Participation in group-based dance activities is thought to positively impact a child's overall health and wellness. Though researchers have investigated the effects dance has on a person's overall health and wellness, Kids...
The purpose of this study was to use an occupational therapy perspective to examine possible social barriers, current programming and possible considerations to improve social support resources for students with autism spectrum...
The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) was to create a one time, educational session, Caring for those who Care, for caregivers of cancer survivors at the Indianapolis chapter of Cancer Support Community...
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by intense emotions, self-harm, low or unstable self-image, and risky behaviors, among other symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The purpose of this study...
Background: The profession of occupational therapy is in need of a framework to guide practitioner understanding of the complex occupational nature of sexuality and intimacy, including assessment, intervention design, and...
Background: Having a disability may have a negative impact on a person's experience of sexuality and intimacy (Esmail et al., 2007) and the topic is often excluded in the day to day practice of occupational therapy (Hattjar,...
As the war in Syria moves into its ninth year, millions of displaced people continue to flee the region seeking protection. Europe is portrayed as facing an enormous crisis with thousands of refugees flocking to its shores. The...
Sexual violence in prisons is not a new concept, but rather has been a defining characteristic of the American Criminal Justice System. There have been many efforts to lower the risk of sexual violence in prison, such as the...
The Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) was a 14-week long clinical rotation in which students were given the opportunity to gain advanced clinical practice skills and enhance their skills in program development, client...
Long-term care facilities provide care to older adults, including individuals with dementia, and promote client-centered care through maximizing functional independence and cultivating one's quality of life (Moyle,...
This study examined occupational therapy's role in implementation of fine motor activities and fine motor exercises within the Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) exercise program to improve overall fine motor skills and coordination in...
At a long-term care facility in mid-western Ohio, a secured memory care unit was created to provide structure, routine, and activities for individuals with early to late stages of dementia. There has been a lack of education...
Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) deal with various secondary complications that can affect their physical, emotional, and social health (Sezer et al., 2015). Having support from one's community can enhance these...
Adults with disabilities can experience limited engagement in social participation due to limitations and barriers. There is a need for increased social participation of individuals with disabilities within the community...
The level of physical activity participation among individuals with disabilities is substantially lower than individuals without disabilities, which is largely attributed to attitudinal,environmental, and programmatic barriers....
Background: With strict rules on isolation following a bone marrow transplant, the pediatric cancer population suffers from delayed social interaction and developmental skills, impacting
their roles and occupations (Connelly,...
The level of physical activity participation among individuals with disabilities is substantially lower than individuals without disabilities, which is largely attributed to attitudinal,environmental, and programmatic barriers....
This study aims to describe how occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are addressing side effects and occupational performance deficits of cancer survivors in order to analyze current practice trends. Survey methodology with...
Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is thought to enhance developments in the medical field by printing products for the use of patients and health care providers. Researchers have investigated the use and impact of 3D...
Neutralism can be a pragmatic choice for a nation's foreign policy in that taking such a stance can enhance their social and economic prosperity. Neutralism as a state policy connotes a policy of choosing to avoid political and...
Background: Play is an essential occupation for children and has a role in facilitating proper child development. The demands related to caring for a child with a disability can be anxiety-inducing for some caregivers, which...
Background: State standards have shifted the focus of kindergarten curricula, increasing the amount of testing completed in schools, directly impacting the amount of time students spend in hands-on and exploratory play. With...
Domestic violence and addiction recovery are similar in that they both can cause occupational deprivation and a loss of occupational identity (Javaherian, 2006; Steward & Fischer, 2015). This doctoral capstone experience took...
Caregivers and parents of children with disabilities face barriers to participation in spiritual settings and community events. Families accepted into church environments have been shown to have increased participation and...
Problem: A need for increased promotion of humanness among people with mental health concerns is prevalent in both the medical and societal realms. Stigma surrounding mental illness from both health professionals and the...
Feeding and eating problems are common among children with and without disabilities and can have long lasting adverse effects on both the child and their family. After conducting a needs assessment at Bloom Pediatric Therapy,...
Following the completion of a needs assessment at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Hospital, an increase of medical spending, a lack of patient expectation fulfillment, and the decreased functional outcomes postoperatively were...
The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to provide education and resources regarding the role of occupational therapy (OT) with Parkinson's disease (PD), coping skills, self-management, wellness, and fall prevention...
The Lafayette Family YMCA established a community partnership with Franciscan Health and the two organizations are a part of a building that offers services from both organizations. The purposes of this doctoral capstone were:...
Problem Statement: Individuals who are homeless and terminally ill experience a loss of meaningful occupation as their illness progresses (Ko & Nelson-Becker, 2014; Lyons et al., 2002). The holistic practice of occupational...
Evidence: Older adults in institutional settings experience limited participation in leisure occupations, often leading to depression and decreased life meaning (Chippendale & Bear-Lehman, 2012; Elias, Neville, & Scott, 2015)....
The purpose of my doctoral capstone experience was to explore the role of occupational therapy in the prevention and treatment of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). My project consisted of three main components: a) developing...
The effect of individuals in our community experiencing both substance use disorders and homelessness impacts and impairs their occupational performance in their everyday lives (McNaughton, 2008). Occupational therapy (OT) can...
Many veterans have difficulty with reintegration into civilian life due to factors including psychological health, social interaction, physical health, housing, finances, education, and/or legal matters (Elnitsky, Fisher, &...
The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) was to develop and implement a program to address cancer survivors' sexual health and intimacy concerns at Cancer Support Community of Central Indiana. Program development...
The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone at the Rehabilitation hospital of Indiana Northwest Brain Injury Center (INBIC) was to complete the initial stages of program development for a concussion clinic. Educational resources were...
Current falls prevention interventions vary in methodology and effectiveness, and there is need for consistent intervention in the clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the content validity of the My...
Background/ Objective: Limited ethics education has led to moral distress in practice, contributing to unethical treatment of clients, high turnover rates, and increased healthcare costs.
The Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) is a 14-week long clinical rotation in which students are encouraged to gain advanced clinical skills and experience with program development. The primary focus of this reviewed clinical...
East Washington Elementary School needed a new playground that was more accessible and inclusive for children of all developmental abilities. The doctoral capstone student used current evidence to determine features of...
The Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) is a 14-week long clinical rotation in which students are encouraged to gain advanced clinical skills and experience with program development. The primary focus of this reviewed clinical...
Mini Minds is a multi-disciplinary outpatient pediatric clinic with a focus on aiding families in achieving occupational well-being through their brain-based learning brand. External and internal analyses of Mini Minds revealed...
Theracare Outpatient Therapy Services provides skilled therapies to children in order to maximize independence in their lives. Prior summer programs have been implemented in the past but with limited research and organization....
Individuals with dementia often experience sensory and occupational deprivation in long-term care facilities, and there is a need to provide opportunities for increased engagement. The purpose of this doctoral capstone...
A study done in 2018 ranked the United States by drug use (Kiernan, 2018). Indiana was ranked 7th in the lineup for having the biggest drug problem (Kiernan, 2018). Indianapolis has many addiction centers to address this issue,...
Occupational therapy addresses fine motor skills throughout the lifespan, but there is limited evidence for how understanding a functional tool's purpose and the presence of environmental cues impact a transitioning infant's...
"Introduction: Cancer survivors continue to experience complications that last months to years following diagnosis and treatment which can impact daily life. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of...
Play is a major occupation that contributes to child development and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine how caregiver anxiety impacts play with children with disabilities. Using a qualitative...
The primary purpose of this study was to quantify healthy college students' scapula movement through the use of the Scapular Dyskinesis Test (SDT) and physical activity levels through the use of the International Physical...
Purpose: The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) project was to develop effective and inclusive safe transfer training for support staff at Garden Center Services (GCS), propose a plan to increase accessibility...
Veterans experiencing homelessness secondary to behavioral health or mental health conditions require proper care to address the barriers to successful participation in occupations. Occupational therapists hold the...
Due to high residential care costs, individuals with dementia are remaining in their community and relying on informal caregivers (Vreugdenhil, 2014). Providing unpaid care for individuals with dementia can negatively impact...
Follow-up care for infants after discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is essential as infants who have had a stay in the NICU are at an increased risk of having developmental delays. Infants have improved...
The purpose of the study was to determine risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon. A prospective case series format and mixed method design was...
The primary purpose of this study was to quantify healthy college students' scapula movement through the use of the Scapular Dyskinesis Test (SDT) and physical activity levels through the use of the International Physical...
Young adults with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed compared to individuals without a disability due to the limited amount of employment opportunities for these individuals. The effect of this epidemic impacts these...
The objective of this project was to further develop a home exercise program while implementing quality improvement strategies. The needs of the Community Health Network outpatient clinic were assessed via survey which was sent...
"Background: Researchers examined existing new driver training records to determine factors associated with successful completion of a driver training program.
Method: Forty-one de-identified driving evaluation and discharge...
The purpose of the doctoral capstone experience (DCE) at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) was to enhance clinical skills specifically in vision occupational therapy as well as develop resource documents ensuring...
Background: The Fall Observation Report at Spring Hill Village (SHV) in 2018 showed that there were 222 falls reported. After discussing with all therapy staff, they stated there are no fall prevention or simple home...
The primary purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience, in unison with clinical skills, was to develop readable educational handouts for patients with various conditions to increase their functional outcomes while minimizing...
Due to the growing number of youths living and working on farms that results in ever increasing deaths and disabilities, this project's purpose was to educate these youths on safety, along with providing education on...
"Background: Researchers completed a retrospective analysis of driving evaluations in a driver-retraining program post diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The purpose of the research was to determine predictors for a...
This study examined exercise as it relates to hope and optimism among persons with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The purposes of this study were: 1)To determine the relationships between hope,...
Over the past two decades the global population of forcibly displaced individuals has grown to 65.6 million refugees, half being women. Refugee women experience distinct challenges in balancing traditional gender roles,...
Patients with end-stage heart failure may rely on left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) when heart transplant is delayed or not an option. Growing numbers of patients with LVADs has led to more research being performed to...
Welcome to Fallen Crest is an interconnected collection of short stories that follows three children, siblings Charlotte Charly and twins Robert and Louis Louie Stephens over the course of eight years as they grow up with...
This doctoral capstone experience (DCE) sought to expose a DCE student to rehabilitation administration and management at the corporate level at Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc. (HTS), a contract therapy provider in the...
The purpose of this doctoral capstone experience was to effectively promote interdisciplinary collaboration between occupational therapy (OT) and applied behavior analysis (ABA) staff at the participating outpatient ABA center....
Joy's House is an adult day center located in Indianapolis, Indiana and provides interactive services to older adults through a non-medical model. Although many guests Joy's House remain active in their communities, the...
Objective: The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Project involved initiating three groups at a mental health clubhouse to better determine the role of occupational therapy for the mental health population. Groups included a...
This study was designed to determine how political candidates use Twitter. The tweet analysis considered both content of the tweets and the use of technical Twitter functions. A total of 1347 tweets were analyzed from 10...
The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) was to provide the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) with an outcome measure to better quantify upper extremity recovery following a stroke or brain injury. This...
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of total hip arthroplasties (THA) and total knee arthroplasties (TKA) through measurement of functional outcome via the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment...
To try to present the topic of family dysfunction in a new light, families dealing with death, addiction, sickness, cheating, and divorce were written into a fictional post-apocalyptic world. This suspension of reality revealed...
There is limited research regarding the benefits of unmounted equine assisted learning (EAL) activities, therefore the focus of this DCE is to investigate the benefits of an EAL program for children with a variety of diagnoses....
The purpose of this doctoral capstone experience and project was to explore and evaluate the role of occupational therapy in a community-based falls prevention program. The goal of the program was to address falls prevention...
This doctoral capstone project will focus on the education of staff, by a doctoral capstone student, within a daycare setting in order to improve their current knowledge and ability to implement concepts of occupational therapy...
Packaged dry kibble is the main source of nutrients for most household dogs. As such, it is important that kibble contains proper amounts of various metals necessary for biological functions including ATP production,...
This qualitative study examined the influence of bridge employment on roles and routines in older adults. The participants included seven older adults, age 55 and above, who had retired from their primary employment and were...
This Doctoral Capstone Project explored the benefit of adding sensory based activities to physical education (PE) classes at DAMAR with students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This project aimed to increase the...
Hair color and gender are two factors that are seldom studied together in snap judgment research of impressions of others. However, past research suggests that women are more frequently stereotyped in regards to their hair...
When working with children who have sensory processing disorders (SPD), occupational therapists (OTR) will utilize a wholesome approach by providing sensory-based treatments, relationship-based interventions, developmental...
Infants who are discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Indiana University Health North Hospital are not typically followed by the hospital to ensure they are developing appropriately with their peers. A...
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and effects of applying the principles of shaping to part-task, pre-gait activities in persons with chronic stroke. It was hypothesized that this would...
The erigonine subfamily (family linyphiidae) currently consists of about 2,000 tiny (< 2mm) spiders. Little is known about their taxonomy and classification due to their small size and that female erigonines lack a taxonomic...
Neglecting to address sexuality in OT practice contributes to societal oppression and deprives individuals with disabilities from exploring this occupation (Sakellariou & Simó Algado, 2006a). Therapist discomfort, lack of...
The purpose of this Doctoral Capstone Experience was to provide sexual health resources on a college campus, including providing sexually transmitted infection/disease testing, Title IX and dating education, and sexual assault...
The poetic texts in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings have provided a wealth of resources to writers and composers since their publishing. Varying in style, character, and idea, these poems and songs offer an inside look...
Individuals with SUD participated in a 6-week theater intervention to supplement recovery. this research examines the qualitative experience of these participants before, during, and 6 months after the intervention to...
Individuals with disabilities are at an even greater risk for a lack of physical activity and engaging in health promoting behaviors. Home exercise programs (HEP) have been effective in improving patient outcomes and preventing...
Health care providers must have a clear understanding of regulatory guidelines to support successful payment of clinically appropriate and medically necessary services. Limited research has examined the knowledge of Medicare...
This study measured the extent of the effect that benefits and barriers have on physical therapy clinical instructors, examined relationships between demographics and benefits and barriers, and discovered additional benefits,...
Pens, Pencils, & Pain(t) is an exploration of and reflection on my experiences with chronic low back pain through art. While those close to me knew about my pain, I struggled to describe my experiences and even found I had...
Island Dolphin Care, a not-for-profit, provides dolphin-assisted therapy programs for people with special needs. A needs assessment was completed by the therapy staff at IDC immediately after the therapy season ended in...
Cortical visual impairment (CVI) is the leading bilateral visual impairment in children under the age of 18. CVI is caused by an insult to the posterior visual pathway resulting in difficulties processing what the eye is...