OT Students Facilitate Health in a Local Town
A new course, Occupation-Based Programming in the Community, extends
the field of occupational therapy beyond the traditional realms
of hospital and rehabilitation facilities. “In this course
we focus on interventions at a community level that are appropriate
for occupational therapy. We take a preventive, healthy living approach,”
says Professor Elizabeth Crepeau.
Last fall in the nearby town of Newmarket, small student teams from
Crepeau’s class conducted health-needs assessments at the
Lamprey Health Clinic, town hall, recreation department, elementary
school, and high school. They focused on physical activity and how
it relates to obesity rates.
Right away, the students fell in love with the Newmarket community.
Even though they knew their assessments were just the first leg
of the project titled, Newmarket MOVES Creating Steps to a Healthier
Lifestyle, they all wanted to continue. “This spring, a new
class, will work on the implementation phase,” explains senior
OT major Allan Caldwell, “It was really hard to hand the project
off to a new group and let them run with it. But, in the real world
a lot of treatment is collaborative.”
Caldwell and Meghan Santom, also a senior OT major, conducted their
needs assessment at the high school. They interviewed parents, physical
education teachers, and the principal. Their findings and those
of the other teams showed that the Newmarket community, from young
to old, reflected national trends. These are a rise in obesity and
a lack of exercise. The factors are: increasingly busy lives; the
convenience of and reliance on fast foods; more time spent sitting
in front of televisions and computers; and a perception about a
lack of safety in their community.
Their capstone event was a town meeting where the students presented
their findings to the community. A small, but committed group of
citizens listened closely as the students presented their findings.
Specifically, the some of their suggestions were to begin walking
program at the Lamprey Health Center, change a high school physical
education policy, promote healthy ideas for kids’ lunches,
and form bike riding and archery clubs. A lively and supportive
discussion followed.
“Doing this project I got so attached to the people,”
says Santom. “This is a new area for OT. It’s a shift
away from the medical model to a holistic, wellness approach. I
think my cohort of new professionals will become leaders in this
field.”