Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Mandy Meyer
Abstract
Background: Vision is a complex part of the sensory system that is often overlooked in patient care or mistaken for cognitive impairment (Aravich & Troxell, 2021). As visual disruption often comes secondary to a plethora of physical and cognitive health conditions, addressing the visual system is part of the role of occupational therapy in treating clients holistically. There is a lack of available resources to support practitioners in rural outpatient settings in working with patients who have vision-related complications. Oculomotor skills are one of the three foundational skills considering at the visual system (Warren, 1993) and has multiple subskills underlying them which are frequently impaired and overlooked in patient care.
Purpose: This purpose of this capstone product is to aid occupational therapy practitioners in rural outpatient settings support patients with oculomotor deficits. There are limited resources available for occupational therapy practitioners to screen and provide interventions for patients with oculomotor deficits in the fast-paced environment of the rural outpatient setting. Furthermore, it is essential that rural OT practitioners situate themselves in a way to support patients with vision deficits due to the frequent lack of available eye care and vision therapy services in many rural regions. The product outcome includes a quick and easy-to-use oculomotor screening tool, an intervention guide, and patient handouts to support rural practitioners and patients with oculomotor deficits.
Methodology: A review of current literature was completed in preparation for the Doctoral Experiential Capstone (DEC) placement. Upon arrival, a needs assessment was completed and informal interviews with local optometrists took place to understand the prevalence and need for visual rehabilitation services in this area. The target population for vision screening applicability was identified. The Ecology of Human Performance model (EHP) (Dunn et al., 1994); (Dunn, 2017) as well as Warren’s Hierarchal Model of Visual Processing (Warren, 1993) was used to guide the development of the final product.
Recommended Citation
McGuire, Hailey Jo, "THE ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN VISION REHABILITATION IN THE RURAL OUTPATIENT SETTING" (2025). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 670.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/670