Abstract
The fourth edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (hereinafter referred to as the OTPF–4), is an official document of the American Occupational Therapy ...Association (AOTA). Intended for occupational therapy practitioners and students, other health care professionals, educators, researchers, payers, policymakers, and consumers, the OTPF–4 presents a summary of interrelated constructs that describe occupational therapy practice.
Abstract
Date Presented 03/27/20
A noninvasive application of vagal nerve stimulation, taVNS, stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve. In a first-in-neonates application, infants who ...received taVNS for oral feeding dysfunction also showed improvements in head control and brain neuroimaging of major white-matter tracts. These exploratory results are promising and promote future studies of taVNS to improve motor abilities in infants with feeding difficulties or motor disorders.
Primary Author and Speaker: Shelby Davis
Additional Authors and Speakers: Amy Reiner, Hannah Haskin, Patty Coker-Bolt, Turki Aljuhani
Contributing Authors: Mark George, Bashar Badran, Dorthea Jenkins
PURPOSE: Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD) is a difficulty in regulating and organizing the degree, intensity and nature of one's responses to sensory input in all sensory systems (Miller, Anzalone, ...Lane, Cermak, & Osten, 2007). This study will focus on the tactile system. Some studies found significant correlation between SMD and anxiety which may impact attention. SMD is a significant domain of Occupational Therapy (OT), however the underlying mechanism of the phenomena is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of the study is to assess sustained attention in relation to stressful tactile stimuli exposure. We used the Brain Engagement Index (BEI) as an electrophysiological marker for sustained attention (SA) (Bartur, Joubran, Peleg-Shani, Vatine, & Shahaf, 2017). We hypothesized that there would be differences in BEI between children with and without SMD during exposure to different types of tactile stimuli (pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral). DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional research study. The study was approved by the University Institutional Review Board. A written informed consent was obtained from all parents of children participating in the study. The study sample was comprised of 15 children aged 4-10 years old, with and without SMD. Children were recruited from OT clinics, and from the community using a convenient sample method. Children with a severe additional diagnosis were excluded. All children attend mainstream educational settings. METHOD: Parents completed the Short Sensory Profile Questionnaire 2 (SSP-2). Children who scored >31 on the Sensory Scale were allocated to the SMD group. Those who scored <32 were allocated to the control group. An EEG "MindWave mobile 2" headset was placed on the child's head and was connected via Bluetooth to a computer. BEI was recorded while the child replicated designs using building blocks under three different conditions: (1) wearing pleasant-textured gloves; (2) wearing unpleasant-textured gloves; and (3) wearing no gloves (neutral). Measurement Tools NeuroSky EEG MindWave is an electro-physiological marker for SA measuring BEI. It is a single-channel system with one frontal electrode (eFpz), and one reference electrode attached to the earlobe. It uses dry EEG electrodes at a sampling rate of 512Hz. The BEI is valid to identify SA in different populations and health conditions. The Short Sensory Profile 2; SSP-2 is a short standard caregiver questionnaire designed to measure children's sensory processing patterns in response to daily sensory stimuli; it is presented to children 3-14 years old. RESULTS: Using Repeated Measures ANOVA, significant differences (F.sub.(1,12)= 4.538, p=.037) were found in the BEI between the three types of tactile exposures (pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral) and between children with and without SMD (F.sub.(1,12)=11.708, p=.002). Using logistic regression we found that the unpleasant tactile stimuli tend to recruit sustained attention whereas the pleasant tactile stimuli did not. Significant correlation was found between the BEI during exposure to unpleasant tactile stimuli, and the behavior and sensory scales of the SSP-2) r=-.494, p=.06; r=-.628, p=.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary electrophysiological findings support the link between SMD and SA, which is a marker for stress. These findings enable us to better understand the underlying mechanism of SMD in relation to SA in stressful situations. Based on the results, we can develop tailored OT interventions that rely on the specific child's brain engagement. Moreover, we can now plan interventions using ongoing BEI monitoring during the treatment session in order to increase the child's compliance and treatment efficacy.
Abstract
Date Presented 03/26/20
This presentation reports outcomes of a program designed for adults with substance-abuse disorder living in supported housing. Interventions stressed practical ...competencies and building functional habits and routines, including self-directed goal setting, to support participants’ recovery and capacity to transition to independent community housing. Collaboration with case managers and housing specialists enhanced outcomes and simultaneously built evidence for the distinct value of OT interventions.
Primary Author and Speaker: YiNao Wang
Additional Authors and Speakers: Jaime Muñoz
Contributing Authors: Rev. Kellie Wild, John McCartin
Abstract
Date Presented 03/28/20
This research explored students’ perceptions and expectations of their graduate programs. Thirteen students participated and four themes were identified. ...Collectively, these four themes identify with the transition of becoming graduate students and subsequently newly qualified practitioners in a profession to which they desire to feel they belong, can shape, will sustain engagement with, and can overcome challenges within. The findings highlight the importance of the students’ voices as a foundation for preparing future practitioners.
Primary Author and Speaker: Rachel Samz
Additional Authors and Speakers: Carolyn Kusel, Stephanie Paly, Lydia Monfort, Allison Zimmerman, Haley Hoffman, Virginia Stoffel, Michelle Perryman-Fox
Abstract
Date Presented 03/28/20
This study examined how OT practitioners prepare for the role of fieldwork educator. Supports to facilitate the role and barriers to the utilization of fieldwork ...education tools were identified. Comparison of practice settings noted statistically significant differences. The results of this study will serve to inform the process by which OT practitioners engage in professional learning to support their competency as fieldwork educators.
Primary Author and Speaker: Pamela Karp
Additional Authors and Speakers: Kelly Lavin, Tara Collins
Abstract
Date Presented 03/28/20
The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an international fieldwork experience in Ecuador on OT students through a mixed-methods approach. ...Results indicate that students felt more culturally competent, had transformed personally and professionally, and were more connected with one another after the experience. Programs should strongly consider engaging students in international experiences due to the positive impact it demonstrates.
Primary Author and Speaker: Dianna Lunsford
Additional Authors and Speakers: Kristin Valdes
Abstract
Date Presented 03/28/20
Generalization and caregiver involvement are core concepts of the CO-OP approach; however, no research to date has studied the interplay between them. Caregivers of ...children who received CO-OP intervention participated in an approach-specific training program that aimed to increase their self-efficacy in assisting their child to acquire new skills and measure their child’s ability to generalize the learned strategies to the home.
Primary Author and Speaker: Rebecca Pierpont
Additional Authors and Speakers: Eliza Berman
Contributing Authors: Mary Hildebrand
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