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Evidence-Based Interventions to Teach Daily Life Skills to Adults Impacted by Disabilities in Transition-Based Programs
Get PDFIn collaboration with an occupational therapist at a school-based outreach program, we conducted a systematic literature review exploring existing evidence-based interventions that support activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) skill acquisition for transition-aged students over the age of 18 highly impacted by cognitive or intellectual disabilities. Existing literature explored the use of video-based interventions such as video prompting (VP) and video modeling (VM); interactive technology such as augmented reality, iPad applications, or audio recordings; non-technology based interventions such as visual supports, self-regulated problem solving, and adapting the environment. The evidence favored the use of VP to support ADL and IADL skill acquisition, with added support such as graduated guidance and error correction. The end product of the knowledge translation was a publicly-available VP intervention for putting groceries away. Production of the VP intervention involved creating a task analysis, filming and script writing. In order to track the ease, efficiency, and feasibility of a video-promoting intervention in this population, we administered a pre-post test survey. Results indicate a higher feasibility in use of this intervention in a setting servicing transition aged clients impacted by disabilities. We recommend that future researchers continue to focus on interventions to support transition-aged students highly impacted by disabilities with ADL and IADL skill acquisition
The Panamanian Puzzle Successful Democratization and Foreign-Imposed Regime Change
Get PDFPanama represents one of the only modern success stories of foreign-imposed regime change (FIRC) following Operation Just Cause, a military intervention led by the United States to remove Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. Literature on foreign military interventions as a whole traditionally suggests that FIRC is not effective long-term in countries trying to democratize. Panama’s democratization therefore represents a puzzle in why it has succeeded where so many others failed. This puzzle is compounded by the fact that Panama’s transition has not received much attention from political scientists despite Latin America generally being of interest to FIRC scholars. This paper posits that Panama succeeded due to its broader regional context, prior experience with democracy, long-term relationship with the U.S., transitionary stability provided by regime-era holdovers, and the impending transfer of the Panama Canal. Political scientists and foreign policy advisors should reevaluate Panama’s success story and apply the lessons learned from it in future understandings of foreign intervention and global regime change
“Growing Together”: Addressing the Support Needs of Caregivers Postpartum Through Occupational Therapy Intervention
Get PDFThrough a collaboration with a practicing occupational therapist in Tacoma, Washington who is currently interested in opening a private practice focused on providing care to caregivers in the postpartum period, the researchers posed the question, “When treating caregivers with children under one year of age, what is the effectiveness of existing interventions within the scope of occupational therapy in improving occupational performance?” Through a critical appraisal of topic project, it was found that the existing evidence supports occupational therapy interventions in the form of brief motivational interviewing, behavioral treatments, self-regulation education, wrist stabilization techniques, and group treatments aimed at decreasing depressive and anxious symptoms.
After the critical appraisal of topic project was finalized, researchers completed a needs assessment for the potential future business in the form of a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. This analysis was informed by a survey dispersed to healthcare professionals treating caregivers in the postpartum period and an interview with a certified nurse midwife in the Tacoma area. Information from the survey and interview indicated that healthcare professionals are unaware of occupational therapy’s role in serving caregivers postpartum but are interested in learning more. Future recommendations include further research on the lived experience of caregivers and how depressive symptoms and role change difficulties affect occupational performance
Continuum Model of Faceted Ice Crystal Growth in Cirrus Clouds in 1 Dimension
Get PDFIce crystals in cirrus clouds exhibit stable faceted growth and roughening which affects reflectivity. A numerically stable modelling system of partial differential equations representing the thickness of ice surfaces over time may assist in describing these features. A sinusoidal relationship between total thickness and water vapor deposition on the surface of ice crystals was observed experimentally; the modelling equation for this relationship was applied to the system in order to develop a one variable model. The developed one variable models continue to exhibit numerical instabilities prior to a Fourier Transform. Stable limit cycles of ice growth were observed in the two variable model
Does Caregiver Use of Portable Technology Impact Attachment for Infants and Young Children?
Get PDFEllie Olson, OTR/L, the primary collaborator for this project, is the owner of Fall City Children’s Therapy. In collaboration with occupational therapy (OT) students and faculty advisors, Renee Watling, Maggie Hayes, and Yvonne Swinth, the research question, “Does caregiver use of portable technology impact attachment for infants and young children?” was developed. This systematic review resulted in 12 articles meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. The articles reported mixed results: (1) association between parent technology use and child attachment, (2) no association between parent technology use and child attachment, and (3) other associations besides parent technology use and child attachment, including quality of interactions during and after parent cell phone use, parent responsiveness to child, and increased negative child behaviors. After reviewing the research/literature, it was recommended that parents be cautious about their technology use around their children and take into consideration potential impacts portable technology use may have.
Knowledge translation for this project consisted of compiling and synthesizing research into an informational brochure distributed to caregivers at Fall City Children’s Therapy and University of Puget Sound occupational therapy teaching clinic. A post-brochure survey assessed knowledge gained by consumers and change in attitude toward technology use from after reading the informational brochure. Seven surveys were completed and all respondents reported caregiver technology use had an impact on parent child attachment including, quality of attachment, caregiver-child interaction, and increased child protest behavior. Of the respondents, a majority indicated that they were planning on changing their technology use around their children. In the future, it was recommended for further exploration of the impact of caregiver\u27s technology usage specifically on children’s emotional regulation
Is Upright Exploratory Play Influenced by Partial Body Weight Support in Infants with Down Syndrome?
Get PDFIs Upright Exploratory Play Influenced by Partial Body Weight Support in Infants with Down Syndrome?
Sofia Hardin, SPT; Christa Lum, SPT
Mentor: Julia Looper, PT, PhD
Background: Children with Down syndrome (DS) typically present with delayed gross motor skills, which may negatively impact their development in other realms, such as cognition and language. The partial body-weight supported system (PBWSS) is a possible early intervention for infants with DS in physical therapy settings and in the community to facilitate motor development through exploratory play.
Purpose: To explore the effects of a PBWSS on upright play positions during exploratory play among infants with DS. Upright play positions include kneeling, squatting, standing, cruising, supported stepping, and walking.
Methods: (N=3). Researchers used a 9x9ft play environment that included the PBWSS and toys. Infants under the age of three attended nine one-hour sessions over the course of three weeks. Infants moved freely within the space and interacted with researchers and present family members. Researchers behavior-coded the first 30 minutes of play for the first and last session with the PBWSS for each infant. Gross motor behaviors were coded for specific motions during the first 2 seconds of every 6 second interval for the duration of the 30 minute play time, totaling to 300 observations.
Results: Observations of upright play increased in the last session compared to the first for all three infants, increasing from 33% to 40.67% for infant 1, 15.67% to 49.67% for infant 2 and 39.33% to 47.67% for infant 3.
Conclusion: The PBWSS seemed to influence upright play positions during exploratory play for infants with DS and is worth further exploration
