The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Prevention of Infant Torticollis & Plagiocephaly

AOTA includes health promotion as an Intervention approach in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process. As health care professionals, occupational therapy practitioners are responsible for promoting public health and wellness. Occupational therapists need to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of varying infant positions, providing tummy time, and limiting infant time spent in baby gear

Opening a Student-Run Pro Bono Occupational Therapy Pediatric Clinic

This presentation described the opening of a student-run pro bono pediatric therapy clinic that provides services to children/families who are economically disadvantaged. The benefits of participation for students and clients were reviewed, and fund-raising and the development of a mission statement were discussed

Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Practice: Possibilities for Research Collaboration and Funding

Preparing a successful small grant proposal involves research, planning, preparation, and determination, but obtaining funding for a creative project is not unrealistic. Practitioners are in the trenches on a daily basis, and many likely have novel ideas and relevant questions, especially when it comes to interventions. These intervention questions are important, with the American Occupational Therapy Association reporting that more studies are needed to investigate and support occupation-based intervention. By developing partnerships, educators, practitioners, and students can engage in small scale projects to further the knowledge base in the field of occupational therapy

A Podcast’s Effect on Empathy and Client-Centeredness in Occupational Therapy Students

There is mixed evidence on the effectiveness of educational approaches that address empathy and client-centeredness in occupational therapy (OT) education. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of listening to a personal narrative-account podcast on empathy and client-centeredness in OT students. An experimental, posttest-only control group design was used. Master’s degree level OT students were stratified by year of study and were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group. Following a 5-week educational intervention, levels of empathy and client-centeredness were measured and compared using the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale and the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale via post-test, respectively. Analyses were conducted using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results of the MANOVA demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the students who participated in the intervention versus the control on the combined (or linear combination of) dependent variables, Wilks\u27 Λ = .96, F(2.34) =.71, p =.499 partial η2 = . 04. There was no statistically significant difference in using a combination of written diagnostic information and a first-person narrative account podcast as compared to written diagnostic information only on OT students\u27 overall level of empathy and client-centeredness. As the results of the MANOVA were not significant, post hoc analyses were not conducted. Implications and recommendations are shared to guide OT educators in facilitating in their students the development of these two attributes of professionalism that are vital for effective client care

OT in Pediatric Primary Care

This session described a program where licensed occupational therapists and master’s level OT students provide free developmental screenings to infants and young children in local pediatric medical practice. Strategies for strategies for developing relationships and bridging communication between occupational therapists, primary practice physicians, and families were reviewed

Handwriting and Occupational Therapy in the Schools

Handwriting is an important life skill, and handwriting tasks take up a significant amount of time during the school day. Research suggests that writing by hand influences reading skills, recall, academics, and motor and composition skills. Pediatric occupational therapists evaluate and treat children who are struggling with handwriting; therefore, it is important for practitioners to be aware of a variety of treatment strategies for addressing handwriting challenges. After participating in this session, the learner will be able to discuss the research on typical and atypical pencil grasps, identify and name 5 common handwriting errors, and explain 3 techniques for increasing handwriting legibility

A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Prevention of Infant Torticollis and Plagiocephaly

Research suggests that parents are more likely to carry out positioning recommendations from a health care professional than any other source. Occupational therapy practitioners can play an important role in educating parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers about the importance of providing tummy time and limiting infant time spent in baby gear

The Pathway to the use of a Structured and Supported Approach to Debriefing

Debriefing plays a critical role in the transfer of knowledge in simulation education. Various methods are used in the debriefing process based on a variety of factors; this presentation sheds light on the pathway to the use of a structured and supported approach as traversed in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Tennessee Healthcare Center as well as reflections and lessons learned along the way. Engagement in this session will allow learners to further develop their debriefing skills through exposure to information about strategies to use in the debriefing process that can be used as part of simulation learning experiences to foster reflective thinking and facilitate transformative learning. Through listening to this account and the related research presented, learners will be able to list 5 steps involved in a holistic debriefing process, identify 3 ways to address the emotional charge resulting from SIM encounters, and discuss specific strategies to use to support students in connecting new learning to a larger clinical environment. Research supporting the use of the structured and supported model for debriefing will be shared along with observations of student and faculty responses that have come as a result of the implementation of these techniques in the experience of the presenters. Challenges in debriefing as well as plans for continued growth in this area will be discussed as part of this session as well

Traditional Lectures and Team-Based Learning in an Occupational Therapy Program: A Survey of Student Perceptions

Background: Team-Based Learning (TBL) is an active instructional approach used in health care education that incorporates group work. Methods: Two occupational therapy professors adopted a TBL instructional approach in two courses for first- and second-year occupational therapy master’s degree level students. The investigators administered a survey to evaluate student perceptions of TBL and lecture-based instruction (LBI). A principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation identified two 5-item factors: “perceptions of LBI” and “perceptions of TBL.” Internal consistency for each factor was strong (Cronbach’s alpha 5 0.856 [preference for LBI]; 0.865 [preference of TBL]). A Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test was conducted to determine whether there was a difference in the ranking of two teaching approaches. Results: The results indicated a significant difference in how the students ranked the instructional approaches, z = -3.19, p \u3c .05, with the students having more positive perceptions of LBI than TBL. Conclusion: The implications for occupational therapy educators are discussed

The Early Steps Project: Occupational Therapy in a Pediatric Primary Care Setting

The purpose of this study is expand on the Early STEPs project goal of identifying early developmental delays in infants and young children in a health disparate population and to collect preliminary data to lay the groundwork for a future NIH grant proposal. Individuals with less education have poor health and shorter life expectancies than well-educated individuals, and research reveals that poverty is directly related to limited education. An innovative approach is needed to overcome barriers, improve health literacy, and educate parents on effective parenting strategies for this population. Technology may be the part of the solution to this issue. Through Early STEPs, the occupational therapists will continue to refer families to early intervention and therapy services as appro­priate and follow-up to ensure that services are initiated. The OT will also determine if the parents are utilizing the Word Gap App and other provided resources to support their child\u27s development and to manage their stress. By increasing parental awareness and knowledge of language and motor skill development, the environments of underserved children will be enriched and parental stress will be reduced so that these children can have improved health and reach their full potential