Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Julie Grabanski
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop a group protocol to improve the occupational performance of college students who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). This will be done by using iPad apps that address three specific areas of cognitive functioning impacted by mTBI in college student seeking to return to school: psychosocial support needs, task support needs, and memory support needs.
Methods: An extensive literature review was completed on mTBI to determine its impact on occupational performance of college students, the role of occupational therapy (OT) interventions for managing cognition post-mTBI, and the use of iPad apps as assistive technology (AT). Further literature reviewed included Cole’s Seven Steps to facilitate group sessions as well as psychosocial support needs, task support needs, and memory support needs as these were the three areas of need specifically included in developing the product.
Results: The product, Assistive Technology for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Group Protocol for Improving Occupational Performance of College Students, was created based on the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model. It provides step-by step instruction for guiding OTs in leading group sessions for teaching college students who have had mTBIs how to use specific iPad apps addressing cognition to improve their occupational performance in college.
Conclusions: College students who have had a mTBI often experience occupational deficits in the areas of psychosocial support needs, task support needs, and memory support needs. Using iPad apps as AT is beneficial in addressing these deficits. It is necessary to implement a program to address these needs and teach individuals how to use various iPad apps within a college setting to improve their occupational performance as college students.
Recommended Citation
Horn, Jacob and Peterson, Kyler, "Assistive Technology for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Group Protocol for Improving Occupational Performance of College Students" (2020). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 442.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/442