Scholarship and Open Access Repository
Not a member yet
1330 research outputs found
Sort by
Contributions of Occupational Therapy in Sport Provider Training using a Health-Promoting Environment for Positive Youth Development
Get PDFRising youth public health disparities can be attributed to the social determinants of health that influence health and wellness. Youth sport providers can be influential in creating healthier environments that facilitate positive youth development and social emotional learning, thus positively impacting life-long health behaviors choices and public health. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of an education module developed by an occupational therapist on sport’s providers perceptions of their capacity to implement positive youth development programming and to create a health-promoting environment.
A qualitative descriptive approach was used in this study allowing for purposive sampling, inductive thematic analysis, and flexible, multiple source data collection. Participants were given two weeks to review an educational module before completing a semi-structured interview. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed until themes emerged. Thematic analysis produced the following themes for results: (1) health promotion education facilitates occupational balance, (2) occupational identity enhances the social and cultural environment, and (3) supporting occupational behaviors promotes positive youth development. Each theme represented an interdependent relationship to participants’ capacity to change their environment. Research exploring youth sport providers occupational identity, behaviors, and capacity for change can better inform the occupational therapy profession on how to best motivate, advocate, and empower change in public health. Occupation-based interventions, education, and policymaking utilizing valued leisure occupations can create healthier physical, social, and cultural environments for youth athletes
Interprofessional education and collaboration in the Philippines: Current landscape, gaps, and propositions
Get PDFInterprofessional education (IPE) is a forward-looking strategy in healthcare education that unites students and professionals from various disciplines to enhance interprofessional collaboration (IPC). IPE is designed to prepare future health and social care professionals to navigate and address the complexities of modern healthcare systems. In the Philippines, despite being a developing country with a fragmented healthcare system, there have been efforts over the last 15 to 20 years to introduce and institutionalize IPE and IPC in both higher education and healthcare settings. However, significant challenges persist, including the dominance of medical professionals, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, and a lack of strong partnerships between academic institutions and healthcare providers. The current landscape of IPE in the Philippines reveals that while progress has been made, IPE is not yet a standardized requirement across educational institutions. Its implementation often relies on the initiative of individual departments or colleges, and the outcomes-based education (OBE) framework prevalent in the country may not fully support the development of IPE competencies. Additionally, the existing referral system, dominated by medical doctors, hinders the effective translation of IPE competencies into practice. To address these issues, it is crucial to institutionalize IPE across health and medical curricula, adopt a systems-based education (SBE) approach that emphasizes collective action and health equity, and promote professional humility among healthcare professionals. Enhancing partnerships between academic institutions, government bodies, and healthcare providers is also essential, as is reforming the referral system to foster true collaborative practice. By addressing these critical gaps, the Philippines can advance toward a healthcare environment where IPE and IPC are central to education, training, practice, and policy, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for all Filipinos
Simulated Adventures: Occupational Therapy\u27s Role in Outdoor Participation
Get PDFAccess to outdoor leisure activities remains limited for individuals with disabilities due to barriers such as transportation challenges, functional limitations, and social/psychological constraints. These limitations significantly reduce opportunities for participation in outdoor recreation, which has been proven to enhance the overall quality of life. This capstone program aims to address these challenges by supporting the special abilities community in developing transferable skills necessary for meaningful engagement in outdoor activities. The program emphasizes emotional regulation, social participation, health promotion, and safety education while enhancing the quality of life. Through this program, participants develop essential skills for engaging in outdoor activities by utilizing adaptive strategies and modifications, focusing on cognitive safety awareness and the ability to carry out functional tasks effectively. As a result, this program seeks to increase occupational performance and independence in outdoor recreation through targeted skill development and inclusive support.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1007/thumbnail.jp
Family-Centered Care in Pediatric Oncology
Get PDFPediatric cancer is a medical condition defined by the development of cancerous cells in children and adolescents. Play is a child’s job; it creates a sense of belonging, fills their internal desire to participate in various environments, and allows them to develop sensory, motor, and cognitive skills. The PEOP model further structured this study by providing a comprehensive framework that considers the interactions between the child, their environment, and their occupational participation. This research project used a qualitative, exploratory design to understand how play-based interventions may enhance FCC in the pediatric oncology setting. Thematic analysis was utilized to create five themes, each containing two corresponding subthemes to explore the role of play-based OT in pediatric oncology. Play served as a means for emotional regulation and resilience. An essential aspect for uplifting caregivers and strengthening their confidence in engaging with their child\u27s play was caregiver education. Engaging in play was discovered to be a channel for self-expression while additionally serving as a tool for children to process their medical experience and cancer journey. Several limitations in this study will be mentioned; the sample size of seven participants was relatively small, which may affect the diversity of experiences among caregivers and OTPs. This study emphasizes the significance of FCC within play-based OT in supporting children and their caregivers during their pediatric oncology journey.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1022/thumbnail.jp
Live Music Events: The Lived Experiences for People with Disabilities
Get PDFLive music events present barriers to people with disabilities, limiting participation and full engagement at these events. This capstone project aimed to understand the lived experience of people with disabilities at live music events. A mixed methods research study and optional interview to gather data were used. Through thematic analysis, three themes were presented: physical barriers, more than just music, and the lack of education on invisible disabilities. These outcomes from the research express additional accommodations centered around physical barriers, an understanding that there are more occupations at these events besides just the music, and a need for more inclusion amongst the community of people with disabilities.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1050/thumbnail.jp
Occupational Therapy in Upper Limb Loss, Prosthetics, and Rehabilitation: A Video Training Series for Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Practitioners
Get PDFThe purpose of this capstone project was to deepen my understanding of upper limb prosthetics, observe patient care, and identify gaps in occupational therapy education related to upper limb loss, prosthetic use, and rehabilitation. A key objective was to support the Hanger Clinic by increasing the number of completed Upper Limb Prosthetic User Outcome Forms, as well as to capture photos and videos—separate from this video training series—to contribute to Hanger’s educational library. Additionally, the project aimed to develop practical resources for both patients and clinicians navigating upper limb loss. Insights gained throughout this experience informed the creation of a video training series on upper limb prosthetics and rehabilitation, designed specifically for entry-level occupational therapists.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1054/thumbnail.jp
Enhancing Interprofessional Staff Competence in Culturally Sensitive Patient Education: A Web-Based Health Literacy Toolkit for Brazilian Immigrants in Florida
Get PDFPractice Problem: Brazilian immigrants in Florida face cultural and language barriers that hinder their ability to understand and engage with healthcare services. Additionally, healthcare providers often lack the cultural competency needed to deliver effective patient education, contributing to poor health literacy within this population.
PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: For healthcare interprofessional staff supporting Brazilian immigrants in Florida (P), how does the development of a web-based health literacy toolkit (I), compared to standard educational methods (C), influence their competency in delivering culturally sensitive patient education (O)?
Evidence: Research demonstrates that culturally tailored health literacy interventions improve patient comprehension, adherence to treatment, and overall health outcomes, supporting the need for targeted educational strategies for immigrant populations.
Intervention: This project proposed a web-based health literacy toolkit featuring interactive training modules, patient education materials in Portuguese, and culturally relevant resources to enhance interprofessional staff competence in culturally sensitive communication.
Outcome: The expected outcome is that healthcare providers using the toolkit will show increased confidence and competence in delivering culturally appropriate patient education, leading to improved health literacy and healthcare engagement among Brazilian immigrants.
Conclusion: This project highlights the potential of culturally tailored, web-based educational tools to strengthen provider competencies and promote equitable healthcare delivery for immigrant populations, particularly Brazilian immigrants in Florida
Advocating for POTS; A Misdiagnosed and Underserved Population
Get PDFPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia that primarily affects the autonomic nervous system, making daily activities such as standing or concentrating difficult due to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog. It is most common in young women, often triggered by autoimmune diseases, viral infections, or trauma. POTS is under-diagnosed, with healthcare providers often unaware of its full spectrum of symptoms and the role of occupational therapy in managing daily function. Occupational therapy (OT) can significantly improve quality of life by helping patients manage symptoms and regain independence. Raising awareness of POTS and the benefits of occupational therapy is crucial for supporting this underserved population.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1063/thumbnail.jp
Learning What to Say Through Theater and Play: A Theater Arts Communication and Conflict Resolution Program for Neurodivergent Children
Get PDFJoshua’s Stage is a theater-based enrichment program for children with special needs. Joshua’s Stage provides developmentally appropriate activities for their students, but they do not address clinical or functional problems. Problem: Joshua’s Stage does not provide specialized programming to meet the needs of neurodivergent children with communication problems and conflict resolution, making it difficult for these children to participate fully. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create a theater arts communication and conflict resolution program for neurodivergent children to be integrated into Joshua’s Stage enrichment program. A four-week program, consisting of eight sessions, was developed over a 14-week timeframe. It consisted of researching aspects of communication to create themes, researching theater-based activities that could encompass these themes, rough drafts of each session, mentor reviews and feedback, rewriting sessions based off feedback, activity trials, and modifications based on observations and Joshua’s Stage’s staff’s feedback. Four of the eight program activities were trialed, with modifications made to increase comprehension and support, and to maximize participation and enjoyment. These changes to grade down the activity were built into the program as options to meet the children’s needs. The program aimed to increase activity participation by teaching communication and conflict-resolution skills through theater and arts-based activities.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1071/thumbnail.jp
Infusing OT Principles into a Program for Women Survivors of Domestic Violence
No full textThis capstone project proposes the development and implementation of a trauma-informed occupational therapy (OT) program designed to support women survivors of domestic violence. Grounded in trauma-informed care principles, the program aims to address the psychosocial, emotional, and functional disruptions commonly experienced by survivors, including trauma-related stress, anxiety, and difficulty engaging in meaningful daily activities. A comprehensive needs assessment informed the development of structured interventions focused on improving emotional regulation, promoting self-care, fostering social participation, and enhancing overall occupational performance. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the project evaluates changes in participants’ functional abilities, psychosocial well-being, and perceived quality of life. The findings are intended to guide OT practitioners and community programs in delivering accessible, evidence-informed care to a highly vulnerable population, while demonstrating the value of occupational therapy in trauma recovery and empowerment.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2025/1005/thumbnail.jp