Resilience Programs for Occupational Therapy Students

Overseen By Heather Javaherian, OTD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Loma Linda University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 years

130 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on educational programs rather than medical treatments, so it's unlikely that you would need to change your medication routine.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Health and Resiliency Programming, Resilience Training, Wellness Programs, Mental Health Interventions for occupational therapy students?

Research shows that mindfulness-based stress reduction programs, which are part of wellness and mental health interventions, consistently improve quality of life. Additionally, resilience training has been shown to significantly enhance resilience in occupational therapy students, helping them manage stress and improve personal development during challenging experiences. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is resilience training safe for occupational therapy students?

The research does not provide specific safety data for resilience training programs, but it highlights that occupational therapy students experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, which suggests that mental wellness programs are important for their well-being. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

How is the Resilience Training treatment unique for occupational therapy students?

Resilience Training for occupational therapy students is unique because it focuses on enhancing students' ability to transform stressful experiences into opportunities for personal growth and self-improvement, which is crucial during their practice placements. Unlike other treatments, it specifically targets the development of resilience in the context of educational and professional challenges, helping students manage stress and prevent burnout. ^{3 7 10 11 12}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of integrated health and resiliency programs into the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational therapy curriculum. The objectives are to: 1. Determine if students perceive health and resiliency programming as beneficial for their health and well-being 2. Determine if students' lifestyle behaviors, self-esteem, attachment security, and mindfulness improve with health and resiliency programming 3. Determine if students' symptoms of depression and anxiety reduce after participating in health and resiliency programs Students will engage in resilience programming as part of their regular coursework and be invited to complete pre and post assessments to test the effectiveness of programming.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for students enrolled in the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Loma Linda University from June 2023 to June 2029. Participants can be aged between 18-65, and of any gender or ethnic background.

Inclusion Criteria

Of any ethnic background

My gender does not affect my eligibility.

Enrolled during June 2023 to June 2029

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Occupational therapy students engage in health and resiliency programming as part of their coursework over a three-year program

3 years

Integrated into regular coursework

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in anxiety, depression, self-esteem, attachment security, and mindfulness through assessments

3 years

Pre and post assessments

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Health and Resiliency Programming

Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of health and resiliency programs integrated into occupational therapy curriculum. It aims to see if these programs improve students' well-being, lifestyle behaviors, self-esteem, mindfulness, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Occupational therapy students will engage in health and resiliency programming as part of their course work over their three year program.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Loma Linda University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

322

Recruited

267,000+

Findings from Research

Stress is increasingly recognized as a harmful factor that can contribute to various health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and arthritis, highlighting the need for effective stress management.

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in helping patients develop stress management skills, which can be integrated into their daily activities to enhance overall health and well-being, as demonstrated through case studies of patients with diverse conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stress management as a component of occupational therapy in acute care settings. Affleck, A., Bianchi, E., Cleckley, M., et al.[2013]

Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs have been shown to significantly improve quality of life for both clinical and nonclinical populations, highlighting its effectiveness as a therapeutic tool.

Incorporating mindfulness training into occupational therapy education can enhance students' self-awareness, empathy, and focus, which may lead to better clinical outcomes for their future clients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness in occupational therapy education. Gura, ST.[2013]

A study involving occupational therapy students in Spain showed that their resilience significantly improved after a clinical practice period, with women showing an increase of 13.85 points and men 7.72 points on the resilience scale.

The findings suggest that increased resilience helps students manage stress and avoid burnout during challenging practice placements, indicating that resilience training could be beneficial in educational settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Changes in Resilience in Students of Occupational Therapy After Their First Exposure to Practice Placement Education. Rodríguez-Martínez, MDC., Toledano-González, A., Triviño-Juárez, JM., et al.[2021]

A study of 149 occupational therapy students found that high levels of resilience, particularly in areas like stress management and finding personal meaning in their work, significantly predict better performance in practice education.

Key resilience factors such as 'Managing Stress' and 'Living Authentically' were linked to improved professional behaviors and communication skills, suggesting that enhancing these traits could help students succeed in their fieldwork placements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the relationship between resilience and practice education placement success in occupational therapy students. Brown, T., Yu, ML., Hewitt, AE., et al.[2020]

In a study of 29 occupational therapy students, it was found that patient falls are the most frequently unreported safety incidents, with 47.1% of students never reporting them, despite falls being the most commonly reported issue overall (41.1%).

The study highlights a significant under-reporting of safety incidents, particularly in documentation and equipment-related issues, indicating a need for improved reporting practices and measures to enhance patient safety during academic practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Patient safety in the training practices of an undergraduate program in Occupational Therapy]. Peñas-Felizzola, OL., Parra-Esquivel, EI., Gómez-Galindo, AM.[2022]

Occupational therapists face unique stressors similar to other healthcare professionals, such as exposure to distressing situations and prolonged interventions, but empirical evidence suggests they may be less affected by burnout compared to other groups.

The current literature on occupational stress in occupational therapy is limited, highlighting the need for further research to better understand the specific stressors and protective factors that influence burnout in this profession.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Work-related stress and occupational therapy. Lloyd, C., King, R.[2019]

Entry-level occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) students reported higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression compared to previous cohorts and general population samples, indicating a significant mental health concern.

Factors such as academic workload were identified as major contributors to stress, while coping strategies like physical activity and peer support were utilized to manage this distress.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"This program should come with a warning sign!": Mental wellness in occupational therapy and physical therapy students. Webber, SC., Wener, P., MacDonald, LL., et al.[2022]

Children who face recurrent traumatic events are at a greater risk for long-term mental and physical health issues due to toxic stress, highlighting the need for effective interventions.

Occupational therapy practitioners can play a crucial role in addressing the effects of toxic stress by developing occupation-based programs and fostering connections between the child welfare system and other intervention services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Childhood toxic stress: a community role in health promotion for occupational therapists. Gronski, MP., Bogan, KE., Kloeckner, J., et al.[2013]

The evaluation of the Occupational Medicine and Safety Program (OMSP) revealed significant challenges due to the lack of an integrated information system, which hindered effective coordination and communication.

In contrast, the Employee Assistance and Wellness Program (EAWP) was found to be valuable and well-aligned with community needs, indicating its effectiveness in providing necessary services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating occupational health and safety programs in the public sector. Mitchell, CS.[2019]

A survey of 235 occupational therapy practitioners and 200 students revealed that both groups reported low well-being and moderate stress levels, indicating a need for improved support systems.

The study found that resilience and self-care strategies significantly influenced well-being, suggesting that enhancing these areas could help mitigate stress and improve overall wellness in the occupational therapy field.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring Well-Being: Resilience, Stress, and Self-Care in Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Students. Popova, ES., J Hahn, B., Morris, H., et al.[2023]

The Transition to Wellness Program was created as a telehealth solution for occupational therapy students during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing 10 out of 60 students to continue their fieldwork and meet graduation requirements.

This program not only addressed the educational needs of students but also provided wellness interventions to individuals in the community, demonstrating the effectiveness of telehealth in occupational therapy practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transition to wellness: developing a telehealth wellness program to address student fieldwork challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jenkins, GR., Cunningham, D., Barcelli, MF., et al.[2022]

A study of 153 combat-exposed student veterans found that those with a high sense of life meaning reported better coping abilities and fewer depressive symptoms, indicating that life meaning plays a crucial role in resilience after combat exposure.

The research suggests that occupational therapists can enhance student veterans' resilience by focusing on promoting meaningful activities, social support, and coping strategies, while also addressing health conditions like PTSD and depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protective and Health-Related Factors Contributing to Resilience Among Student Veterans: A Classification Approach. Kinney, AR., Schmid, AA., Henry, KL., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stress management as a component of occupational therapy in acute care settings. [2013]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness in occupational therapy education. [2013]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Changes in Resilience in Students of Occupational Therapy After Their First Exposure to Practice Placement Education. [2021]

4. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the relationship between resilience and practice education placement success in occupational therapy students. [2020]

5. Colombia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Patient safety in the training practices of an undergraduate program in Occupational Therapy]. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Work-related stress and occupational therapy. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"This program should come with a warning sign!": Mental wellness in occupational therapy and physical therapy students. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Childhood toxic stress: a community role in health promotion for occupational therapists. [2013]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating occupational health and safety programs in the public sector. [2019]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring Well-Being: Resilience, Stress, and Self-Care in Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Students. [2023]

11. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transition to wellness: developing a telehealth wellness program to address student fieldwork challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2022]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protective and Health-Related Factors Contributing to Resilience Among Student Veterans: A Classification Approach. [2022]