Background/Aims Parkinson Wellness Recovery Moves is a functional, large-amplitude exercise programme aimed at reducing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. To date, evidence supports the use of amplitude training to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease; however, evidence is lacking in the feasibility of using Parkinson Wellness Recovery Moves as an adjunct to occupational therapy within inpatient rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Parkinson Wellness Recovery Moves intervention into the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease, within an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Methods A total of five adults with Parkinson's disease participated in this 11-week quasi-experimental feasibility trial. The use of Parkinson Wellness Recovery Moves was standardised, requiring each participant to engage in at least two occupational therapy sessions that included Parkinson Wellness Recovery Moves. Outcomes collected included fidelity of intervention implementation, and participant-centred outcomes of quality of life satisfaction and function via the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 and Section GG respectively. Results Each participant had a positive change in Section GG scores and completed between eight and 13 occupational therapy sessions that included Parkinson Wellness Recovery Moves. Four out of five participants reported higher quality of life at the time of discharge. Conclusions The use of Parkinson Wellness Recovery Moves was found to be feasible to implement within an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, with increased functional performance and improved quality of life.

Abstract Date Presented 04/21/2023 This study investigated how OTs who were certified lymphedema therapists addressed quality-of-life (QOL) issues for clients with lymphedema. Participants tended to administer occupation-based interventions but not QOL assessments despite how important they rated addressing client QOL. Because lymphedema affects QOL, it is important to understand practice trends to improve client care and justify the need for OT in this specialty area of practice. Primary Author and Speaker: Mackenzie Feldhacker Contributing Authors: Keri B. Kamphoff

Abstract Date Presented 04/01/2022 A quality improvement (QI) program called the Educational Program for Interprofessional Collaboration (EPIC) was implemented at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Woburn, MA. The purpose of EPIC was to improve employees’ interprofessional collaboration knowledge and skills and to create positive perceptions of working in interprofessional teams. The components of the EPIC program can be transferred to other hospital settings to improve interprofessional collaboration. Primary Author and Speaker: Moriah Boyd

Abstract Date Presented 03/31/2022 This study examines the transformation of OT generalists into experts in the provision of Assistive Technology Services (ATS). It sheds light on the adaptive strategies that OTs adopt while overcoming occupational and environmental barriers in the workplace and seeking to gain expertise. It also has recommendations from the experts in the field to better prepare entry-level OTs to provide ATS in the current climate. Primary Author and Speaker: Katherine Selby McDowell Additional Authors and Speakers: Karen Aranha

Most adults in the United States prefer to age in their own homes and communities. However, many ageing-in-place models rely on expensive external services, negatively affecting access by lower socioeconomic status (SES) and other vulnerable groups. This article documents two pilot projects conducted by a community-academic partnership that examined associations between social capital, ageing in community, and health among older adults. The first project explored the association between social capital and health across community SES levels. The second project explored one type of social capital, timebanking, and its association with health. We highlight here our lessons learned from these community-engaged research (CER) projects: (1) Our partnership needed to improve our study design and data collection by enhancing our recruitment strategies, community site partnerships, survey instrument and data matching, and research team workload allocation issues. (2) We should have validated our instruments for use with older adults who had mild cognitive and visual impairments, acknowledged how community SES differences influenced our data collection, and included more research assistant support during our community meetings. (3) We would have benefited from protocol development for recording and responding to issues raised by participants. Our projects also led us to relational insights, such as reinforcing the need to foster clear communication across team members, involving community advisory boards earlier in the CER process, seeking network input on research strategies to meet older adults’ needs, and developing plans to sustain long-term relationships. We hope these lessons learned are useful to other community-engaged researchers.

Purpose: There is little clinical evidence comparing the safety and efficacy of prophylactic subcutaneous heparin given every 8 hours and every 12 hours. We performed a retrospective analysis incorporating these dosing intervals in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Methods: Heparin usage data was collected and patient charts were analyzed for both therapeutic failure and bleeding events. A 2-tailed Fisher's exact test was performed for both outcomes, with a P-value of less than 0.05 being considered significant. Odds ratios were also calculated with P-values less than 0.05 being considered significant. Study Population: A Cerner report was run to identify patients ordered prophylactic heparin in an inpatient rehabilitation setting from April 7, 2020, to October 27, 2021. One hundred patients receiving heparin every 8 hours and every 12 hours were randomly selected for chart review. These study groups were further stratified by Padua risk scores. Results: In both groups, 4 (4.0%) patients were identified as having a documented bleeding event and 2 (2.0%) patients from each group were identified as having a therapy failure. Conclusion: For both endpoints, no significant differences in bleeding rates or therapy failure rates were detected in any of the population stratifications.

The cost of pain to society is high, not only in dollars but in physical and emotional suffering. Undertreated pain in the geriatric population can lead to functional impairments and diminished quality of life. A transitional care unit (TCU) described having higher levels of moderate to severe pain than state and national levels in like facilities. A team of university faculty and students, and staff members from the TCU developed a quality improvement project to examine the feasibility of integrating complementary therapies to treat pain into clinical practice. The team integrated three evidence-based complementary therapies into staff workflow. The nursing and therapy staff reported minimal to no interruption to their workflow when patients used the complementary therapies. Staff expressed satisfaction with an expanded menu of pain management options. Patients reported statistically significant lower (p = 0.002) pain levels after using the complementary therapies and benefits beyond pain relief, including relaxation, stress reduction, and improved sleep. Adding complementary therapies to the pain management program was feasible and the patients had less pain along with other benefits when using the therapies with standard care. Having additional methods for managing pain is beneficial and vital.

Many occupational therapy programs use hybrid instruction methods that include virtual learning. To ensure active learning techniques, instructors must alter and adapt traditional instruction methods to the virtual environment. This article explores the use of a virtual Makerspace to create adaptive equipment used throughout online intervention course experiences. Thirty-seven first year occupational therapy students participated in an exclusively online, synchronous course focusing on interventions for adults with physical disabilities. A Makerspace was created to allow students to have access to adaptive equipment (AE) and teach students how to fabricate low-cost AE for future clients. During class, guided instruction was provided to fabricate a sock aide and a universal cuff. This AE was then used throughout the course to provide hands on learning opportunities. Summative assessments were used at midterm and at the conclusion of the course. Students noted enjoyment and preference for hands on activities such as Makerspace, acknowledging how this connected with roleplaying and client interactions. Students were observably engaged throughout the course and integrated AE into learning scenarios throughout. Student feedback supported the use of a virtual Makerspace and reinforces the notion of the maker movement as shared ideas and space to build community. This not only provides a learning opportunity but offers connection in virtual environments. Makerspace activities can also be used to build competence and confidence in OT intervention. A Makerspace is an active learning opportunity that can be successful in person or virtual environments.