American Journal of Occupational Therapy

Date Presented 04/02/2022

Transgender and nonbinary individuals experiencing homelessness encounter myriad health disparities that affect their quality of life. As OT expands into the LGBTQIA+ community, it is vital to develop programming for this population to cultivate independent living skills. This session will present outcomes of a life skills program used with transgender and nonbinary participants experiencing homelessness and the impact it had on their ability to achieve housing and employment goals.

Primary Author and Speaker: Olivia M. Van Dyke

Contributing Authors: Meghan Blaskowitz

Date Presented 04/02/2022

Nerve entrapment syndromes are among the most common types of clinical neuropathy. Frequent misdiagnosis of these conditions has been identified in the literature. This study explored emerging methods used in the assessment of upper extremity nerve entrapments. A systematic protocol was developed on the basis of these advanced techniques. The protocol was implemented by upper extremity specialists, and a descriptive survey was conducted to gain insight into the benefits of the protocol.

Primary Author and Speaker: Sunni Alford

Additional Authors and Speakers: Katie Lause, Olivia Eckert, Emma Gettes, Alexis Mijares, Paige Renner

Date Presented 03/31/2022

This study used qualitative interviews to understand the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and infection control procedures on the occupational engagement of nursing facility residents with mild to moderate cognitive deficits. Participants reported experiencing occupational injustices. These findings can help OTs in nursing facilities understand and address systemic factors, such as COVID-19 and related infection control procedures, that contribute to occupational injustices.

Primary Author and Speaker: Amanda Call Henscheid

Additional Authors and Speakers: Ciara Cox

Contributing Authors: Elizabeth Cardell, Alexandra Terrill

Date Presented 03/31/2022

This qualitative study sought to explore the impact that driving, community mobility resources, and fall risk had in the lives of adults age 65 and older. Participants completed a presurvey questionnaire and engaged in one of four virtual focus groups. Three themes emerged from the data: perspectives on falling, driving = independence and freedom, and utilization and knowledge of resources. The role OT practitioners can play in addressing these areas will be reviewed.

Primary Author and Speaker: Megan Edwards Collins

Date Presented 04/02/2022

In the wake of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), practitioners, educators, and students had to shift to virtual interactions while experiencing significant unknowns and valid fears. How prepared are new graduates to enter a health care climate in a pandemic? This presentation describes the findings from semistructured individual interviews of nine recent graduates of OT graduate programs to explore their perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on their future delivery of OT interventions.

Primary Author and Speaker: Laura Vanpuymbrouck

Contributing Authors: Carli Friedman

Date Presented 04/02/2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 forced educators to provide virtual content while maintaining standards such as interprofessional education (IPE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a virtual IPE activity on students’ attitudes and perceptions of IPE and to compare virtual with in-person IPE learning. Quantitative analysis found that virtual IPE can improve students’ attitudes and perceptions toward IPE and that it may be have as much impact as in-person activities. Qualitative analysis supports these findings.

Primary Author and Speaker: Casey Humphrey

Additional Authors and Speakers: Leah Shea Simpkins

Contributing Authors: Aaron Sciascia, Christen Page, Karina Christopher, Lisa Jones

Date Presented 04/02/2022

Very little research exists examining how specific education about older adult sexual health and sexual activity may improve OT practitioners’ knowledge of and attitudes toward geriatric sexuality and application to clinical practice. This sequential explanatory mixed-methods research study investigates to what extent education in older adult sexual matters affects OT practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Practice (4th ed.) activity of daily living of sexual activity.

Primary Author and Speaker: Robin L. Chilton

Contributing Authors: Jennifer A. Weaver, Sarah Doerrer, Roger Ideishi

Date Presented 04/02/2022

This study examined the relationship between clinical indicators of illness severity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) such as blood urea nitrogen-creatinine ratios and symptom count and how these labs relate to functional dependence and therapeutic rehabilitation outcomes in geriatric patients. Their relationship demonstrates the potential role that OTs and OT assistants can play in identifying and preventing risk for dehydration, hospitalization, and other adverse patient outcomes, in addition to the risk of functional decline.

Primary Author and Speaker: Benjamin E. Canter

Contributing Authors: Himali Weerahandi, Orah Burack, Joann Reinhardt, Kenneth Boockvar, Lauren Siconolfi

Date Presented 04/02/2022

Justice-Based Occupational Therapy (JBOT) convened a network of OTs and key stakeholders in justice reform who identified actions needed to advance occupational justice: advocacy and policy, education, resources, and research. In this project, we compiled and analyzed the activities of the JBOT network and other OT associations who took action toward occupational justice during the past year. Findings indicate current events surrounding racial injustices sparked high levels of activity, and sustainability will be explored.

Primary Author and Speaker: Lisa Jaegers

Additional Authors and Speakers: Alyssa Cepon, Natalie Hoeferkamp, Drashti Topiwala

Contributing Authors: Mary Beth Dillon, Crystal Dieleman, Jaime P. Muñoz, Sandra Rogers, Karen Barney

Date Presented 04/02/2022

Online Photovoice methods were used to examine the lived experience of OT students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adaptations enabled participation as a means of safely exploring the students’ lived experiences. Participants became coresearchers in the thematic analysis process while exploring feasibility and accessibility of the adaptations. Preliminary thematic results include the importance of attuned facilitators and the role of co-collaboration in the research process.

Primary Author and Speaker: Lauren Selingo

Additional Authors and Speakers: Virginia ‘Ginny’ Stoffel

Contributing Authors: Melissa Barcelona, Dawon Lee, Miranda Massey, Nikki Panganiban, Hailey Pink, Mariah Schaller, Isabella Smith, Zach Smith

Date Presented 04/02/2022

This poster presents a case study of 56 year-old woman with weak wrist extension 2.5 years after subcortical ischemic stroke who participated in an extensor carpi radialis (ECR) motor evoked potential (MEP) operant conditioning training study. The participant increased maximum voluntary contraction in the ECR and improved Box and Block Test and Fugl-Meyer upper extremity (UE) scores. This could indicate that MEP operant conditioning is a viable means of improving UE function in individuals poststroke.

Primary Author and Speaker: Blair H. S. Dellenbach

Contributing Authors: Bridgette Pouliot, Jinsook Roh, Aiko K. Thompson

Date Presented 04/02/2022

This study focuses on the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on college students’ health, well-being, and academic success. The stress impact of COVID-19 (rho = .381) was greater than the stress related to online learning (rho = -.313, p < .001). This study can be used as a resource for further and currently ongoing studies about college students’ coping abilities during a pandemic.

Primary Author and Speaker: John A. Damiao

Additional Authors and Speakers: Catherine Cavaliere, Julia Carroll, Evangeline Fitzpatrick, Jonathan Laskoski, Amanda Rigolli

Contributing Authors: Cecelia Wegener

Date Presented 04/02/2022

OT helps people establish and maintain meaningful participation in everyday life. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on older adults already at risk for social isolation and loneliness. This qualitative study informs the profession about the lived experience of older adults during COVID-19 and how the pandemic altered their routines and satisfaction levels. This study guides OT to tailor interventions to meet this population’s needs during a crisis.

Primary Author and Speaker: Alyssa Burgoyne

Additional Authors and Speakers: Madisan Ercanbrack, Courtney Wiley, Barbara Kornblau

Date Presented 03/31/2022

The study aims to analyze the association between isolation and hospitalization due to COVID-19 and life of older adults. In addition, the aim is to examine the association of changes in physical activity between the two factors. Isolation and hospitalization due to COVID-19 were associated with a decrease in physical activity and life. The results emphasize the importance of physical activity in quarantine and hospitalization resulting from COVID-19.

Primary Author and Speaker: Suyeong Bae

Additional Authors and Speakers: Ickpyo Hong

Date Presented 03/31/2022

Health disparities exist for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Health-related research addressing health and well-being rarely includes individuals with IDD and their caregiving communities as a result of misconceptions regarding their ability and interest in research. OT research should include self-advocates with IDD; this presentation will discuss how to effectively integrate stakeholders in the production and dissemination of health research.

Primary Author and Speaker: Allison Doerpinghaus

Additional Authors and Speakers: Libby Hladik, Megan Gray, Natalie Dulaney, Karla Ausderau

Contributing Authors: John Rogers, Brittany St John, Nicole Noblet, Kayte Barton

Date Presented 03/31/2022

This quantitative survey study measured stress, engagement in meaningful activities, self-efficacy, quality of life, and coping among women with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences on all measures except engagement. These findings suggest a potential need for specialized OT support for women with ASD that may be especially desired when adapting to changes during and after COVID-19.

Primary Author and Speaker: Yan-hua Huang

Additional Authors and Speakers: Annika Lin, Teresa Lam, Alexandra Krizek, Jaclyn Ingram

Date Presented 04/01/2022

This preliminary study uses a quantitative correlational research method to determine the relationship of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to stroke survivors’ perceived social support and self-efficacy. Results indicate statistically significant positive correlations between perceived social support and self-efficacy with a negative correlation between the impact of COVID-19 and perceived social support. OT interventions can focus on enhancing friendship-based social support to benefit stroke survivors.

Primary Author and Speaker: Yan-hua Huang

Additional Authors and Speakers: Crystal Solano, Sarah Nakamura, Justin Navarro, Nataliya Pinchuk, Michelle Vuong

Date Presented 04/01/2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has challenged almost every aspect of families’ daily lives, posing an acute threat to family quality of life. Coping strategies may make families less vulnerable to the pandemic’s negative impacts and stressors. This study’s results reflect families’ abilities to use internal coping strategies to adapt to stressful situations more successfully. OTs can help identify, expand, and develop the family’s coping strategies as a protective factor in times of crisis.

Primary Author and Speaker: Liat Hen-Herbst

Additional Authors and Speakers: Yael Fogel

Date Presented 04/01/2022

This qualitative study found that Level II OT fieldwork students perceived coaching, a novel approach within OT practice, to be a valuable clinical tool. These students noted that learning coaching strategies and becoming proficient coaches required a gradual mindset shift. They also reported on the benefits for clients who participated in OT-led coaching sessions, although they perceived that the approach worked better for some than for others.

Primary Author and Speaker: Marie-Christine Potvin

Additional Authors and Speakers: Erin West, Alexis Morales

Date Presented 04/01/2022

Parents and caregivers of newborns and infants rely on the expertise of primary care physicians (PCPs) to provide guidance throughout their child’s earliest stages of life. PCPs currently lack time and resources, limiting information imparted at periodicity visits regarding infant health, growth, and development. This study explores perceptions of health care clinicians pertaining to the addition of OTs to provide education during periodicity visits to bridge the gap.

Primary Author and Speaker: Sonja Burmeister

Additional Authors and Speakers: Maria Nagle

Contributing Authors: Lauren Kresge, Alexis Brenner, Trisha MacLeod, Rebecca McMaster

Date Presented 04/01/2022

This quantitative survey study attempts to investigate the experiences of minority caregivers of youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by analyzing the relationship among affiliate stigma, informal support, caregiver burden, and quality of life. Results indicated statistically significant positive correlations between affiliate stigma and caregiver burden, whereas quality of life was negatively correlated with these two variables. OT’s can assist this population by targeting environmental factors during intervention.

Primary Author and Speaker: Yan-hua Huang

Additional Authors and Speakers: Melanie Ramirez, Bernice Verzosa, Lauren Weaver, Mary Grace Perez, Juliet O’Brien

Date Presented 04/01/2022

During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the use of communication technology has become more important than ever before, magnifying the issue of digital exclusion. In light of social distancing guidelines, technological proficiency or lack thereof can determine one’s ability to maintain social participation. We explored this troubling trend and assessed the implications of digital inequality on the well-being of the elderly population.

Primary Author and Speaker: Sharon Goldman

Additional Authors and Speakers: Tal Mazor-Karsenty, Danit Langer

Contributing Authors: Elaina Delore, Sara Flesh

Date Presented 04/02/2022

This qualitative study found that Level II OT fieldwork students (N = 14) perceived that role-emerging placements are beneficial in terms of preparing for the profession across settings. In fact, these students noted that they acquired soft and hard skills in this setting that they would not have acquired in a traditional fieldwork setting.

Primary Author and Speaker: Alexis Morales

Additional Authors and Speakers: Marie-Christine Potvin, Mika Kalimi

Contributing Authors: Erin West

Date Presented 04/02/2022

There exists a paucity of data-driven guidelines specific to practicalities implementing telerehabilitation. This study explicates gains in practical knowledge for implementing telerehabilitation that were accelerated during the Veterans Health Administration health care systems’ rapid shift to telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributes clinical reasoning considerations, supportive strategies, and practical approaches for engaging veterans in telerehabilitation.

Primary Author and Speaker: Consuelo Kreider

Additional Authors and Speakers: Mackenzi Slamka

Contributing Authors: Jennifer L. Hale-Gallardo, John C. Kramer, Sharon Mburu, Kimberly Findley, Keith J. Myers, Sergio Romero

Date Presented 04/02/2022

The study aims to expand support in the literature for the connection between activity participation and life satisfaction by exploring older adults’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary data from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Project were analyzed using a cross-sectional descriptive design. Results suggest that individuals with a higher frequency of activity participation reported higher life satisfaction.

Primary Author and Speaker: David S. Sherman

Additional Authors and Speakers: Debra Lindstrom

Date Presented 04/02/2022

This study aimed to find the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the health, well-being, and quality of life of survivors. The findings of this study indicate that many of the mental and social impacts of COVID-19 on survivors of the virus may be related to the pandemic and related restrictions as opposed to the virus itself. Given the increased need for mental health services as a result of COVID-19, OTs may establish a new role in mental health services as well as community health promotion.

Primary Author and Speaker: Lia McLoughlin

Additional Authors and Speakers: Lindsey Curtin, Angela Butler, Nicole Weick, Christopher Gray

Contributing Authors: Catherine Cavaliere, Michael Pizzi

Date Presented 03/31/2022

An online intervention consisting of seven interventions that emphasized music occupations. Eight adults, age 65 years or older, who lived in communities in the Midwest participated in two focus groups, pre- and postintervention. Narrative methodology led to occupational change narratives with themes about routines, habits, and skills for engagement in meaningful music occupations and for coping with deprivation resulting from coronavirus disease 2019. Group satisfaction led the members to plan for continuation of meetings on their own.

Primary Author and Speaker: Penelope Moyers Cleveland

Contributing Authors: Kassidy Beckenstein, Allie Gartner, Mackenzie King, Alexis Hay, Courtney Romatz, Samantha McLeish

Date Presented 04/01/2022

In rural communities, children with Type 1 diabetes can struggle to get care matching current diabetes guidelines, potentially resulting in increased health complications. Focus group findings indicated that families may experience dramatic family and lifestyle changes after diagnosis and lack of access to specialized care, but that isolation improved resourcefulness in health management, and technology improved health management and flexibility.

Primary Author and Speaker: Vanessa Jewell

Additional Authors and Speakers: Benjamin Feiten, Amanda Wise

Contributing Authors: Emily Knezevich, Amy Abbott, Kameran Ulferts

Date Presented 04/01/2022

Caregivers are negatively affected by the overwhelming demands of caregiving for their stroke survivor. Although caregivers may be confident in their skills and abilities to assist their stroke survivor, many report a high level of anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed. Caregivers need help so that they can provide the best quality of care for themselves and their stroke survivor.

Primary Author and Speaker: Gordon Washington

Additional Authors and Speakers: Corey Morrow

Contributing Authors: Michelle L. Woodbury

Date Presented 04/01/2022

This study used a mixed-methods approach to explore how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected the well-being of 37 Latinx caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. Perceived social support, family income, and receipt of financial benefits were associated with caregiver depressive symptoms. Most caregivers reported that the pandemic had placed a strain on their economic situation, increased their isolation, and disrupted their child’s therapeutic supports, online education, and routines.

Primary Author and Speaker: Jasmine Brown-Hollie

Contributing Authors: Mansha Mirza, Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar, Vanessa Errisuriz, Weiwen Zang, Nazanin Hyderian, Deborah Parra-Medina, Paula Morales, Hilda Torres, Sandy Magana, Sarah Camillone, Estefania Garcia Gomez

Date Presented 04/01/2022

During the 2019–2020 school year, school-based therapists working in the school setting quickly migrated to online and hybrid service delivery as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes continued throughout the 2020–2021 school year. The purpose of this research is to describe how OTs, physical therapists (PTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) developed and addressed goals for students who received therapy services via online or hybrid schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was recently presented at ASHA and APTA, 2021.

Primary Author and Speaker: Sonja Burmeister

Contributing Authors: Kimberly D. Wynarczuk, Rebecca Bawayan, Eric Sanders, Brianna Milstrey

Date Presented 04/02/2022

The goal of this qualitative study was to understand barriers and facilitators influencing adoption of the Dysvascular Amputation Self-management of Health (DASH) program. DASH was designed to maximize participation in daily physical activity via targeted self-management of step count. We completed focus groups with OTs and physical therapists to understand DASH adoption, and they identified facility-, clinician-, and patient-level factors to consider for larger scale implementation.

Primary Author and Speaker: Laura A. Swink

Contributing Authors: Laura A. Swink, Meredith L. Mealer, Matthew J. Miller, Chelsey B. Anderson, Paul F. Cook, Jennifer E. Stevens-Lapsley, Cory L. Christiansen

Date Presented 04/02/2022

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significant feeding challenges that create barriers to successful mealtimes. A qualitative study consisted of thematic analysis of 12 semistructured interviews of mothers who participated in 24 home-based feeding sessions and parent education to examine the perceived impact of parent-mediated feeding therapy. Data validated the complexity of maternal roles and supported positive child-specific goals as well as parenting efficacy and family participation.

Primary Author and Speaker: Libby Hladik

Additional Authors and Speakers: Karla Ausderau, Brittany St John

Date Presented 03/31/2022

Researchers suggest that a disproportionate percentage of at-risk, minority adolescents in urban school systems have or are suspected of having learning disabilities and attentional problems. We describe methods that occupational therapists can use to support the academic competencies of at-risk, minority adolescents including kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning strategies; organization and study skills; daily time management; and self-regulation and sensory overload prevention.

Primary Author and Speaker: Sharon Gutman

Date Presented 04/01/2022

Stroke has a significant impact on patient function and requires extensive therapy for rehabilitation. This poster systematically reviews evidence on implementing robotic therapies as a rehabilitation technique for individuals with chronic stroke to determine its effectiveness in improving functional outcomes. This review will inform OTs about the use of robotic therapy with their clients, including its dosage and costs.

Primary Author and Speaker: Rochelle Mendonca

Additional Authors and Speakers: Brooke Hartman, Amanda R. O’Connor, Susan Xing, Carley R. Quirin

Contributing Authors: Namrata Grampurohit

Date Presented 04/01/2022

Many patients in inpatient rehabilitation may spend too much time being sedentary. According to our findings of objectively measured physical activity levels, individuals receiving inpatient rehabilitation were most physically active during OT but were more sedentary during nonrehabilitation times and days. Therapists should consider implementing individualized therapy plans for patients to perform independently and safely without a therapist present during inpatient rehabilitation.

Primary Author and Speaker: Young Joo Kim

Additional Authors and Speakers: Carley Overman, Anne E. Dickerson, Xiangming Fang, Heather Panczykowski