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Work Hardening and Mindfulness Training for Individuals Living with Traumatic Limb Loss
Get PDFAbout 185,000 amputations occur every year, leaving roughly about 2 million individuals currently living with limb loss in the United States. Within this population, about 45% of these injuries occur from traumatic events (Department of Veteran Affairs, 2022). These events include military veterans injured in combat, civilian motor vehicle accidents, gun shot wounds, industrial incidents, and various other traumatic events (Pomares et al., 2020). Due to the the recent loss of a limb, individuals within this population are at high risk of occupational abandonment secondary to many factors that are discussed within the Model of Human Occupation. Following a traumatic amputation, an individual may experience a decline in physical performance secondary to the loss of a limb. With this decline in performance, an individuals perception of their own abilities performing within their previous meaningful occupations may decline as well (Krisjansdottir et al., 2020). This could be due to a multitude of factors, including a decline in confidence to perform a variety of previously desired tasks. Following this decline in volition, an individual living with limb loss will experience a decrease in habituation due to a sudden change in their internalized roles. This change in roles is secondary to a correlation between decline in performance due to the recent loss of a limb and also a decline in volition. A major occupation that is heavily impacted by these factors is work. Work is an occupation that majority of our population participates in. When impacted, the decrease of participation can affect an individual\u27s overall well-being in a negative manner (Edgelow, et al., 2020). Work provides an individual with many benefits such as fulfillment, economic independence, and social participation; however, it can also be harmful to an individual’s overall well-being if it is impacted in a negative manner (Edgelow et al., 2020). Society values work because it provides people with a sense of purpose and belonging to something larger than themselves. Furthermore, work emphasizes effort through external rewards such as compensation or promotion that then leads to self-satisfaction (Edgelow et al., 2020). This degree of influence work has on an individual’s well-being means it can heavily influence other occupations negatively and eventually lead to occupational abandonment.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1062/thumbnail.jp
Disabling Conditions of Para-Alpine Athletes: An Education Series for Ski Instructors
Get PDFPara-alpine ski instructors in the United States need more training on disabling conditions and their definition, deficits, and adaptations for para-alpine skiing; This capstone closes the gap. Para-Alpine skiing is discussed in detail, highlighting instructor training, adaptive equipment, and para-athletes. The disabling conditions of para-athletes are identified along with details related to their para-alpine skiing experience. The methods of this capstone consisted of creating an educational series of videos highlighting five disabling conditions: Autism, spinal cord injuries and conditions, vision impairments, cerebral palsy, and progressive neurodegenerative disorders. The product was presented following a 14-week experience with the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, CO.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1074/thumbnail.jp
Exploring Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia’s Self-Efficacy: A Qualitative Study
Get PDFA qualitative research study was done by conducting in-person and virtual interviews with past and current caregivers of individuals with dementia. This study was done to get a better understanding of caregiver self-efficacy, and how Occupational Therapy can be a solution and an advocate for caregivers.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1075/thumbnail.jp
Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Student Volunteer Activities During COVID-19 and Beliefs about Practitioner Roles in Crisis Management
Get PDFBackground: Due to the global novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many students in entry-level occupational therapy programs faced changes to their daily roles, habits, and routines. To understand beliefs about OT practitioner roles in a public health crisis, a cross-sectional study was designed to understand occupational therapy students (OTS) and occupational therapy assistant students (OTAS) volunteer activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A survey was developed and distributed in April 2020, and closed after five weeks. Quantitative data was analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Version 27) and open response data was categorized in Microsoft Excel.
Results: Respondents included students from entry-level OT/OTA accredited programs such as occupational therapy doctorate, entry level master’s, bachelor’s to master’s and occupational therapy assistant (n=853, 2.8% of OTS/OTAS population). Nearly all respondents endorsed that OT practitioners have at least one role during a crisis (n=851, 99.8%) and after a crisis (n=848, 99.4%) like COVID-19. A minority of students volunteered in response to COVID-19 (n=60, 7.0%). Volunteer activities addressed clinical work, food insecurity, loneliness, social justice, healthcare workers, COVID-19 transmission, and personal protective equipment. Inspirations for volunteering included altruism, justice, personal responsibility, changes to routines, calls to action, and fulfilling obligations.
Discussion: It is hoped that this study serves as a springboard for future research related to the OTS/OTAS response to COVID-19. Educators can prepare students for future public health emergencies by exposing them to information regarding OT’s role in disaster management
Treating Mothers with Postpartum Depression While in the NICU
Get PDFThe presentation is about an educational program developed to educate mothers with or at risk for postpartum depression (PPD) while their baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Mothers learned about the nature of PPD, occupations to implement to decrease symptoms of PPD, and occupations that they can participate in to care for their NICU babies. The evaluations, interventions, and outcomes of the program are discussed.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1006/thumbnail.jp
Reducing Rates of Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Room
Get PDFPractice Problem: In one emergency room (ER) blood cultures (BC) drawn by nurses had a high contamination rate due to lack of collection standards, which lead to poor patient outcomes.
PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was; In adult emergency room patients where blood cultures are drawn (P), how does implementation of an evidence-based practice method (I), compared to the standard method of obtaining blood cultures (C), affect blood culture contamination rates (O), within ten weeks. (T)?
Evidence: Based on multiple sources within the literature; best evidence for lowering blood culture contamination rates (BCC) is done using EBP guidelines for collection of blood cultures, educating staff members, and having the same BC collection materials handy at all stations within the unit.
Intervention: Using EBP guidelines for BC collection a standardization of practice form was made and given to the nurses within the unit. The nurses were then educated and checked off by phlebotomists. Pre-made BC collection kits were placed on the unit for use by nurses. Data was tracked weekly over the 10-week period and nurses who had BCCs were re-educated and checked off again prior to their next BC collection.
Outcome: Percent change was used as the measure of success of the project, rather than statistical analysis. It was clear to see that during the implementation phase the rate of BCCs had a steady decline from 4.55% to 2.38%.
Conclusion: The results shows that the use of an EBP standardization of BC collection helped decrease the overall BCC rate within the specific ED. This allowed for the total BCC rate to fall below the goal of 3% or less, which is clinically significant
Addressing the Gap in Discharge Planning from a Skilled Nursing Facility
Get PDFThis project aims to improve health management in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) by developing and implementing a comprehensive evaluation tool designed to assess patients\u27 readiness for discharge. The tool addresses critical factors often overlooked during discharge planning, helping to identify areas where patients may feel unprepared or uncertain. By focusing on these areas, the project seeks to enhance patient outcomes and support effective health management.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1044/thumbnail.jp
Barriers and Supports to Academic Success Among Autistic College Students: A Qualitative Study
Get PDFAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects many college students, impacting their everyday life activities and making transitions challenging. Occupational therapists serve a role in treating students with autism, but there is little evidence in the literature about their perceived barriers and strengths during the high school to college transition. This study utilized a semi-structured interview & thematic analysis to uncover the unique challenges & successes these students with autism face in an academic setting & identify effective support mechanisms/barriers.
Research Questions:
What are the perceived barriers to participation and performance in academic activities among college students with autism?
What are the perceived supports to participation and performance in academic activities among college students with autism?
What are the perceived barriers in transitioning from high school to college among college students with autism?
What are the perceived strengths in transitioning from high school to college among college students with autism?
Six participants participated in one audio-recorded 30-minute semi-structured interview and were asked open-ended questions to establish emergent themes related to supports and barriers to transition to college. This study revealed that strong interpersonal support, such as early OT services and peer encouragement, were vital for building confidence and social skills, while poor interpersonal skills presented notable challenges. Intrapersonal supports, including self-awareness, helped students manage academic and emotional challenges, but issues like poor ADL execution and denial of autism created significant obstacles. Environmental supports, such as access to accommodations, were essential, but barriers like unclear communication and insufficient listening from schools hindered success.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1053/thumbnail.jp
Yoga-Based Occupational Therapy for People with Upper Extremity Dysfunction: An Educational Video Series
Get PDFThe upper extremity (UE) is essential for daily activities and occupational tasks. The inability to perform these tasks can negatively impact self-efficacy and hinder injury recovery. Current hand therapy often focuses on biomechanical approaches, neglecting these psychosocial aspects and deviating from core occupational therapy (OT) principles. Integrating yoga into OT for UE injuries and disorders can fill the gap in hand therapy needed to address psychosocial factors. However, Certified hand therapists who are occupational therapists lack the knowledge to integrate yoga-based interventions into OT practice for clients with UE conditions. The purpose of this project was to create an educational video series on the integration of yoga techniques into OT for UE conditions and injuries. This project examines how physiological and emotional states can negatively impact self-efficacy, delay recovery, and affect patient adherence to rehabilitation. A literature review informed this product on the benefits of yoga for UE injuries and disorders, the current use of yoga within OT, and existing hand therapy treatment processes. The product is a video series designed to educate occupational therapy practitioners on integrating yoga techniques into their practice for treating upper extremity dysfunction. Yoga techniques have the potential to help reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension, which provides clients with tools to increase interoceptive awareness and self-regulation to manage UE conditions. By addressing physical and psychosocial needs, this platform offers occupational therapy practitioners a resource to enhance patient outcomes and promote participation in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1052/thumbnail.jp
Occupational Impact of Urinary Incontinence
Get PDFThe purpose of this capstone project was to conduct a research study to identify if children with UI encountered occupational impacts due to their condition, as well as their caregivers. Twelve caregivers participated in an online survey investigating the occupational impact (supports, barriers, and limitations) of being a caregiver to a child who encounters UI. The survey addressed how their child’s UI affects various occupations. The findings indicate a significant impact on leisure participation and home management. The qualitative data was acquired through unobtrusive methods, including narratives, blogs, and lived experiences, to provide the perspective of how UI affects children. There were seventeen unobtrusive methods gathered and analyzed. The child’s perspective revealed that societal stigma surrounding UI adversely affected their view of their condition, which caused negative self-perception and embarrassment. This psychological impact led them to develop strategies to reduce occupational disturbances, such as avoiding occupations (leisure activities, school, and sports), using/hiding disposable products, hiding wet clothing, or carrying spare items. In adulthood, many individuals reconciled with UI, utilizing disposable products and losing self-stigma and societal stigma. Both groups faced a lack of choice due to UI, including having to settle with using disposable products, clothes, jobs, and leisure activities. Lack of education between caregivers and healthcare professionals led to anguish through verbal and physical abuse and dismissive attitudes.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1059/thumbnail.jp