Occupational Therapy

Research of the Department of Occupational Therapy

The research of the Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Professions of Temple University has been focused on three major overlapping areas: Participation, Neurobehavioral and Education. The studies are conducted with the ultimate objective of improving the effectiveness of occupational therapy treatment and professional education.

PARTICIPATION

According to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (2002), the overall objective of occupational therapy treatment is “the engagement in occupation to support participation in context.” Participation is a also a construct based on the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Function (ICF) and is described as “involvement in a life situation.” The research in this area examines many dimensions of participation including the personal importance of specific activities, the individual’s performance of meaningful activities (with or without assistance) and their satisfaction with involvement in these life situations. It also explores the relationship of participation with social support, well-being, environmental barriers, role limitations or disability. Participation in life roles and situations, have been shown to be vital to the quality of human experience and functioning (Cantor & Sanderson, 1999, Law, 2002)

Grants

Farber, R. S. 5/04-12/06. Examination of Maternal Role Participation, Well-being, Social Support, and Health of Mothers with Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Tobacco Settlement Formula Funds, $28,000

Kinnealey, M., & Koenig, K. P., (Co-PI’s) 9/04-11/05, Youth Advocate Programs Inc. Training therapeutic support staff workers using a relationship based approach for working
with people and their families with autistic spectrum disorders, $53,082.

Publications

DeRosier, R., & Farber, R.  (2005). Speech recognition software as an assistive device: A pilot  study of user’s satisfaction and psychosocial impact. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation. 25 (2)125-134.

Farber, R. S. (2004). Experience of mothers with disabilities: Learning from their voice. In J. Olsen and S. Esdaile (Eds), Mothering occupations: Challenge, participation and agency. FA. Davis: Philadelphia.

Farber, R. S. (2000). Mothers with disabilities: In their own voice. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(3) 260-26 8.

Dissertation Completed

North, C.T. 2000. The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Depression in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations. (Doctoral dissertation, Temple University) Dissertation Abstracts International (UMI No. 9969927).

Presentations

Farber, R. S (2005, October). Exploring Well-being, Social Support and Participation of Mothers with Multiple Sclerosis. Paper presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Valley Forge, PA.

Farber, R. S. (2005, March). Participation and Social Support of Mothers with Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Study. Poster presentation at Temple University Interdisciplinary Center of Excellence: Women’s Health Research and leadership, Philadelphia. PA.

Tanguay, H. & Farber, R. S., Lipsett, R. (2001, April). Coping and Community Integration of Persons During and After Rehabilitation. Paper presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Exposition, Philadelphia, PA.

Hanssens, T. & Farber, R. (2001, April). From the State Hospital to the Community: Personal Accounts. Paper presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Exposition, Philadelphia, PA..

Kinnealey, M., Kauffman, N. (2002, May)  Social Skill needs in AD/HD children: An explorative collaborative model. A workshop presented at the  American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference and Exposition. Miami, FL.

NEUROBEHAVIORAL

The neurobehavioral research focuses on body structure / body function level of the nervous system (ICF). Baseline differences between normal and specific diagnostic groups are studied as well as neuro-physiological and behavioral changes following intervention. Examples of diagnostic categories studied include sensory modulation disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, AD/HD, and autistic spectrum disorder (Neurobehavioral center and lab). In addition, systemic aspects of dementia-related problems and home-based interventions were studied.

Smith, S.A. (PI) & Kinnealey, M. (Co-PI). 12/03 Wallace Research Foundation.  PI S. Smith & Co PI, M. Kinnealey. Continuation of funding looking at differences in MRI in sensory defensive and non-defensive persons, $25,000.

Smith, S.A. (PI) & Kinnealey, M.(Co-PI). 1/03. Wallace Research Foundation. The effects of deep pressure on autonomic function and sensory processing in sensory defensive and non-defensive persons, $49,655.

Smith, S.A. (PI) (2003-2004). Pennsylvania Department of Health, Formula Funds. This Study is Investigating the Effects of Oral Creatine Ingestion on Neuromuscular Function and Symptom Severity in Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Controls, $50,347. 

Publications

Pfeiffer, B.; Kinnealey, M.; Reed, C., & Herzberg, G. (2005) Sensory modulation and
affective disorders in children and adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy 59: 3, 335-345. 

Pfeiffer, B., & Kinnealey, M. (2003). Treatment of sensory defensiveness in adults.  Occupational Therapy International, 10,3, 175-184.  

Smith, S., Press, B., Koenig, K. P., and Kinnealey, M. (2005). Effects of sensory integration therapy on self-stimulating behaviors in children with pervasive developmental disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59: 4, 418-425.

McCully, K.K., Smith, S.A. Rajaei, S.. Leigh, J.S &.Natelson B.H (2004): Muscle metabolism with blood flow restriction in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Applied Physiology, 96:871-878,

McCully, K.K., Smith, S.A. Rajaei, S.. Leigh, J.S &.Natelson B.H (2003): Blood flow and muscle metabolism in chronic fatigue syndrome. Clinical Science, 104:641-647.

Kinnealey, M., & Smith, S., (2004, fall). A review of research on sensory modulation disorders in adults. SI Focus, 10-12. (invited)

Corcoran, M., Gitlan, L., Levy, L., Eckhardt, S., Earland, T., Shaw, G., & Kearney, P.
(2002). An occupational therapy home-based intervention to address dementia-related problems identified by family caregivers. Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly, 3(1), 82-90.

Presentations

Kinnealey, M., & Smith, S. (2002, June) Sensory defensive and non-defensive adults: Physiological and behavioral differences. A poster presentation presented at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy Conference, Stockholm, Sweden.

Koenig, K., Huecker, G., Kinnealey, M. (2005, May).Comparative outcomes of children with ADHD: Treatment versus delayed treatment control  condition. Paper presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference and Exposition, Long Beach, California .

Koenig,K.,  Smith, S,. Kinnealey, M. (2004, October) Treatment effectiveness Research. A three paper panel presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Annual Conference,  Harrisburg, PA.

Hendrickson, A., Keenan, M. and Koenig, K. P. (2004, October).  Efficacy Study Utilizing Sensory Integration with Attention Deficit Disorder.  Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Harrisburg, PA

Koenig, K. P. (2003, June).  Behavioral responsiveness:  The relationship between sensory processing and temperament.  American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.

Koenig, K. P. (2001, April). Evidence of the interaction between temperament and sensory integration.  American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 

Koenig, K.P  Smith, S.,  Kinnealey, M. (2001, April) Evidence based practice using a sensory integration approach. American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference and Exposition. Philadelphia, PA.

Corcoran, M., Levy, L., Earland, T., & Shaw, G. (2001, April). Going beyond dressing: Addressing dementia related problems identified by family caregivers. Paper presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference and Exposition. Philadelphia, PA.

EDUCATION

Educational research in the Department of Occupational Therapy explores the effectiveness of educational practices in clinical professions, including the development of clinical and supervisory reasoning in fieldwork, predictors of academic and clinical success, and interdisciplinary education.

Grants

Farber, R., & Koenig, K.P  (2002). Temple University, College of Allied Health Professions. Dean’s Incentive Fund Grant for The Fieldwork Supervisor:  From Novice to Expert, $915.00.

Koenig, K.P  (2004). Temple University, College of Health Professions. Dean’s Incentive Fund Grant for An Outcome Study of Occupational Therapy Intervention in Pediatrics, $4000.00

Lipsitt, R., (2001), Temple University, College of Allied Health Professions, Dean’s Incentive Fund. Focus Group Research: Students' Perceptions of Interdisciplinary Education. in the College of Allied Health Professions.

Publications

Farber, R. S., & Koenig, K. P. (in press). Facilitating clinical reasoning in fieldwork: The relational context of the supervisor and student. In B. A. Schell & J.W. Schell (Eds), Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins: Baltimore, MD.

Koenig, K. P., Johnson, C., Morano, C. K. & DuCette, J. (2003). Development and validation of a professional behavior assessment. Journal of Allied Health.

Dissertations Completed

Morgan, M.J. (2003). Adoption patterns and characteristics of faculty in the health professions who incorporate interdisciplinary education into teaching and learning. Dissertation submitted to the College of Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

Koenig, K. (2003). Academic and Clinical Success in the Field of Occupational Therapy:  Predictors of Entry Level Competence. Dissertation submitted to the College of Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

Presentations

Koenig, K.P. and Piersol, C. (2004, May). Professional Behavior. Program Director’s Meeting, American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Koenig, K.P. (2003, June).  Academic and clinical success:  A model of entry-level professional competence.  American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.

Johnson, C., Koenig, K., Piersol, C., Santalucia, S. (2003, June). Predicting success:  An inter-institutional Level I fieldwork evaluation system.  American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.

Koenig, K. (2003, June).  Professional behavior development and the OT student:  Panel Presentation.  For EDSIS Fieldwork Forum at American Occupational Therapy Annual Conference, Washington, D.C. (Invited) 

Koenig, K. (2003, May).  Academic and clinical success in occupational therapy students:  Predictors of entry-level professional competence.  Focus on Research Forum, Department of Occupational Therapy, Temple University. (Invited).

Hooper, B, Farber, R. S. and Schell, B. B. (2002, June). Emerging Concepts in Clinical Reasoning: Implications for Teaching and Research. Paper presented at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy, Stockholm, Sweeden.

Koenig, K. P., & Johnson, C. (2001, April). Development of an instrument to measure level I performance. American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Koenig, K. P., & Farber, R. S. (2000, March). Components of Supervisory Reasoning: Implications for Fieldwork Educators’ Development.  Paper presented at American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.

Morgan, M. J., & Koenig, K. P. (2001, May).  Relationship of gender to the development and assessment of professional behaviors in occupational therapy students.  Temple Education Research Association Conference.

Farber, R. S. & Koenig, K. P. (2002, May). Supervisory reasoning in fieldwork: Connection and implications for the development of clinical reasoning. Paper presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association, Miami , Florida.

Koenig, K. P. & Johnson, C. (2000, October). Development of a Professional Behavior Assessment:  Inter-Institutional Collaboration. Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Koenig, K. P., & Farber, R. (April, 2000).  Components of Supervisory Reasoning:  Implications for fieldwork. Presented at the Annual American Occupational Therapy Association Conference in Seattle, Washington.