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Department of Occupational Therapy

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https://hdl.handle.net/10217/100480
These digital collections include theses, dissertations, and faculty publications from the Department of Occupational Therapy.

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Browsing Department of Occupational Therapy by Author "Atler, Karen, advisor"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Exploring the occupational experiences of individuals with mental health conditions living in the community
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Studee, Jade Elizabeth, author; Atler, Karen, advisor; Hooper, Barbara, committee member; Hughes, Shannon, committee member
    Background. One way to help meet the needs of individuals with mental health conditions in the recovery process is through supporting participation in meaningful and purposeful activity (SAMHSA, 2018; WHO, 2018). Previous researchers have explored how individuals with mental health conditions spend their time and experience meaning within their recovery process, however little is known about how individuals experience their activities within the context of their actual time use. Objective. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences associated with the everyday activities of individuals with mental health conditions. The research questions were: 1) what are individuals with mental health conditions' experiences of pleasure, productivity, and restoration within the context of their daily activities and 2) what factors influence individuals with mental health conditions' experiences associated with their daily activities. Methods. Nine individuals who attended a community-based behavioral health center volunteered to participate in this study. Participants used the Pleasure, Productivity, and Restoration Profile to capture the subjective experiences they had within the context of their daily activities. The researcher then conducted interviews with the participants to discuss their experiences within their daily activities and create a plan to support their engagement in the activities that they associated with their desired experiences of pleasure, productivity, and restoration. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the researcher transcribed and coded the interviews and then analyzed the codes for themes within and across participants. Results. Three themes emerged for each research question through participant PPR Profiles and interviews that reflected how participants described their experiences of pleasure, productivity, and restoration within the context of their everyday activities. Productivity was associated with getting things done that "I need to do," pleasure was associated with enjoying activities that "I want to do," and restoration associated with feeling energized by caring for myself. Person and contextual factors, experiences carry over, and routine were the three themes that answered the second research question exploring what factors influenced participants' experiences associated with their activities. Conclusion. Exploring individuals with mental health conditions' experiences within their daily activities provides insight into how pleasure, productivity, and restoration are experienced by the individual and the dynamic factors which influence these experiences. These findings emphasize the need for occupational therapy professionals to facilitate participation in activities that evoke experiences of pleasure, productivity, and restoration, which contribute to a sense of meaning and purpose as necessary for supporting the recovery process for individuals with mental health conditions.
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    Factors associated with college students' perceived stress
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Brough, Kate, author; Atler, Karen, advisor; Fisher, Anne, committee member; Lacy, Michael, committee member; Eakman, Aaron, committee member
    Stress is a significant problem for college students that can lead to poor academic performance, anxiety, depression, and other serious health outcomes. This study examined the relationship between college students' perceived stress and their daily experiences of pleasure, productivity, and restoration. College students from a Mountain state university (n = 187) completed an online survey that included the Perceived Stress Scale and the Daily Experiences of Pleasure, Productivity, and Restoration Profile. Pearson correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between variables. The amount of pleasure, productivity, and restoration students experienced from their day were each negatively correlated to their total levels of perceived stress, although only weakly (r = -0.15 to -0.25). Regression analysis revealed that of the three experiences, the amount of pleasure students experienced explained the largest amount of the variance in perceived stress; but, it was a weak predictor, explaining only 3% of the variance independently. Implications for students, professionals working with students, and future research are discussed.
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    Student and instructor use and perspectives on the Engage e-reader and associated e-books
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Oakes, Jennifer R. H., author; Atler, Karen, advisor; Folkestad, James, committee member; Roll, Marla, committee member
    Many universities are increasingly considering use of digital learning platforms and e-books, replacing print textbooks and course materials. This study aimed to explore student and instructor use and perspectives of the Engage e-reader and associated e-books, including students who used assistive technology (AT) to access course materials (AT-user). This mixed-method pilot study was conducted at a four-year public grant university in an introductory composition course, using a cross-sectional survey design with close-ended and open-ended questions. Twenty-one instructors and 51 students, including four AT-users, met inclusion criteria and participated. Results showed instructors did not receive training on the Engage e-reader and associated e-books but would have preferred training before instructional use. The majority (n=17) felt "somewhat comfortable" using the Engage e-reader and associated e-books, but 61.9% (n=13) also indicated preference for print materials. While instructors reported answering all students concerns, these concerns were topical in nature. Although students reported overall positive experiences using the Engage e-reader and associated e-books, they had mixed opinions on preference between e-book over print textbooks and whether digital learning materials were effective for learning. AT-users reported more positive experiences using the Engage e-reader and associated e-books than non-AT users. Students reported concerns of screen fatigue, difficulty using tools, and infrequent use with the Engage e-reader and associated e-books due to the nature of the course. From these results, instructors and students may benefit from training before initial use and changes and modifications are made in subsequent semesters. Other implications for practice and research are provided.
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    Users' perspectives of clinical utility of the Daily Experiences of Pleasure, Productivity and Restoration Profile in a caregiver support group
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Stephans, Lindsey E., author; Atler, Karen, advisor; Fruhauf, Christine, committee member; Sample, Pat, committee member
    Occupationally-focused assessments that consider the client’s occupational experience in context are crucial to providing interventions that are meaningful and ecologically valid for our clients. Yet, few assessments go beyond an evaluation of typical occupational performance to recognize the contextual elements that provide depth to an individual’s occupational experience. The purpose of this paper is to report on a utility study of one such assessment, The Daily Experiences of Pleasure, Productivity and Restoration Profile (PPR Profile), used by an occupational therapist with a group of spousal caregivers. This pragmatic, single case study design sought to capture caregivers’ perceptions of utility in completing the PPR Profile and discussing it with an occupational therapist. Four major themes emerged: initial perspectives of using the PPR Profile, using the PPR Profile was helpful, but difficult, using the PPR Profile provided opportunities for change, and recommendations for using the PPR Profile. The results support the use of the PPR Profile to capture and discuss contextual occupational experiences as a client-centered and ecologically valid occupational therapy assessment to guide interventions for caregivers to self-manage their health. Discussion focused on issues that occupational therapists need to consider in using the PPR Profile. While these results are promising in one setting, further research is warranted.