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Supporting Leisure Exploration and Participation for Older Adults to Improve Occupational Performance
Get PDFThis capstone project aimed to develop a program advocating for leisure exploration and participation among older adults to address functional decline and improve quality of life. The program utilized a comprehensive needs assessment, including interviews, interest screening, and observations, to identify participants\u27 preferences and barriers to participation. Through education and advocacy, the program encouraged engagement in meaningful leisure activities tailored to individual interests and abilities. Participants reported satisfaction with their leisure participation, emphasizing the importance of socialization and maintaining physical and cognitive health. Modifications, such as activity adjustments, enabled participation despite health-related challenges. This project highlights the value of responsive and adaptive leisure opportunities in enhancing older adults\u27 quality of life and serves as a framework for future occupational therapy-led programs in similar settings.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2024/1057/thumbnail.jp
Aquatics as a Therapeutic Intervention and Its Effects on the Quality of Life of People Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Get PDF: Interventions in the form of aquatics have been utilized with the profession of occupational therapy as the aquatic environment is a model setting for addressing occupational therapy interests (Becker, 2009). Although aquatic interventions are utilized within profession, there is limited research discussing how aquatics as a therapeutic intervention effects the quality of life (QoL) of people diagnosed with ALS. Therefore, the purpose of the research project was to explore the effects of aquatics as a therapeutic intervention on the QoL of those diagnosed with ALS.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1024/thumbnail.jp
Karate for Adolescent’s Mental Health
Get PDFDescription: Mental health is essential for overall health because it affects emotional, psychological, and social well-being, which affects how individuals feel, act, and think (Center for Disease [CDC], 2022). Everyone can react differently to the same issue, which can cause diverse health risks (Gopalkrishnan, 2018). Mental health affects how people handle stress, interact with others, make choices, and participate in occupations that are important to them (CDC, 2022). Mental health issues are most prevalent in young adult, teen, and pre-teen populations.
By promoting based karate program, occupational therapy can prevent and/or reduce mental health issues (Bird, et al., 2019; Jurewicz, 2015). The OT-based karate program will benefit young adults, teens, and pre-teens by using karate to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. The outcome measures of this capstone project will be obtained using the following assessments: Needs assessment and Zoho survey. According to Moore et al., (2020), there is evidence supporting martial arts training as an effective sports-based mental health intervention that improves the participants’ well-being and reduces symptoms related to their mental health. The kawa model will be used as a frame of reference for the OT-based karate program. This model uses the metaphor for the flow of the river to represent life flow, and the tree, logs, and stones in the water represent the challenges, obstacles, or personal experiences that are slowing down the person’s river from flowing to their fullest potential, as related to their mental health status (Naidoo et al., 2023).https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1025/thumbnail.jp
Promoting Academic and Social Well-being for Young Adults with ASD towards Post-secondary Education and Employment
Get PDFThis program and policy-type capstone addresses the gap in inclusive services for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in post-secondary education (PSE). It resulted in developing and implementing a Social Engagement program designed to enhance communication skills, self-advocacy, and workplace preparedness—key factors for academic and vocational success. Guided by the Occupational Adaptation Model (OAM) and the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model, the program used a board game-based format to facilitate interactive learning and the practical application of social skills. Targeting young adults with ASD involved in vocational training, the program emphasized developing professional communication and workplace social interaction. The findings indicate that interventions grounded in OT models can help meet the social and communication needs of young adults with ASD, contributing to improved academic performance and better employment prospects. The success of this program underscores the importance of continuing to develop inclusive services that meet the unique challenges faced by this population in higher education.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1056/thumbnail.jp
Visualizing Versatility in Clinical Research: A Letter to the Editor on “Clinicians as Researchers”
Get PDFAn Evidence-Based Approach for Decreasing Burnout in Health Care Workers
Get PDFPractice Problem: Health care worker (HCW) burnout is a pervasive phenomenon within the healthcare industry, affecting professionals across various disciplines. Emotional exhaustion is a prominent feature, leading to feelings of being emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and unable to cope effectively with the demands of the job. Additionally, burnout often results in a significant lack of motivation among HCWs, who may struggle to find meaning and purpose in their work, exacerbating feelings of frustration and disillusionment. Consequences extend beyond individual well-being, impacting healthcare organizations with reduced work efficacy, low productivity, increased absenteeism, and high turnover rates. Addressing burnout requires a multifaceted approach, prioritizing supportive work environments, effective stress management strategies, and interventions aimed at promoting resilience and job satisfaction among healthcare professionals.
PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this scholarly project was: In healthcare workers (P) how does the HeartMath techniques (I) compared to standard mental health care (C) affect symptoms of burnout (O) within 8 weeks (T)?
Evidence: The literature evidence consistently demonstrated positive outcomes in preventing burnout among healthcare workers through the implementation of burnout prevention programs. These interventions equip healthcare professionals with the necessary tools and skills to effectively address their mental health challenges and uphold their physical well-being. By providing support mechanisms and promoting self-care practices, burnout prevention initiatives empower healthcare workers to proactively manage stressors inherent in their roles, thereby fostering resilience and sustaining optimal job performance. Such interventions not only benefit individual healthcare workers but also contribute to the overall functioning and quality of healthcare delivery systems.
Intervention: The proposed intervention entailed implementing burnout management-based techniques developed by HeartMath within a primary care setting, aiming to mitigate burnout and address employment-related mental health concerns among staff. The program was designed to provide a sustainable framework for employees experiencing mental health challenges, ultimately enhancing their well-being, reducing absenteeism, and enhancing patient outcomes. This initiative sought to offer practical strategies for coping with workplace stressors, thereby fostering a healthier work environment and promoting the overall welfare of both healthcare providers and the patients they serve.
Outcome: The results of this scholarly change project indicated a significant difference in the mean scores between pre- and posttests on the Personal and Organizational Quality Assessment (POQA-R4), suggesting the effectiveness of the HeartMath intervention in improving mental health status and work productivity. The findings demonstrated clinical significance, as evidenced by a notable decrease in burnout levels following participants\u27 exposure to the intervention. These outcomes underscore the potential impact of implementing HeartMath techniques to address burnout and promote overall well-being among individuals in professional settings.
Conclusion: The implementation of the HeartMath\u27s burnout management-based techniques within a primary care setting demonstrated promising results in mitigating burnout and enhancing mental health status and work productivity among healthcare professionals. The significant difference observed between pre- and post-test scores highlights the clinical significance of this intervention. These findings underscore the potential value of incorporating such interventions into organizational strategies aimed at addressing burnout and improving overall staff well-being. Further research and implementation efforts in similar contexts may provide additional insights into the effectiveness and scalability of these approaches in healthcare and other professional settings
Promoting Child Rearing for Teen Mothers within the Foster Care System
Get PDFTeenage pregnancy in foster care is twice the national average, with one-third becoming pregnant by 17. There are limited programs available to assist teen mothers in foster care in developing healthy parent-child relationships and parenting skills despite their desire to break the cycle of trauma and improve their relationships with their children. The objective of the capstone program is to establish and operate a residential maternity home-based trauma-informed parenting program that assists teenage mothers in foster care in developing parenting skills and a healthy parent-child relationship by providing them with the necessary resources and support.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1000/thumbnail.jp
Promoting Parental Competence When Transitioning from the NICU to Home: A Coaching Intervention
Get PDFThis handbook aims to improve the support system for families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by developing a coaching intervention that empowers parents, improves their confidence, and provides necessary home care skills.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1016/thumbnail.jp
Developing Healthy Routines in Adults with Serious Mental Illness Living in Supportive Housing: A Caregiver Guidebook
Get PDFSerious mental illness (SMI) are mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders that result in serious functional impairment limiting daily participation in activities. (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], n.d.-a). Adults living with serious mental illness (SMI) often experience unhealthy or maladaptive routines and often lack the support to build these routines. Supportive housing provides a stable home for adults with SMI to build healthy routines while receiving specialized treatments. In supportive housing organizations, there is a need for caregiver resources to support the individual\u27s healthy routine obtainment. This capstone project developed a five-step caregiver guidebook to help adults with SMI build healthy routines using a supportive and collaborative approach. This capstone guidebook was provided to a behavioral health organization to be utilized and sustainable for each adult with SMI who is seen in their therapeutic foster care program. This capstone project’s goal was to create a caregiver guidebook for developing healthy routines and promoting the participation, occupational identity, and occupational competence of adults with SMI living in supportive housing.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1017/thumbnail.jp
Play is a Way of Life: Play-Based Program for parents of Young Children (Ages Two to Five Years Old)
Get PDFThis play-based program was created for parents of young children (ages two to five years old) and is accessible through a website called Play is a Way of Life . Within this program it includes, educational material on the differences between active and passive play and recommendations for each type of play that children in this age group should participate in each day. It also includes a 6-week program with a variety of active play activities that target specific skills that children (ages two to five years old) should participate in for their overall development.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1014/thumbnail.jp