Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects

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https://hdl.handle.net/1805/23238

This collection includes capstone projects authored by doctoral students in the Department of Occupational Therapy.

If you are an OTD student and need access to upload your project, please contact the University Library Center for Digital Scholarship (digschol@iu.edu).

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Capstone Paper: Perinatal Mental Health Educational Content Module for OT Mental Health Class
(2025) Pulos, Emily; Bednarski, Julie; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Belkiewitz, Johnna
1in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience a perinatal mental depression and or anxiety(PSI,2025). Occupational therapists can use their unique skills and holistic approach to help someone who is struggling with a perinatal mental health condition but there is a need for more education and skill practice in this population. Through a needs assessment it was found that the site had a need for incorporating perinatal mental health education into the OT Practice: Mental Health SHHS T543T class. The purpose of this capstone was to develop evidenced based resources to address perinatal mental health including the unique needs of adolescents to incorporate into the Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) Entry- Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) curriculum. The project goal was to provide education and skill practice for students so that the staff will be able to incorporate perinatal mental health education into OT Practice: Mental Health SHHS T543 lab portion of the class. The faculty who teaches the mental health course received all the content through a one drive shared folder and after reviewing all the content they were asked to take a post survey to assess the quality of the information developed for the educational content module. The results indicated that the educational content module was adequate for use and rooted in evidenced based practices.
Tailoring Dental Appointments for Neurodivergent Children
(2025-05) Chelmella, Payton; Van Antwerp, Leah; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Steele, Jaime
Many neurodivergent children have a difficult time during their dental visits or cannot find a dental office willing to treat them. This doctoral capstone project aimed to give a local pediatric dentist office the information and experience they need to confidently provide care for neurodivergent patients and patients with dental anxiety. Six evidence-based themes about beneficial adaptations and modifications were addressed, including: acclimating to the dentist, desensitization, patient care beyond the chair, child behavior management, adaptive communication, and sensory processing. The capstone student provided the dental team with additional information during the project, but the above themes were emphasized the most. The dental team members completed a pre-survey (9 participants) and post-survey (8 participants) to evaluate their knowledge and confidence in three areas: general knowledge about adaptations and modifications, perceived knowledge about concepts relating to specific adaptations and modifications, and their confidence in implementing specific adaptations and modifications. The results show that the three categories had a statistically significant difference between pre-survey and post-survey results with a medium to large effect size. This project had a strong impact on the dental team’s knowledge and confidence in ways to treat their neurodivergent patients and patients with dental anxiety, therefore, this project shows that occupational therapy has a valuable place in pediatric dental settings.
Optimizing Educational Resources for Upper Extremity Conditions in Occupational Therapy
(2025-05-05) Richardson, Nicole; Bednarski, Julie; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Brake, Holly
Upper extremity conditions or injuries significantly impact individuals' ability to participate in daily occupations. Access to clear, accurate, and patient-friendly educational materials is essential for promoting self-management and adherence to treatment recommendations. This doctoral capstone project aimed to develop and evaluate educational resources to be used within an outpatient hand therapy clinic. Key components of the project included completing a comprehensive needs assessment, reviewing current evidence-based practices, and implementing updated materials to support patient education. The resulting materials improved patient understanding of their diagnosis and treatment and supported the overall delivery of occupational therapy services. This project highlights the role of occupational therapy in providing patient education and the importance of accessible, well-designed resources in the hand therapy setting.
Current Evidence-Based Practices for Acute Stroke Rehabilitation
(2025-05) Russell, Rachel; Breeden, Lori; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Del Gallo, Drew
Every year more than 795,000 people living within the United States have a stroke (Tsao, et al., 2023). With the prevalence, complexity, and wide variety of symptoms a person can experience following a stroke, there is continual research advancements on the best practices for the acute stroke patient (American Stroke Association, n.d.). The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to research current evidence-based practices and develop educational resources for the acute rehabilitation team to expand their knowledge on the best practices that benefit acute stroke patients. Through the needs assessment, it was discovered that the site had a goal to increase knowledge on the current evidence-based rehabilitation practices that are relevant for acute stroke patients. Following a systematic review of the current literature, four resources were developed, and an in-service presentation was delivered to the acute rehabilitation team to guide the effective utilization of these materials in clinical practice. The acute rehabilitation team supported the use of these resources as they reported an increase in confidence and knowledge in researching and implementing current evidence-based practices in the future with acute stroke patients following the in-service presentation. The results indicate that continued research is recommended to further explore effective strategies for translating evidence-based practices into clinical practice by occupational therapists working with stroke patients in the acute care setting.
Advancing Perinatal Mental Health Awareness in the NICU: Promoting Caregiver Well-Being and Infant Outcomes
(2025-05-04) McGee, Alexis; Van Antwerp, Leah; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; McQuay, Mackenzie
Perinatal mental health plays a critical role in the overall well-being of parents and, consequently, in the care and development of their newborns, especially of those with infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges that parents face during a high-risk pregnancy, preterm birth, or NICU stay can have profound effects not only on their own mental health but also their ability to provide optimal care for their infant. The emotional struggles can add a challenge to the already very complicated and demanding process of learning to care for a medically fragile newborn. Occupational therapy, utilizing a holistic approach, offers a valuable framework for supporting the infant and the entire family unit. By assessing the emotional well-being of parents, occupational therapists can help mitigate the impact of perinatal mental health issues, fostering a more positive environment for both parents and their newborns. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to identify ways in which Community Hospital North (CHN) can better support the emotional well-being of the families experiencing a NICU stay. In collaboration with the site, the student developed resource materials for parents, as well as provided a presentation to staff to better equip NICU providers with the necessary tools and resources to appropriately address perinatal mental health challenges in their NICU families. Staff was provided a pre- and post- survey questionnaire to assess confidence and knowledge of perinatal mental health, and the means to best address these challenges. Results of the surveys indicate the staff increased their knowledge within identifying local mental health resources and showed improved confidence in addressing mental health symptoms with NICU families.
What are the Effects of Parent Involved Interventions on Functional Outcomes for Children with ADHD?
(2025-05-06) Craigmyle, Claire; Dika, Leila; Lemmons, Karlie; Reitz, Sarah; Chase, Tony; Lee, Chang Dae; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences
This rapid systematic review examined the effectiveness of parent-involved interventions on functional outcomes for children with ADHD. Family-centered care is an important component of pediatric occupational therapy since parents contribute to maintaining their child’s environment emphasizing the importance of including parents in the treatment approach. Within the research, a variety of parent-involved interventions were found to have implications on functional outcomes for children with ADHD, including behavioral, mindfulness, dyadic, and cognitive approaches. The results found that there is strong evidence to support the effectiveness of parental involvement in enhancing functional outcomes for children with ADHD. However, with the limitations of this rapid systematic review, further research needs to be conducted. Occupational therapists have the potential to play a crucial role in addressing barriers to occupational performance and supporting families in establishing effective strategies to enhance functional outcomes for children with ADHD.
Traumatic Brain Injury Discharge Planning from Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Doctoral Capstone Report
(2025) Ridgeway, Mariah; Hull, Kristin; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Showalter, Sara
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have lifelong impacts on physical and psychosocial well-being, affecting patients and their support systems. Due to the complexity and variability of TBIs, determining post-discharge needs is often challenging. An interdisciplinary approach, combined with robust education and training, can aid in smoother transitions of care. However, barriers such as low health literacy and disorganized information delivery often hinder the discharge process. A multiphase needs assessment at the capstone site revealed similar gaps and barriers. The capstone student utilized the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance model, Occupational Justice frame of reference, and Adult Learning theory to address the needs identified by the capstone site. The student provided the brain injury unit team at the inpatient rehabilitation hospital with information delivery checklists, an evidence-based resource binder, and access to a shared resource drive. Additionally, the capstone student conducted a brief educational session and collected pre- and post- survey data. Survey results confirmed the project was successful and positively impacted both the capstone student and the site.
Program Development and Implementation: A Movement-Based Curriculum for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
(2025) Huff, Nichole; Lee, Chang; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Miller, Michelle
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face significant barriers to physical activity participation, including financial constraints, limited adaptive programs, and motivational challenges. Despite the well-documented benefits of physical activity on physical health, cognitive function, and social engagement, participation rates remain low. This capstone project aimed to design and evaluate a movement curriculum tailored to adults with IDD using the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model as a guiding framework. The curriculum incorporated evidence-based strategies, such as nature-based activities, dance, and team sports to promote meaningful engagement and sustained participation. Activities were structured to be adaptable based on individual abilities and environmental factors. The curriculum was implemented through site-specific protocols and facilitator collaboration, ensuring accessibility and long-term sustainability. Program effectiveness was evaluated through pre- and post-intervention surveys that analyzed participation using an adapted Likert scale as an outcome measure. Results demonstrated increased engagement in activities following the program implementation, suggesting that interventions incorporating social and environmental engagement resulted in improved sustained engagement compared to the previous exercise programs implemented at the facility. Future research should explore longitudinal outcomes within diverse community settings.
Promoting Use of Occupation-Based Interventions in Hand Therapy
(2025) Doss, Breanna; Albright, Megan; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Andres, Shana
Occupational therapy has a unique scope of practice in that meaningful activities are used as interventions to increase a patient’s function and independence in their daily life. One specific setting in which occupational therapists work is the field of hand therapy. Occupational therapists (OT) who specialize in the upper extremity are Certified Hand Therapists (CHT). Within hand therapy, many interventions are biomechanical in nature meaning they are exercises focused on increasing strength or range of motion. This poses a challenge for OTs in this setting as it can be difficult to maintain the core of occupational therapy in ensuring interventions are meaningful and occupation-based. Research suggests that occupation-based interventions (OBI) for patients with upper extremity conditions results in better patient outcomes by increasing occupational performance and satisfaction while reducing psychological distress. Therefore, the purpose of this capstone project was to increase the implementation of OBI in a hand therapy setting while gaining advanced clinical skills. To increase the frequency of OBI in the hand therapy clinic, an Activity of Daily Living (ADL) board was developed as a way to eliminate existing barriers at the capstone site. To gain advanced clinical skills in hand therapy, the student spent a majority of each day working alongside a CHT to complete patient care. Overall, the ADL board positively impacted the capstone site by reducing barriers to OBI implementation through the support of a cost-effective, convenient, tangible resource.
Examinining Transitions along the Continuum of Care for Older Adults in Retirement Communities: Opportunities for Occupational Therapy
(2025-05-05) Harrison, Stephanie; Breeden, Lori; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Hoggard, Tiffany
A better understanding is needed of the transitions that older adults experience when moving to new environments and across levels of care. This doctoral capstone project aimed to create opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners to address older adult transitions in future practice. In preparation a needs assessment and literature review were completed to inform the development of project goals. Residents were interviewed using the Quality of Life and Well-Being through Transition Questionnaire, adapted from established tools. Analysis of the interviews guided the design and implementation of interventions with a focus on evidence-informed practice. Informed by existing literature, this project further explored older adults’ experiences as they required additional care within a retirement community, offering insights into how transitions impact quality of life and well-being. The high socioeconomic status of residents at the site may have influenced their perceptions of quality of life, limiting generalizability to other retirement communities. Therefore, future studies would benefit from applying similar assessment tools across diverse retirement communities to further examine older adults’ perceptions of quality of life, well-being, and their experiences during transitions to new settings.

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