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Occupational Therapy
Research Network

What are your research interests?

Are you interested in working with faculty and students to complete a research project? Would you be willing to mentor a student in data collection? Have you always wanted to undertake research in your clinic but are fearful of the data analysis and statistics? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you have come to the right spot.

This website can provide you with: a listing of current ideas that therapists are interested in discussing with other colleagues, or working with students; a location for submitting ideas; and well as a listing of 2 years of projects that have been completed by MOT students and faculty at St. Ambrose University.

Current Research Ideas and Interests

1) Impact of stigma buster (improvisational theater) participation on consumers and decreasing societal stigma of mental illness. 2) Effective methods for involving clinicians in the research process. Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L 563-333-6281 or cmalaski@saunix.sau.edu

1) The effectiveness of therapeutic listening with children diagnosed with sensory processing problems. 2) Effectiveness of Infinity Walk in children with hemiparesis and other mobility limitations. 3) Effectiveness of Therapeutic Rotation by Mary Kawar with children diagnosed with sensory processing problems. Kristie Middendorf, MS, OTR/L - Children's Therapy Center, Cedar Rapids, IA:  319-369-8407 or middenkm@crstlukes.com

1) Learning retention - the difference between tactile kinesthetic (writing with pen/pencil) versus using a laptop computer. 2)Efficacy of co-treatment between OT, PT and Speech. Terry Schlabach, MA, BCP, OTR/L 563-333-6279 or tschlabh@saunix.sau.edu 

1) Cognition and impairment after cardiac procedure. Kathleen Zajicek, MS, OTR/L 563-333-6280 or kzajicek@saunix.sau.edu

1)Sensory Defensiveness in Children with a history of abuse (physical/sexual). Bonnie Behyl, OTR/L 309-762-9552

1)Research related to Autism and PDD spectrum disorders: Leaky Gut Syndrome, Listening Therapies, Various diets and medical testing with these individuals. Marie Duster, OTR/L 319-589-9026 

1) Biofeedback training with children diagnosed with Erb's Palsy. Does biofeedback training improve function at a quicker rate when added to therapy? Effectiveness of biofeedback vs. other treatment methods, aquatics, NDT, etc. 2) NMES and children with CP hemeplegia. Does NMES help to improve AROM in wrist extension, thumb abduction, etc. Easter Seals, Peoria. Angie DeLost 309-686-1177 x2243

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Idea Submittal

To submit your idea, please send an email to cmalaski@saunix.sau.edu with the following information:

Name

Phone & Fax Number

Email Address

Your idea(s)

** Please provide only information that you want displayed on the OT Research Network Page. <Note> By sending the email, you are giving consent to having your idea published on the OT Research Network Page.

Thank you for your involvement and participation, we look forward to hearing from you!

Interested in finding out more about a topic, but your research skills are a little rusty? Email us and we can provide you with a tutorial and access to computer databases to search for topics you are interested in OR 

Would you like a computer search completed for you? Email us the topic you are interested in and we will see what we come up with. 

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Research Projects in progress during the 2001-2002 academic year:

SEXUALITY AND SPINAL CORD INJURY: WHO IS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE? - Student Researchers: Kathleen Donahue MOTS, Margaret Haffarnan MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Kathleen Zajicek, MS, OTR/L 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERVENTION AND DEPRESSION IN CARDIAC PATIENTS - Student Researchers: Phyllis Crawford MOTS, Jennifer Graham MOTS;  Faculty Advisor: Kathleen Zajicek, MS, OTR/L

CARDIAC DIAGNOSIS AND RELATIONSHIP TO SELF ESTEEM - Student Researchers: Mandy Hodel MOTS, Debbie Vetter MOTS, Veronica Toohill MOTS Faculty Advisor: Kathleen Zajicek, MS, OTR/L

PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY: THE ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN TREATMENT - Student Researchers: Beth Harris MOTS, Jennifer Brewer MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L **ACCEPTED as a poster presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, May 2002**

THE IMPACT OF CANCER ON SPIRITUALITY IN YOUNG ADULTS 18-25 - Student Researchers: Leslie Gruber MOTS, Emily Jensen MOTS, Julie Mausser MOTS, Kelly Link MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L

MOTIVATORS AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF VOLUNTEER LEADERS: A PILOT STUDY - Student Researchers: Bethany Klokkenga MOTS, Rachel Eisfelder MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L **ACCEPTED as a poster presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, May 2002**

PERCEPTION OF STIGMA IN FAMILIES OF ADOLECENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND PHYSICAL DISABILITY - Student Researchers: Joseph Ulloa MOTS, Stephanie Kerker MOTS, Nancy Fandel MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L

IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUALITY TO PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY - Student Researchers: Angel Carley MOTS, Julie Dry MOTS, Malinda Heimsoth MOTS; Faculty Advisors: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L & Brenda Hughes, MA, OTR/L ** ACCEPTED as a poster presentation at the Amercian Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, May 2002**

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS - Student Researchers: Lisa Benscoter MOTS, Jennifer Gilles MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Theresa Schalabach, MA, BCP, OTR/L

GRASP PATTERNS OF FIRST YEAR STUDENTS: WHICH IS MOST COMMON? - Student Researchers: Casey Sickles, Lisa Whitaker MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Theresa Schlabach, MA, BCP, OTR/L

UPPER EXTREMITY DYSFUNCTION RESULTING FROM CVA: FACTORS INFLUENCING TREATMENT - Student Researchers: Gabriel Stickling MOTS, Alissa Oetzmann MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Lynn Kilburg, MBA, OTR/L

EFFECTS OF TAI CHI INSTRUCTION ON ELDERLY MOBILITY CONFIDENCE - Student Researchers: Kelly Jeffers MOTS, Jennifer Kohl MOTS, Julie Meske MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Phyllis Wenthe, MEd, OTR/L ** ACCEPTED as a poster presentation at the Amercian Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, May 2002**

IMPACT OF ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY ON SOCIALIZATION SKILLS OF CHILD PET OWNERS - Student Researchers: Jennifer Lavoi MOTS, Monica Blue MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Phyllis Wenthe MEd., OTR/L  **ACCEPTED as a poster presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, May 2002**

QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER PERSONS IN ASSISTED LIVING ENVIRONMENTS - Student Researchers: Angela Berger MOTS, Kimberly Lewis MOTS, Christina Toohill MOTS; Sharon Robinson, MS, OTR/L

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Research projects completed during the 1999-2000 academic year included:

Click on (Abstract) and to view the complete abstract for the project

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIPPOTHERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC RIDING - Student Researchers: Kim Christensen, MOTS, Amanda Neal, MOTS, Janet Wallin, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L   (Abstract)

LEISURE ACTIVITIES PURSUED BY FIRST YEAR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND PHYSICAL THERAPY STUDENTS - Student Researcher: Treva A. Haney, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L (Abstract)

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GROCERY SHOPPING INTERVENTIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS - Student Researchers: Christen Klimsch, MOTS, Molly Shurr, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L (Abstract)

SPIRITUALITY IN YOUNG ADULT BURN SURVIVORS - Student Researchers: Kirsty St. Clair, MOTS, Chris St. Clair, MOTS ; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L  ** Presented at the Dean's Midwest Research Conference, March 2001** (Abstract)

STUDY TECHNIQUES USED BY GRADUATING OTR EXAM CANDIDATES - Student Researchers: Melissa Lowary, MOTS, Sean Smith, MOTS ; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L (Abstract)

STIGMA PERCEIVED BY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS VERSUS PHYSICAL DISABILITY - Student Researchers: Jeniffer D. Hudson, MOTS, Erin A. Lockie, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L (Abstract)

THE IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN WORKSITE HEALTH PROMOTION TEAMS - Student Researchers: Dana L. Berry, MOTS, Jennifer L Ultch, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Sharon Robinson, MS, OTR/L (Abstract)

THE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND ARCHITECTS WORKING IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN - Student Researchers: Jane D. Oldham, MOTS, Kent M. Dexter, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Sharon Robinson, MS, OTR/L ** Presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, April 2001** (Abstract)

THE EFFECTS OF MUSIC IN AQUATIC THERAPY TO TREAT FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME - Student Researchers: Kristine Huenemann, MOTS, Kari Basler, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Phyllis J. Wenthe, MEd, OTR/L (Abstract)

ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING vs. INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITES OF DAILY LIVING: AN ELDER’S HEALTH STATUS AND PERCEPTION OF FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE - Student Researchers: Julie M. Ham, MOTS, Lori, L. Harms, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Phyllis J. Wenthe, MEd, OTR/L (Abstract)

FACTORS INFLUENCING STRUCTURED LEISURE ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS - Student Researchers: Melisa J. Gerst, MOTS, Carrie A. Rauhe, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Phyllis J. Wenthe MEd, OTR/L (Abstract)

PERCEIVED COMPETENCE AMONG OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS IN ROTATIONAL VERSUS NON-ROTATIONAL SETTINGS - Student Researchers: Annie Grossheim, MOTS, Nicole Glisczinski, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Kathleen Zajicek, MS, OTR/L (Abstract)

THE EFFECTS OF WEATHER ON LEISURE ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION - Student Researchers: Lori M. Dahl, MOTS, Robyn R. Dlouhy, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Kathleen Zajicek, MS, OTR/L (Abstract)

DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEISURE ACTIVITIES FOR 7^TH AND 8^TH GRADE MALES AND FEMALES - Student Researchers: Jocelyn Kandl, MOTS, Gail Pietrzyk, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Terry Schlabach, MA, BCP, OTR/L ** Presented at the Dean's Midwest Research Conference, March 2001** (Abstract)

NEAR-POINT COPY HANDWRITING SCREEN: ESTABLISHING NORMATIVE DATA FOR GRADES 1-5 IN IOWA GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS - Jennifer L. Davidson, MOTS, Brandie Kellogg, MOTS, Karrie Kirsch, MOTS; Faculty Advisors: Terry Schlabach, MA, BCP, OTR/L & Christine Malaski, MS, OTR/L  (Abstract)

JOB ACQUISITION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY GRADUATES IN THE MIDWEST - Student Researchers: Jamie Lecocq, MOTS, Dylan Wirth, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Brenda Hughes, MA, OTR/L (Abstract)

EMERGING PRACTICE AREAS FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS - Student Researchers: Kathryn Best, MOTS, Mandy Noblitt, MOTS, Sarah Synold, MOTS; Faculty Advisor: Brenda Hughes, MA, OTR/L (Abstract)

If you are interested in obtaining more information on any of these projects, contact Christine Malaski at (563) 333-6281 or email at cmalaski@sau.edu

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