students\u27 fine motor skills and felt that students lacked the appropriate skills to be successful. In addition, the pre and post-test survey showed a measurable difference, demonstrating a positive effect of the education session. The study suggests that farm-based occupation therapy can improve fine and gross motor skill development in children at risk for early school failure
Social Media Use Among Adolescents: Implementing A Social Media Family Plan
Get PDFEver since the creation of internet connected phones, social media usage has become a prominent daily activity among adolescents. However, there is little guidance for parents, teachers, and health professionals on how to foster healthy habits and routines regarding social media usage among the adolescent population. As a result, adolescents are experiencing more frequent occurrences of anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Toe intent of this paper is to investigate what makes adolescents a vulnerable population to the negative effects of social media and what research reveals is best practice for fostering healthy social media use. To answer these questions, the researcher created a pre-implementation survey, a Social Media Family Plan, and a post-implementation survey that was completed by two participants who fit the inclusion criteria. The Social Media Family Plan, created using what current literature reveals is best practice, was implemented for four weeks. Due to the small sample size, the researcher was unable to obtain data representative of the general adolescent population. However, there were observations made that showed positive changes to the adolescents\u27 mood, sleep habits, time management skills, and the parent/adolescent relationship. This study suggests that the Social Media Family Plan could be an appropriate tool that parents can use with their adolescent(s), or that healthcare providers can easily customize and adjust according to their client\u27s specific needs, to help foster a healthy relationship with social media
Implementing Environmentally Informed Occupational Therapy in Clinical Practice Settings
Get PDFAnthropogenic environmental decline and associated climate change is causing negative health and wellness and consequently occupational injustices. As human activity continues to be the largest contributing factor to environmental degradation, sustainability practices are essential now more than ever to remediate ecological damages for the health, wellbeing, and occupational justice of current and future generations. Occupational therapy (OT) is an occupation-based profession and therefore implies a focus on human activity with an underlying responsibility to promote environmental sustainability. OT practitioners have a unique ability to support client engagement and participation in ecosystem conservation and sustainability. The purpose of this paper was to determine if a research-based educational in-service presentation can increase awareness of the health effects of environmental degradation and climate change, increase sustainability knowledge and values, and improve OT practitioner\u27s engagement and participation in implementing environmentally informed care in clinical settings. A total of 12 rehabilitation professionals (eight OT practitioners) attended the presentation and were presented with pre- and post-surveys to be completed before and after the presentation in addition to a one-month follow-up self-assessment. The surveys included three identical questions administered on a Likert scale for comparison with two additional short-answer questions on the post-survey, composing a combination of quantitative and qualitative data to be analyzed. In conclusion, the collected data demonstrated an increase in awareness, knowledge, values, and engagement/participation in environmental sustainability among OT practitioners upon completion of the presentation. This evidence demonstrates the value of an educational in-service presentation for the improvement of environmentally informed care practices among OT practitioners
The Benefits of Martial Arts for Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Get PDFIt has been well-established that youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often peer-rejected and rated by parents, teachers, and observers to have poor social skills, when compared to typically developing peers. One solution to these problems is the provision of a positive outlet such as martial arts. The participation in martial arts offers children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) year-round physical activity, discipline, increased focus, self-efficacy, self-regulation skills, positive coping skills and empathy and respect towards others which can carry over into their home, school, and community life. These important aspects are closely related to the services that are provided by occupational therapist via client centered intervention. An occupational therapist can assist a child or adolescent with ADHD to develop organization skills, increase physical coordination, complete everyday tasks, develop a daily routine, develop or improve social skills, work on time management skills, and develop positive coping skills for adverse behaviors. The purpose of this capstone project is to identify evidence-based supports for the benefits of martial arts for children and adolescents with ADHD and to educate others on the role that occupational therapy can play within the martial arts setting. This project comprised research that produced an evidence-based capstone project and an educational in-service that was presented to martial arts instructors, parents, and medical professionals nationally and internationally
Expressive Arts in Occupational Therapy: Children Traumatized from Opioid-Addicted Caregivers
Get PDFOccupational therapy has been associated with expressive arts and the act of healing the body and mind since the inception of the profession. Children use expressive arts to self-express, explore, and enhance the development of the brain and body. Children that have experienced trauma may have trouble recognizing and expressing emotions, thus react with negative behaviors, poor social skills, and learning challenges. Trauma may occur in children from caregivers\u27 behaviors due to opioid addiction. The use of expressive arts through occupational therapy\u27s holistic perspective provides traumatized children with a guide to recognize and express emotions, increase attention, and improve social skills. This project was created to provide a central location of evidence-based expressive art ideas for academic professionals and therapists to help children that have been traumatized from opioid-addicted caregivers. The project will increase the knowledge of professionals to recognize trauma in children and identify expressive art modalities to process trauma. A needs assessment was conducted to determine interest. School professionals and occupational therapy practitioners participated in a pre-survey, in-service video presentation, and post-survey. The participants were educated on the value and use of expressive arts with children traumatized due to opioid-addicted caregivers. A website was created to provide professionals with a resource to use expressive arts with the intended population. Participants in the in-service increased knowledge in understanding how substance abuse by caregivers affects children. Respondents showed a slight decrease in knowledge specifically with understanding of children that have been traumatized by their opioid-addicted caregivers. The majority of respondents increased their understanding of the value of expressive arts use with traumatized children as important for childhood development. The project increased knowledge of the value and use of expressive arts with children traumatized due to opioid-addicted caregivers. School professionals and occupational therapy practitioners need to add expressive arts as a modality to use with traumatized children. Many professionals use art with children and are not aware of the value of expressive arts to process trauma. Occupational therapists have the skills and expertise to use expressive arts as one method to work with traumatized children from addicted caregivers. Collaboration with supportive professionals is important to ensure a safe environment for traumatized children. Delivering occupational therapists with the extended knowledge of the power of expressive arts with this population can provide traumatized children a way to work through traumatic events and improve success in community and academic settings
The Influence of Technology on a Child\u27s Mental and Physical Functions
Get PDFThe purpose of this project was to research and analyze various literature to determine the strengths and weaknesses of how the use of technology affects the child\u27s occupational performance. This was done by creating a pre-questionnaire to learn about a child\u27s daily use of technology and about a child\u27s non-use time with technology. Results showed that the majority of children utilized some form of technological device or devices between six to nine hours a day with the majority of time being used for educational content. However, the majority of children were either not supervised or had supervision no longer than two hours throughout the time frame. Based upon the analysis of the pre-questionnaire an educational handout was developed to provide the parental participants on information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of technology. Once parental participants were able to review the educational handout and ask questions, a post-questionnaire was provided to the participants. The majority of the parental participants\u27 opinions were that no change needed to be made to the time frames or supervision their children have when using electronic devices, but opinions changed in regards to encouraging more movement based technology and not allowing technology within the child\u27s bedroom. In conclusion, the research findings show that technology has strengths and barriers depending on the child\u27s ability to be an active participant, time limits that are in place, and the content viewed. Occupational therapist can use this knowledge to assist parents and educators in creating a balance between the use of technology and non-use of technology to individualize a plan for each child and family routine