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Individualized Sensory Based Functional Activity Program For Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disability with a Co-morbidity of a Mental Health Condition
Get PDFThis Program was designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have a co-occurring mental health condition. This program was designed based on the individual\u27s sensory needs to improve occupational performance in their lives. This capstone project filled a knowledge gap by creating a sensory based activity program for individuals with IDD and mental health conditions. Its primary goal was to educate participants about their sensory needs and integrate these into functional activities to improve occupational performance.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2024/1026/thumbnail.jp
Use of Creative Outlets to Impact Quality of Life for Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Get PDFAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) profoundly impacts quality of life by limiting participation in meaningful activities. This mixed-methods study explored the role of creative outlets in enhancing quality of life for individuals with ALS. Quantitative data from the ALS-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form (ALSSQOL-SF) and qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews revealed key themes of adaptation, purpose, community, and quality of life. Findings indicate that creative outlets foster self-expression, social connection, and cognitive engagement while reducing isolation. Recommendations include integrating tailored creative activities into occupational therapy (OT), emphasizing group settings and early introduction to promote adaptability and community-building. This study underscores the value of creative outlets and OT, offering a holistic approach to improve quality of life for individuals with ALS.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2024/1042/thumbnail.jp
Faculty Experiences Using Synchronous Videoconference Technology to Assess Student Psychomotor Performance
Get PDFIntroduction: Psychomotor skills are an essential aspect of physical therapy (PT) education. Recent studies supported using videoconference technology (VCT) for psychomotor instruction, but research on the use of VCT for psychomotor assessments is limited. Determining the usefulness of VCT for psychomotor exams is vital to establishing best pedagogical practices. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the faculty experience using synchronous VCT to assess PT students’ psychomotor skills.
Methods: The conceptual framework for this study was the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The research question guided the investigation into how PT educators described the psychomotor skill assessment of students using VCT, related to the four constructs of UTAUT: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. Purposive sampling was used to collect qualitative data via online semistructured interviews of 15 U.S. PT professors.
Results: Data were analyzed using emergent coding and thematic analysis. Key findings were that faculty participants perceived that the use of VCT to assess psychomotor skills was a feasible alternative modality to face-to-face practicals. The use of VCT did not sacrifice achieving good learning outcomes. Faculty identified VCT assessment benefits as convenience, adaptability, and skill acquisition and recognized the challenges of a static camera angle and connectivity and resource issues.
Discussion: This study may foster positive social change by informing PT educators of the value of using VCT for psychomotor assessments, which provided additional educational opportunities, exposed students to telehealth, promoted acceptance of online learning, and improved accessibility for individuals in rural locations
Occupational Therapy and Expressive Strategies for Youth Trauma Recovery
Get PDFThe purpose of this capstone project was to develop a program to address youth mental health concerns through expressive strategies and interventions.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1016/thumbnail.jp
Occupational Therapy and Self-Awareness for Adolescents with Mental Health Concerns
Get PDFThe project created an occupation-based program to address the unique needs of adolescents at risk of mental health concerns and promote improved occupational success. The problem presented is the lack of support available to assist adolescents experiencing profound emotional and behavioral challenges, triggering negative impacts on social participation, academics, self-care, and leisure. In addition, the program will introduce coping strategies and improve daily functions to increase motivation for engagement in desired activities. The purpose of the program was to improve these areas through a series of structured activities focusing on mental health awareness, emotional regulation, and personal development. The results demonstrated significant improvements in social skills, emotional and behavioral regulation, and daily functioning, as determined through pre- and post-program surveys and qualitative feedback. The program effectively filled a gap in mental health support for adolescents, promoting comprehensive well-being and occupational engagement.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1014/thumbnail.jp
Barriers to Early Intervention Access in Under-Resourced Communities: Professionals\u27 Perspectives
Get PDFLimited socioeconomic resources pose a barrier to accessing early intervention (EI) services.
The study yielded 33 participants of EI professionals. The study included an online survey and an optional semi-structured interview. Following data collection, Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis was utilized to identify themes from the surveys and interview transcriptions (Braun and Clarke, 2006).
The main themes that came from the data analysis are (1) there are barriers impacting access to EI experienced by families in under-resourced communities, (2) there are current supports for families in under-resourced communities accessing EI, (3) EI professionals play a role in decreasing barriers, and (4) EI access can be enhanced with the use of advocacy. Barriers impacting access to EI experienced by families in under-resourced communities are intersectional between person, system, and context. Moving forward, advocacy should be prominent in addressing barriers.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1027/thumbnail.jp
An Occupational Therapy Guide to Promoting Social and Emotional Health Among Youth in a Post Covid-19 Era
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a significant rise in mental health challenges among children and adolescents, impacting their daily performance and overall well-being. These psychosocial effects underscore an urgent need for comprehensive support from educators, parents, and communities to effectively address the increasing mental and behavioral health issues among young individuals.
The purpose of this project was to implement a program that would improve the social and emotional health of youth and adolescents, as well as to educate educators and parents. By fostering resilience and promoting mental well-being among youth and adolescents, the program\u27s initiatives seek to mitigate the pandemic\u27s adverse effects and contribute to overall positive mental health.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1042/thumbnail.jp
Exploring Sexual Satisfaction and Intimacy After T6 and Above Spinal Cord Injury: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Get PDFBackground: With T6 and above SCIs, there is a greater chance of sexual function and satisfaction being impacted; however, individuals lack the clinical support and resources needed for rehabilitation in this area. From an occupational science and occupational adaptation (OA) perspective, examining the multifactorial needs and the lived experiences of individuals with SCI T6 and above who have attained sexual satisfaction post-injury would aid in better serving the rehabilitation needs of this population. Methodology: This study explored the process that individuals with SCIs underwent to achieve sexual satisfaction and intimacy post-injury. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methodology was used to guide the data collection and the analysis. Data included semi-structured interviews (N=6) and a field journal maintained by the primary investigator. Findings: The three superordinate themes that emerged and reached data saturation included, (1) a journey with acceptance and recovery, (2) finding one’s community is vital for recovery, and (3) intimacy trumps sexual activity. Conclusion: Reaching sexual satisfaction is a process and a journey for individuals with high level SCIs. They are dependent on clinicians and community enablers to meet their goals of intimacy and sexual satisfaction.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2024/1050/thumbnail.jp
Current practices of physiotherapists in implementing psychologically informed physical therapy in chronic pain management: A scoping review
Get PDFIntroduction: This study is a scoping review of the current practices in implementing Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy (PIPT) in chronic pain management. A fundamental shift of physiotherapy practice from the traditional approach of biomedical to a biopsychosocial approach has acquired recognition indicating a more comprehensive approach to addressing the complexity of the physiotherapy profession. Thus, the primary objective of this scoping review is to identify and map current data on physiotherapists’ current practices in implementing PIPT in chronic pain management, and its secondary objective is to map the evidence and describe the effectiveness/efficacy, clinical utility, cost-effectiveness, and barriers of PIPT as a physiotherapy intervention.
Methods. In accordance with the set of Selection Criteria, a scoping review was undertaken to search for papers in seven databases: (1) PubMed/MEDLINE, (2) PEDro, (3) ClinicalKey, (4) Cochrane, (5) ProQuest, (6) Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy, and (7) HERDIN. A triangulation method to the search was conducted and applied for title screening, abstract screening, and full-text review to validate the articles retrieved in the databases. Thematic analysis was used to gather information and identify all themes related to PIPT as a physiotherapy intervention to make sense of the retrieved data. In addition, results were presented using descriptive synthesis to give various information and diverse integrated evidence.
Results and Discussion. 38 studies out of 78,860 fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria and passed the abstract and title review. After satisfying the inclusion criteria and conducting a full-text review, 15 of these articles were discarded, leaving a total of 23 studies. The data extracted from the recent studies highlight a few key findings: (1) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is more commonly used and applied to wide variety of situations than the other PIPT intervention identified; (2) there appears to be a difference in perceived effectiveness/efficacy between PIPT interventions and conventional PT approaches; (3) despite their apparent usability and viability, internet-based psychological programs used in conjunction with physical therapy do not show to improve outcomes beyond physical therapy alone; (4) the cost-effectiveness of PIPT interventions has not received much attention; (5) a variety of implementation obstacles have been explored; and, (6) PIPT publications are far more common in North America, particularly in the United States.
Conclusion. Depending on the type of intervention utilized, current approaches for implementing PIPT may be more successful than conventional physical therapy in lowering or eradicating chronic pain. When PIPT is used in an outpatient context, it improves chronic pain management more than when it is used in an internet-based setting. Moreover, while PIPT remains a promising treatment model, more evidence is needed to justify its widespread adoption, especially given the high demand for training and barriers to implementing it
Management of Sensory Processing Challenges in the Classroom: An Educational Video Series for Teachers.
Get PDFAn educational video series for teachers on sensory processing and how to manage students with sensory processing challenges in the classroom. The video series includes evidence-based supports and strategies that may be utilized in the classroom to improve students\u27 occupational performance.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2024/1008/thumbnail.jp