Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship

Using a survey and a virtual focus group, this research aims to better understand Fieldwork Educators’ experiences with student disclosure and navigating accommodations while on fieldwork. This poster also aims to disseminate key recommendations from participants regarding pre-FWE training and university-provided resources for additional support. Information gathered from this research will inform OT programs of the most significant areas for future support across all stakeholders (AFWCs, FWEs, and OT/s). More …

This poster presentation demonstrates how practitioners can use arts-based experiential learning programming to build life skills and coping strategies. When arts-based methods are delivered in experiential learning settings, they promote the development of skills like problem-solving, decision-making, self-regulation, and critical thinking. More …

Early discussions/documentation regarding preferences for future medical planning and late-life care, known as advance care planning (ACP), are critical. Significant barriers to ACP have been identified: role ambiguity and uncertainty, institutional barriers, clinicians questioning value of ACP, avoidance of ACP. QAgencies provide coverage only for devices that solely generate speech and neglect to cover devices that allow access to other computer functions. More…

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 and second leading cause of
unintentional injury death for children 5-14 (CDC, 2024). Project aimed to initiate dissemination of TheSunfish Method© online adaptive swimming lesson training program for individuals to receive acertificate of completion in teaching adaptive swimming. More …

Autistic and other neurodiverse individuals face many barriers to obtaining work in a desired setting. Current project worked in collaboraion with 3LPlace, a nonprofit organizaion in Somerville MA, to create tangible resources for developing work-related goals. More …

Communities of practice (CoPs) are one knowledge translation method used in occupational therapy. This project created an online CoP with school-based occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) to support the transition from a caseload to workload model. Participants responded to Evidence-Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) scale and qualitative responses via Qualtrics survey. More …

Limited knowledge exists among occupa4onal therapy practitioners (OTPs) about home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers as a state-based Medicaid program for individuals with chronic or disabling conditions to receive long-term care services in the community instead of the institutional setting and as a unique community-based reimbursement for OTPs. More …

ndividuals with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes due to medication non-adherence. Medication adherence among individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorder can be supported through treatment interventions that focus on health management. More …

ExerSHINE Kids® POWER Bootcamp program is a pediatric group occupational therapy intervention that combines elements of Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI), the STAR method, and high-intensity physical activity to facilitate self-regulation skills and promote occupational performance. Intervention fidelity is defined as the degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended. More …

Adults in Generation Z (Gen Z) report higher rates of anxiety than previous generations, especially in work settings. Chronic activation of the stress response system impairs learning and higher order thinking skills necessary for early job experiences. Occupational therapy’s (OT) PEO model offers an opportunity for supervisors to approach supporting their emerging adult staff with curiosity. More …

OT practitioners (OTPs) with limited teaching training report challenges in curriculum development, inclusive teaching, and student satisfaction. This gap is also evident in the Tufts University Hand and Upper Extremity (HUE) Rehabilitation Certificate Courses. The Student-Educator pedagogy has been found to be effective in increasing student satisfaction in higher education. More …

Current rehabilitation programs for people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) focus primarily on motor symptom remediation. Project aimed to develop a client-centered social self-management (SocM) manual for PwPD that addressed biopsychosocial health through involvement in valued daily activities. More …

Federally-funded Head Start programs, run by community organizations such as Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC), provide early education services to families experiencing poverty. Staff at GLCAC’s five Head Start centers identified a need for classroom-based strategies to support children’s sensory regulation throughout the daily routine. More …

Existing literature indicates a gap in Universal Design for Learning and Inclusion (UDLI) knowledge and implementation in early childhood education (ECE). The purpose of this project was to develop and deliver a training supporting UDLI understanding amongst teachers at an ECE program Eliot-Pearson Children’s School (EPCS) at Tufts University (Medford, MA). More …

In 2019, Tufts and Flying Kites (FK), a school in Njabini, Kenya, jointly developed Let’s Breathe!, to teach students skills to manage challenging emotions. The teachers at FK shared that the youngest students at FK would benefit from a simplified program that prepares them for the concepts taught in Let’s Breathe!. In response, this project developed Mindful Movements (MM), a sensorimotor curriculum that provides preschool-aged students at FK with foundational self-regulation skills. More …

Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) face heightened risks of secondary health issues, many of which can be mitigated through effective health management strategies. SCI&U, an online health management program, offers Peer Health Coaching (PHC) to enhance health self-management among individuals with SCI. This project aimed to identify and build a upon the PHC training process. More …

Children with diabetes are a higher risk for mental health challenges. This study assessed if pet
ownership in diabetic children was associated with anxiety/depression, emotional regulation,
parental stress, and A1C. Data were obtained from a subsample of youth from the Adolescent
Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study with diabetes (n=80). More …

Arts-based education (ABE), the use of art to build healthcare trainees’ professional skills, is an innovative, evidence-based tool for supporting clinical/interpersonal capacities. Although situated within a liberal arts institution, Tufts Department of Occupational Therapy (TDOT) offers limited ABE opportunities. More …

Literature indicated gaps in clinical reasoning for the identification of the therapeutic
potential of movement-to-movement action between the therapists and patients. To fill
this gap, literature suggests improvements in the teaching of clinical reasoning that
increases the therapist’s awareness. The aim of this project was to develop sustainable
learning materials and teaching procedures for physical transfers and post-stroke
scapular preparation for Tufts University occupational therapy students. More …

Minimal information exists regarding community-dwelling older adults’ experiences accessing and participating in local community garden spaces. This project aimed to explore the accessibility of community gardens for community-dwelling older adults age 60+ in the Boston Metro Area through quantitative and qualitative methods. Thirteen community-dwelling older adults age 60+ in the Boston Metro Area were surveyed about factors that impact their access and participation. More …

In the US, individuals with complex medical needs are at a greater risk of having unmet dental needs. The Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) attempts to address this gap through their Medically Complex Patient (MCP) Clinic. This project aimed to improve oral health outcomes by enhancing collaboration between dental professionals and occupational therapists (OTs). More …

This study aimed to identify the accessibility and relevance of three diabetes modules
to Latino men living with type 2 Diabetes in order to identify changes to make content more
meaningful in consecutive iterations. Modules centered on improving health literacy regarding
diabetes and foot care practices to decrease risk for secondary complications and increase
access to information to support continued learning post-modules. More …

Summer camp helps children develop independence, social skills, and the ability to self-
regulate. Club Rec, the Arlington Recreation Department’s summer program, aims to provide
safe, inclusive and fun programming for children ages 4-11. Staff training, programming, and
caregiver collaboration were prioritized based on previous recommendations. More …

Rationale: Scant evidence exists regarding occupational therapy in carceral settings. Objectives: To explore how occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) navigate evaluation, intervention, and role delineation. Methodology: Qualitative study using phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches, through semi-structured interviews with seven OTPs with average experience of 16 months, representing four practice settings. More …

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility of developing a therapeutic
spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR) using 360° videos for adults with chronic
pain. This was a two-phase iterative, developmental study focused on assessing
embodiment, engagement, presence, and usability. More …

Hospitalization can negatively influence a person’s independence and function when performing daily activities, i.e., eating or self-feeding. This project aimed to enhance a newly developed Lunch Group led by occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England, an inpatient rehabilitation facility. More …

Despite the noted benefits of participating in adaptive sports, there is a lack of awareness of what programs exist, i.e., New England Disabled Sports (NEDS). NEDS lacked organization-centered outreach materials to promote participation and occupational therapists can mitigate this gap through increasing health literacy in this emerging practice area. More …

“Inclusive language” refers to words or phrases that acknowledge diversity, convey respect, promote equal opportunities, and align with the preferences of the people being discussed. Clinicians can use inclusive language to promote respect and agency, and prevent stigma and marginalization when working with clients from historically underrepresented groups (URGs). More …

Minimal evidence analyzing the experiences of Black students and their perceived barriers
within education exists. This project aimed to explore the barriers faced by Black students
enrolling in higher education and implement supports within the Tufts Occupational therapy
program to increase diversity. Past and current research informed the themes of the toolkit
providing personal reports of experiences for context. More …

In community-based substance use disorder (SUD) settings, a common literature gap exists: the lack of formal group training for counselors. Research emphasizes benefits to both counselors and clients from such training (Flores & Georgi, 2005; Oser et al., 2013). This project aims to address this gap by developing, implementing, and evaluating a 3-day group facilitation training program at a residential SUD facility. The goal of this training is to increase the counselors’ knowledge of group facilitation skills. More …