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Education and Advocacy for People with Disabilities: Adaptive Clothing Awareness
No full textThe purpose of this educational capstone project is to develop and implement educational sessions that provide resources, raise awareness, and support individuals with disabilities in accessing adaptive clothing. The aim was to bridge the knowledge and awareness gap and provide hands-on learning opportunities to promote dressing independence.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2025/1010/thumbnail.jp
Improving the Quality of Life of Adults with Visual Impairments Through an Occupational Therapy Lens
No full textAdults with visual impairments often experience decreased independence, safety concerns, and reduced confidence in daily occupations, particularly during meal preparation. This capstone project aimed to develop and implement an occupation-based educational program to support safe and independent cooking for adults with visual impairments. A needs assessment was conducted at Envision Dallas, resulting in a program focused on meal preparation and the use of adaptive strategies. The program consisted of twelve structured lessons delivered through a combination of individual sessions and group-based instruction. Outcomes were measured using pre- and post-session questionnaires, informal observation, and participant and family feedback. Results indicated improvements in participants’ confidence, safety awareness, and use of adaptive tools during cooking tasks. Findings support the role of occupational therapy in enhancing independence and quality of life for adults with visual impairments through client-centered, occupation-based intervention.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2025/1017/thumbnail.jp
The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Care of Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Concept Analysis
Get PDFInformal caregivers (care partners) are people, such as family members, who provide care to those who cannot care for themselves, including people with dementia (PwD). Care partners assist PwD in their daily occupations, often without training. Caring for PwD can lead to emotional, physical, financial, and occupational challenges for care partners. Occupational therapy (OT) has a role to play in the care of PwD. However, if clinicians do not operate from a dyadic model, care partners’ needs may be overlooked. Problem: Although addressing the care partner dyad is important to the delivery of OT, the role of OT in the care of informal caregivers of PwD is not well articulated in the OT literature, which makes it difficult for OT practitioners to provide optimal care. Clarifying this concept can improve the delivery of OT services for the care partner-PWD dyad. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to conduct a concept analysis on the role of OT in the care of informal caregivers of PwD. Results: The role of OT with informal caregivers of PwD is to identify barriers to participation and challenges to effective occupational performance with the care partner-PWD dyad and to implement interventions to enable participation and enhance performance. The key attributes of this role are a) viewing the care partner-PWD dyad as the “client,” b) taking a dyadic approach to the OT process, c) providing caregiver education and training, d) addressing home safety and environmental modification, e) long term planning, and f) interdisciplinary care coordination
Social Program for Adults Living in Group Homes
Get PDFAdults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs) living in group homes have lower quality of life outcomes, particularly for the domain of social inclusion, compared to adults with IDDs who live alone or with family. This capstone experience aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a social program for this population to promote community engagement and interpersonal relationships. The 8-week social program was planned for participants living in group homes led by Trinity Services in suburban IL. A needs assessment included interviews with clients and staff about supports and barriers to social participation and ideas for community activities. The program was developed for 29 participants from 2 group homes and 2 intermediate care facilities. Participants received social skills training in which they learned either social media or basic sign language, depending on individual needs. Most sessions encouraged group activities such as board games, arts and crafts, or physical activities like playing with balls. Participants also enjoyed community outings, but several were canceled due to health precautions. Post-program interviews revealed that 27 clients were satisfied with their social participation after the program, compared to 14 who reported social satisfaction before the program. Promoting social participation in group homes is an emerging practice area for occupational therapy.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1017/thumbnail.jp
Lived Experience of Caregivers of Individuals Labeled with Schizophrenia
Get PDFThe purpose of the capstone project was to explore the experience of caregivers of an individual labeled with schizophrenia and create educational materials beneficial to caregivers at partnering site. Caregivers of individuals labeled with schizophrenia can face mental health concerns, such as anxiety, stress, or depression, which may or may not be due to the demands of being a caregiver. The occupational impact of these mental health concerns is noted in literature, but the potential for occupational therapy to address these occupational concerns has not been identified for this caregiver population specifically. The purpose of the project was to learn more about caregiver’s experience from providing care for an individual labeled with schizophrenia through an occuapational lense secondary to the mental health concerns caregivers face. The project aimed to understand if caregiver’s occupations are impacted and in what way while engaging in caregiver responsibilities. The capstone project consisted of several components mainly achieved through an in-depth learning experience with the population of caregivers in the mental health setting. A detailed literature review, completed needs assessment, and educational resources were all completed as a result of the learning experience provided through various platforms. The student gained proficient knowledge in the topic chosen along with a better understanding of how occupational therapy supports caregivers in the mental health system.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1032/thumbnail.jp
Facilitating the Use of SBAR by Nursing Staff for Handoff Communication
Get PDFPractice Problem: Clear communication during shift handoffs is crucial to minimize errors and ensure patient safety in intensive care. The current SBAR framework used in the MICU is constrained by limited documentation space, which led to communication inefficiencies and heightened risks for patient care.
PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In the NFSG VA MICU, will staff nurses (P) using a revised SBAR communication tool with a checklist (I), compared to the current outdated SBAR tool without a checklist (C), improve the accuracy and completeness of patient handoff communication (O) over eight weeks (T)?
Evidence: The project was guided by evidence demonstrating that standardized communication tools, such as SBAR, enhance information accuracy, reduce handoff errors, and improve patient safety in critical care units. The intervention involved revising the SBAR tool to include a checklist and expanded sections for documentation, followed by staff training and implementation over eight weeks.
Outcome: The results indicated statistically significant improvements in communication effectiveness (77.14% to 100%), tracking of invasive devices (5.71% to 96.78%), and compliance with restraint documentation (6.06% to 90.91%), demonstrating increased staff adherence and reduced handoff errors. The project validated the effectiveness of a structured handoff tool in improving communication accuracy and patient safety.
Conclusion: The successful implementation of the revised SBAR tool highlights the importance of standardized communication strategies in critical care, ensuring sustainability through ongoing staff engagement and quality improvement initiatives
Bridging the Gap Between Early Childhood Educators and Occupational Therapists Through the Development of an Occupational Therapy Toolkit
Get PDFA Early Childhood Education and Occupational Therapy Toolkit created to help bridge the gap between the professions based on clinical observation and a needs assessment.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1036/thumbnail.jp
Exploring the Impact of OT on Pain Management & Quality of Life in Individuals Following Lower Limb Amputation
Get PDFThis capstone project explores the role of occupational therapy (OT) in managing pain and enhancing quality of life (QoL) for individuals following lower limb amputation (LLA). Despite OT\u27s recognized potential in addressing physical and psychosocial challenges, there is a lack of research specifically examining its impact on pain management outcomes post-amputation. This mixed-methods study involved quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 11 participants to assess their experiences with OT services, pain strategies, and QoL. Results highlighted both the benefits and limitations of current OT interventions, emphasizing the need for personalized, client-centered approaches. Themes such as the search for non-pharmacological strategies, adaptive resilience, and the desire for greater OT involvement in pain management underscore the profession’s evolving role in post-LLA rehabilitation.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1045/thumbnail.jp
Self-Management Program for Dyslipidemia: Impact on Health Behaviors to Modifiable Risk Factors and Compliance
Get PDFPractice Problem: Dyslipidemia management requires participation by both the healthcare provider and the patient alike. The inability to control lipid levels, including modifiable risk factors, can lead to cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death globally.
PICOT: In patients at a federally qualified health center that are 18-99 years of age and have a diagnosis of any type of dyslipidemia (P), does the implementation of a self-management program (SMP) via continued access to video recordings, take-home booklets, and biweekly follow-up calls (I) compared to current practices (C), increase compliance to medication adherence and lifestyle modification recommendations (O) within 8-weeks (T).
Evidence: SMPs have resulted in statistical significance of behavioral modifications (diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and medication compliance) and patient outcomes. Most of this research has been focused on chronic diseases such as diabetes, however, dyslipidemia has been included within the studies.
Intervention: An 8-week SMP for dyslipidemia was implemented to eligible participants.
Outcome: A two proportions z-test was statistically significant, without assumption of normality, for participants to be completely compliant with health behaviors post-intervention of a self-management program for dyslipidemia (83.33%, n=6).
Conclusion: The implementation of a self-management program for dyslipidemia demonstrated statistical significance for increasing positive health behavior to modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Future projects might have the ability and opportunity to show statistical significance transferrable to lipid panel outcomes post SMP implementation
Supporting Occupational Identity in Senior Collegiate Athletes
Get PDFCapstone project designed to support the transition of retired collegiate athletes by promoting occupational identity and mental well-being. Built upon occupational therapy theories, the program addresses key challenges such as loss of routine, social reintegration, and identity development post-sport. It incorporates goal setting, time management strategies, and group discussions to foster self-exploration and resilience. The project aims to build a supportive environment that empowers athletes to thrive beyond their athletic careers.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1055/thumbnail.jp