Browsing by Author "Pritchard, Kevin"

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    Does Acute Exercise Improve Driving Performance In Patients With Untreated Sleep Apnea?
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2013-04-05) Patel, Parag; Pritchard, Kevin
    Decreased awareness among drivers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which the airflow decreases during breathing, has been shown to increase motor vehicular crash risk. Those who suffer from OSA have been found to have between a two and tenfold increase of accident risk due to feelings of fatigue resulting from fragmented sleep (George, C.F.P. 2007). Treatment using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has shown mixed effects in improving driver performance (Vkaulin, et al., 2011). Therefore, our objective is to determine if acute aerobic exercise (i.e. walking) prior to driving for patients with OSA can reduce the amount of accidents. Patients with OSA that are awaiting sleep apnea treatment will first undergo a ten minute moderate-intensity exercise session and then use a high fidelity driving simulator for the next fifteen minutes. A nighttime countryside scenario with two naturalistic obstacles at random times will be used. While the subject is driving, the simulator will record lane deviation, collision events, and braking response time. The same subjects will also test the simulator without doing any exercise in order to determine if there was any benefit from the exercise. The order of the simulator sessions, both with and without exercise, will be randomized to prevent practice effect. We hope to see improved driving behavior when the subjects undergo a ten minute aerobic exercise prior to driving.
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    A Mixed-method Analysis of Community-Engaged Theatre Illuminates Black Women’s Experiences of Racism and Addresses Healthcare Inequities by Targeting Provider Bias
    (Sage, 2020) Wasmuth, Sally; Pritchard, Kevin; Milton, Cierra; Smith, Emily; Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences
    Theatre has been a powerful means of eliciting social change. This paper describes methods and outcomes of a theatre project to reduce healthcare inequities experienced by Black women. We conducted narrative interviews with a convenience sample of Black women and conducted thematic analysis of interview transcripts to learn about their experiences of healthcare and to inform development of a professional theatrical production. To assess the impact of the performance on the audience, we used a single post-test concurrent mixed-methods design using a self-created Likert-type survey that included space for open-ended responses. Ten Black women completed narrative interviews. Thematic analysis revealed 5 main themes: being ignored, being accused, being talked-down to, fearing harm, and being hurt. Narratives were used to create a script that centered on these themes, and that was professionally produced and performed. Audience members (n = 113, 25% healthcare providers) produced a mean total post-test score of 19.28 (agree/strongly agree) on a 25-point survey with 2 items scoring in the 2 to 3 range (disagree/not sure). Thematic analysis data revealed the extent to which Black women experienced discrimination in multiple settings. Quantitative survey data suggested audience members conceptually understood and were aware of inequity, but open-ended responses revealed this information was new for some, and prior knowledge for others. The audience reported planning to change personal behaviors that may contribute to inequity. Participants were unsure if they had contributed to inequity in the past. The performance stimulated conversation about implicit bias and discrimination and encouraged audience members to examine their contributions to the problem. Future pre-post studies are needed to better assess the impact of the performance. Theatre has the potential to illuminate the extent and nature of discrimination in healthcare and society, and to foster conversations that allow audience members to consider their own potential contributions to discrimination.
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    Narrative Theater to Examine and Mitigate Anti-Black Racism Within Occupational Therapy
    (Sage, 2023) Wasmuth, Sally; Milton, Cierra; Pritchard, Kevin; Johnson, Khalilah R.; Wakeford, Linn; Caldwell, Breonna; Peak, Kierra; Briggeman, Lauren; Johnson, Kelsey; Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences
    Theater has long-standing roots in social justice and holds promise for reducing racist attitudes and behaviors. Objectives of this study were to (a) collect and theatrically portray narratives from Black occupational therapy students and practitioners to a national audience and (b) examine the impact of the theatrical performance on anti-Black racism among attendees. The Identity Development Evolution and Sharing (IDEAS) model guided translation of narratives into a filmed performance. Paired t-test of pre/post administration of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–Stigma (AAQ-S) measured changes in stigma beliefs. Qualitative thematic analysis of an open-ended post-survey question elucidated experiences of the performance. The performance engendered significant decreases in stigma; qualitative data elucidated potential mechanisms of change. This study provides insight into experiences of anti-Black racism within occupational therapy and offers a promising means for occupational therapists to engage in anti-Black racism.
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    Supporting Occupational Justice for Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People Through Narrative-Informed Theater: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study
    (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2021-07-01) Wasmuth, Sally; Leonhardt, Bethany; Pritchard, Kevin; Li, Chih-Ying; DeRolf, Annie; Mahaffey, Lisa; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Importance: Societal stigma gravely impedes occupational justice for transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people, producing vast health disparities for this population. Objective: To test the feasibility of an intervention to reduce stigma and improve the well-being of TGNC people. Design: A parallel, mixed-methods design was used to test feasibility in the areas of acceptability, demand, and limited efficacy. Setting: Community. Participants: Forty-two audience members and 5 TGNC interviewees. Intervention: Virtual, narrative-informed play reading and moderated discussion about gender diversity and affirmative care. Outcomes and Measures: The valid and reliable Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Stigma was used to assess stigma beliefs. An open-ended, qualitative question assessed TGNC interviewees' experiences. Results: Recruitment and participant responses to the intervention indicated feasibility in the areas of acceptability, demand, and limited efficacy. However, future efforts at obtaining a diverse TGNC sample are needed. Conclusions and relevance: The intervention decreased stigma beliefs in audience members and offered a positive experience for TGNC participants. Feasibility outcomes warrant future efficacy testing. What This Article Adds: This article adds an innovative intervention for promoting occupational justice to support the health and well-being of TGNC people. The community-based intervention facilitates change in societal attitudes and stigmatizing beliefs.