Date of Award

Spring 4-14-2026

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Cassandra Nelson

Second Advisor

Keith McWilliams

Medical Subject Headings

Upper extremity pain, Pain management, Occupational therapy, Outpatient hand therapy, Non-pharmacologic pain management

Abstract

Upper extremity (UE) pain affects approximately 30.7% of adults in the United States and is associated with decreased function and participation. Despite evidence supporting non-pharmacological approaches, pharmacological interventions remain commonly used. This capstone project implemented and evaluated an occupation-based educational program to promote non-pharmacological pain management among adults receiving outpatient occupational therapy for UE conditions. This 14-week project included 10 participants and utilized a mixed-methods design with pre-, mid-, and post-surveys. The program consisted of an introduction and three modules addressing therapeutic movement, physical agent modalities, and sensory regulation. Outcome measures included pain, activity engagement, medication use, confidence, and program satisfaction. Results showed variable changes in pain, engagement, and medication use. However, educational outcomes were consistently positive, with high ratings of clarity, satisfaction, and recommendation. All participants demonstrated improved understanding of non-pharmacological strategies. These findings support occupational therapy’s role in delivering education-based, non-pharmacological pain management and highlight the value of education in improving knowledge, confidence, and participation in daily activities.

Comments

Capstone project submitted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Occupational Therapy.

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