Perspectives on Adaptation in a Stroke Self-Management Program: A Multiple Case Study

Background: Occupational Adaptation occurs when a person develops a response to meet an occupational challenge. This process is disrupted when a person experiences a life altering event, such as stroke. Stroke self-management programs equip persons with stroke with education and skills to manage the daily tasks associated with their condition. Few studies have explored the adaptive process survivors experience as they seek to effectively use the tools provided through stroke self-management programs. The objective was to explore the adaptive process of three individuals following participation in a stroke self-management program. Method: A multiple case study design was used. Three participants completed an interview focused on their adaptive experiences as they learned to self-manage personal stroke risk factors. Each case study interview was analyzed to identify themes across cases. Results: Four themes were identified: (a) knowledge acquisition to generate an adaptive response, (b) behavioral change and adjustment in routines, (c) increased proactivity and personal responsibility and, (d) vvaluating the adaptive response-Physiological and emotional changes in health. Conclusion: The participants’ increased awareness and understanding of personal stroke risk factors facilitated the adaptive process, which resulted in increased efficiency, effectiveness, satisfaction, and engagement in health promoting behavior to self-manage their stroke condition

Call for Papers

Call for Papers GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy Submission Deadline: June 1, 202

Master Narrative of College Access Belies Reality for Today’s Students

Master and alternative narratives offer a useful framework through which to consider contemporary issues in college access. Implicit and ubiquitous, the master narrative of a linear progression from high school through a residential college toward a fulfilling career has long been dominant. Meanwhile, alternative narratives of fluid, dynamic, alternate pathways are ascendant, having received a boost from the Covid-19 pandemic and the stubborn lack of affordable postsecondary options. Observing a decline in a shared cultural narrative about college, the authors recommend that advisors help students to sort through possible storylines and then write their own

The Effects of Cervical Cancer Diagnosis on Occupational Performance

Background: In the United States, it was predicted that approximately 13,960 new cases of invasive cervical cancer would be diagnosed in 2023 (American Cancer Society, 2023). The research question focused on identifying changes in occupational performance for patients with cervical cancer. The areas of occupational performance considered were activities of daily living, leisure, work, education, social participation, and mental health. Methods: The respondents completed a cross-sectional, mixed methods Qualtrics survey. Likert scale questions captured the degree of functional impact of cervical cancer on the predetermined areas of occupational performance. Results: Twenty-seven subjects (ages 18 to 70) fully participated in the survey. The most widely affected categories were psychosocial factors, such as mental health (100%), self-image (96.30%), body image (92.00%), self-confidence (74.07%), and energy levels (96.03%). However, all occupations from the categories of activities of daily living, rest and sleep, leisure, work, education, and social participation were reported to be impacted by cervical cancer. Conclusion: Cervical cancer can have a significant impact on many areas of occupational performance. Health professionals should be aware of the potential decrease in occupational performance for those who are experiencing or who have experienced cervical cancer treatment

“Not a Stereotype”: A Teacher Framework for Evaluating Disability Representation in Children’s Picture Books

Researchers and educators have explored representations of people with marginalized identities in children’s picturebooks for over 30 years. Disability has not been widely acknowledged as a marginalized identity nor explored as an aspect of diversity prevalent in classrooms. In the United States, over seven million students are identified with a disability, and most will spend the majority of their school day in general education classrooms. Like other diverse students, they may not see their identities mirrored in classroom literature. Picturebooks featuring main characters with a disability are rare, and some still foreground medical models, limiting individuals with narrow, ableist notions that focus on what a person cannot do rather than what they can. The authors describe the development and teacher validation of the Strong Stories Framework, a brief, research-based evaluation tool designed for teachers to use to select picturebooks that exemplify high-quality literature while foregrounding strengths-based depictions of disability

Outcomes of the NuroSleeve and Occupational Therapy on Upper Limb Function of an Individual with Chronic Hemiparesis Following a Stroke: A Case Report

Background: Upper limb neuromuscular impairments can adversely impact function. This case report investigates the process and outcomes of occupational therapy (OT) for training in the use of the NuroSleeve, a novel research-grade exoskeletal powered orthosis, with a participant with chronic right hemiparesis following a stroke. Method: The participant engaged in 24 OT sessions using the NuroSleeve over 10 weeks. Therapeutic interventions included neuromuscular reeducation, device management, and engagement in occupation-based activities with training to use the NuroSleeve. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), ABILHAND, Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Upper Extremity Short Form 7a (PROMIS UE SF), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) were administered before and after the 24 sessions. Results: With the NuroSleeve, there were clinically important increases in COPM performance and satisfaction for 6/8 and 7/8 goals, respectively; ABILHAND showed a clinically important increase of 4.959 logits; and there was an 11-point increase on the ARAT, indicating a clinically important difference. T-score on the PROMIS UE SF was 33.7 (SD = 2) compared to 23 (SD = 2.8) without the device. MMT remain unchanged. Conclusion: The data suggest that the NuroSleeve was the primary source of increased function and that incorporating OT with the NuroSleeve has benefits

Complete Issue Vol. 7, Issue 2

Complete Issue Vol 7(2

artWorks: Art as Occupation

A collaborative effort from various artists at MRC artWorks located in Kalamazoo, MI contributed to the cover art for the Winter 2024 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). MRC Industries is a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, cognitive or emotional impairments or illnesses, and people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. One particular program has become a staple in the Kalamazoo community – MRC artWorks, a professional working art studio for adults with disabilities to learn skills, both physical and emotional, through art instruction and art-making

Relationships Between Sensory Processing, Temperament Characteristics for Effortful Control, and Executive Function in School-Age Children

Background: Sensory processing behaviors, the temperament characteristic for effortful control, and executive function promote self-regulation, activity engagement, and problem-solving. This study examined inter-relationships between executive function, effortful control, and sensory processing in school-aged children between 7 and 10.11 years of age. Method: Descriptive correlation research design was used to examine relationships of outcomes from three caregiver-reported, standardized questionnaires of behaviors related to sensory processing (Sensory Profile-2), effortful control (Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire) and executive function (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2) in daily activities (N = 19). Results: Data analysis using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s R revealed statistically significant (p-value \u3c .05) positive and negative correlations between constructs of executive function, effortful control, and sensory processing behaviors. Only positive correlations were found between sensory processing behaviors and executive function. Conclusion: Findings indicate that typical responses to sensory experiences were related to typical abilities for executive function and effortful control, whereas increased sensory reactivity was associated with decreased abilities for executive function and effortful control along with an increased expression of impulsivity, reduced attention, and decreased on-task behavior. Outcomes support the need to address sensory responsiveness and reactivity in the context to support behavior management for effortful control and executive function