Free Master of Occupational Therapy Analysis & Practice Management Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Jane is five years old and attends a preschool. She just underwent an occupational therapy evaluation and received a score on a standardized test assessing visual-motor skills that was two deviations under the mean. Given this knowledge, what would be a suitable objective?
- Jane will locate five items on a search and find image
- Jane will use shapes to draw representational pictures (Correct answer)
- Jane will transfer ten pegs into a pegboard
- Jane will hold a pencil with a static tripod grasp
Correct answer: Jane will use shapes to draw representational pictures
Jane's visual-motor skills are significantly below age-level expectations, indicated by a score two deviations under the mean. Using shapes to draw representational pictures is a developmentally appropriate visual-motor task for a five-year-old that directly addresses this area of deficit. This objective targets the underlying skill of integrating visual perception with motor output, which is crucial for pre-writing and drawing.
Question 2: An occupational therapist (OT) checks a goal regarding an elderly client with a recent fall and a hip fracture while she peers reviews a coworker's documentation. "Lucy will transfer to and from her toilet, provided a walker and grasp bars, with minimal assistance in 4/4 trials within three days," the statement reads. Which SMART goal requirement does this goal not meet?
- Measurable
- Attainable (Correct answer)
- Relevant
- Specific
Correct answer: Attainable
The goal states Lucy will achieve minimal assistance with toilet transfers in 4/4 trials within three days of a hip fracture. This timeframe is highly unrealistic and potentially unsafe for an elderly client recovering from a recent hip fracture, making the goal not attainable. Recovery from a hip fracture typically requires a longer period for bone healing, pain management, and strength regaining before achieving such independence.
Question 3: An adolescent with an intellectual handicap is undergoing treatment under the direction of an occupational therapist. The client mentioned that he would prefer to do grocery shopping alone and use public transit. Which of the following interventions is NOT appropriate for this client?
- Creating a detailed list of all the steps necessary to accomplish the task. (Correct answer)
- Education and practice using paper maps and phone GPS applications
- Practicing problem-solving at the train and bus stations
- Roleplaying with money in different scenarios
Correct answer: Creating a detailed list of all the steps necessary to accomplish the task.
While task analysis is a valuable tool, simply creating a detailed list of steps is a passive intervention that doesn't actively engage the client in learning or practicing the skills. For an adolescent with an intellectual handicap aiming for independence in complex tasks like grocery shopping and public transit, hands-on practice, problem-solving, and role-playing are more appropriate and effective. The other options involve active learning and skill development.
Question 4: A teacher and a school-based occupational therapist speak about an eight-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and is enrolled in the school's RTI (response to intervention) program. His short-term attention span, lack of constructive peer interaction, and sensory-seeking conduct worry the teacher, who explains this. Which Tier 2 location would be best for the therapist to conduct an intervention?
- In the classroom with 1:1 support
- In the sensory room with 1:1 support
- At recess, with all grade-level classrooms
- A STEM-focused construction group with five children (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A STEM-focused construction group with five children
A STEM-focused construction group with five children offers a Tier 2 intervention that addresses multiple concerns. The structured, engaging nature of construction can support attention span and provide sensory input. Working in a small group facilitates constructive peer interaction, which is a key area of concern for the child with ASD.
Question 5: An occupational therapist formulates goals for a young softball pitcher who has a possible overuse injury. Which objective is the most suitable?
- Increase ROM (shoulder extension and abduction)
- Increase the strength of the rotator cuff muscles to 5/5
- Engage in a home exercise program 3x per week
- Report no more than 3/10 on a pain scale when engaged in approved softball drill (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Report no more than 3/10 on a pain scale when engaged in approved softball drill
For an overuse injury, managing pain during activity is a primary and functional goal for a pitcher. This objective is client-centered, measurable, and directly relates to the client's ability to participate in their desired occupation (softball) without excessive pain. While ROM and strength are important, pain management during functional activity is often the most immediate and relevant outcome for an overuse injury.
Question 6: Following a sensory evaluation of Ryan, a 6-year-old pupil, an occupational therapist is making recommendations to the school team. The pupil craves proprioceptive input and is too sensitive to auditory and tactile stimuli. Which modification would be suitable to support Ryan's involvement in the classroom?
- Physical cues (ex. a tap on the shoulder) for attention
- Engaging in a heavy work break every two hours (Correct answer)
- Participating in an unstructured musical instrument exploration time
- Removal of visual clutter in the classroom such as busy posters and images
Correct answer: Engaging in a heavy work break every two hours
Ryan craves proprioceptive input, and heavy work activities provide deep pressure and joint compression, which are excellent sources of proprioceptive input. Regular heavy work breaks can help regulate his sensory system, improve attention, and reduce sensory-seeking behaviors, making him more available for learning in the classroom. The other options either address different sensory needs or may exacerbate his sensitivities.
Question 7: Mr. Perez, an elderly man with age-related musculoskeletal degeneration, was recently assessed by an occupational therapist. He lately utilized a wheeled walker, but he can no longer stand up without help. Regarding Mr. Perez's cognition, the occupational therapist seems unconcerned. Which wheelchair would be best suited in light of this information?
- Manual lightweight chair with contoured seat (Correct answer)
- Manual wheelchair with displaced rear axle and pneumatic tires
- Power wheelchair with fluid pressure release cushion
- Tilt-in-space wheelchair with hip and knee joints maintained at 90 degrees
Correct answer: Manual lightweight chair with contoured seat
Mr. Perez can no longer stand without help, indicating a need for a wheelchair. Since his cognition is unconcerned, a manual wheelchair is appropriate, allowing him to propel himself for independence and activity. A lightweight chair is easier to maneuver, and a contoured seat provides pressure relief and postural support, which is important for someone with musculoskeletal degeneration who will be seated for extended periods.
Question 8: After being transferred to her hospital bed, a patient in an acute care setting loses consciousness. What should the occupational therapist carry out first?
- Clear the patient's airway
- Provide mouth-to-mouth breaths
- Begin administering compressions
- Contact the emergency response team (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Contact the emergency response team
In an acute care setting, when a patient loses consciousness, the immediate priority is to alert the medical emergency response team. This ensures that trained personnel and necessary equipment are brought to the patient quickly to assess the situation and provide appropriate medical intervention. While other actions might follow, calling for help is the crucial first step.
Question 9: An occupational therapist in a developing field decides to do a level II empirical investigation. Which of the following is NOT necessary for the therapist to continue?
- Informed consent
- Full risk disclosure
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) review
- Presence of a third party to ensure compliance (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Presence of a third party to ensure compliance
For a Level II empirical investigation, which involves human subjects, informed consent, full risk disclosure, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) review are all essential ethical and regulatory requirements. These measures protect participants and ensure the study's integrity. While oversight is important, the 'presence of a third party to ensure compliance' is not a universally mandated or specific requirement for all research, unlike the other options.
Question 10: A rehabilitation manager is checking the unit's clinical documentation requirements to make sure they adhere to all criteria. Which of the following does not meet the requirements for reimbursement?
- ICD and CPT codes
- A medical necessity statement
- OT or COTA signature (Correct answer)
- Patient identification, date of birth, and diagnosis
Correct answer: OT or COTA signature
ICD and CPT codes, a medical necessity statement, and patient identification with diagnosis are all direct content requirements that justify the service and allow for billing. While an OT or COTA signature is absolutely essential for validating the documentation and ensuring accountability, it is an authentication requirement rather than a direct content requirement that describes the service or medical need for reimbursement.
Question 11: Two isolated C. diff sufferers are placed in a unit with an occupational therapist. Which safety measure must the OT take before entering the infected patient's room to prevent spreading the illness to others as well as themselves?
- Don gown and gloves, remove PPE after leaving the isolation room, and immediately washing hands
- Wear gloves and a mask, remove and discard before leaving the patient's room when finished, washing hands before leaving
- Use any available cleaner on all high-touch surfaces
- Don gown and gloves, remove and discard in the patient's room when finished, washing hands before leaving (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Don gown and gloves, remove and discard in the patient's room when finished, washing hands before leaving
For C. difficile, contact precautions are essential, which include donning a gown and gloves before entering the room. Crucially, PPE must be removed and discarded inside the patient's room to contain the spores and prevent contamination of the hallway or other areas. Handwashing with soap and water (not just alcohol-based sanitizer) is then performed before leaving the room, as alcohol is not effective against C. diff spores.
Question 12: An occupational therapist takes part in a study to find out how noise level affects the capacity to do a physical skill. Noise is the:
- Extraneous variable
- Criterion variable
- Dependent variable
- Independent variable (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Independent variable
In a research study, the independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or changed by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable. In this scenario, the noise level is being varied to see how it influences the capacity to do a physical skill. Therefore, noise is the independent variable, while the capacity to do a physical skill would be the dependent variable.
Question 13: A collaborative leader must carry out these two tasks to ensure that the team can effectively collaborate on care and generate synergy:
- Objective and goal orientation
- Goal and task orientation
- Relationship and task orientation (Correct answer)
- Relationship and goal orientation
Correct answer: Relationship and task orientation
Effective collaborative leadership requires a balance between focusing on the tasks at hand (task orientation) and fostering positive interpersonal relationships within the team (relationship orientation). Task orientation ensures that goals are met and work is completed efficiently, while relationship orientation builds trust, communication, and cohesion, which are vital for synergy and effective teamwork in healthcare.
Question 14: A long-term care facility's occupational therapist meets with the medical staff to discuss Mrs. Smith, a new admission who suffered a stroke three weeks earlier. Due to the risk of aspiration in her previous environment, she was on a level two dysphagia diet. Which of the following should the team flag as risky for Mrs. Smith?
- Pureed turkey and cooked carrots
- Scrambled eggs and cottage cheese
- Bread and butter with avocado (Correct answer)
- Watermelon cubes and oatmeal
Correct answer: Bread and butter with avocado
A Level 2 dysphagia diet typically involves mechanically altered foods, meaning soft-textured, moist, and easily chewable items. Bread, especially dry bread, can be difficult to chew and form into a cohesive bolus, posing a significant choking and aspiration risk. Avocado, while soft, can also be slippery or crumbly depending on its preparation, making the combination particularly risky for someone with dysphagia.
Question 15: A 28-year-old man who recently had an above-the-elbow amputation is ready to start driving again. He does not wear a prosthetic on the side that is affected and can fully use his non-dominant upper extremity. Which adaptive equipment should be recommended?
- Wheel ring
- Wheel cuff
- Reduced effort steering
- Round spinning knob (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Round spinning knob
For a driver with one functional upper extremity, a round spinning knob (spinner knob) attached to the steering wheel is the most appropriate adaptive equipment. This allows the driver to maintain control of the steering wheel with one hand, facilitating smooth and efficient turning, especially during maneuvers like parking or navigating curves. The other options are typically for different types of physical limitations.
Question 16: Working on a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation unit is a level II fieldwork student. When reading a patient's chart, the student discovers that the patient is capable of engaging in MET level 2 activities. Which treatment approach should the student choose?
- Meal preparation
- Showering
- Brushing teeth while standing (Correct answer)
- Water aerobics
Correct answer: Brushing teeth while standing
MET level 2 activities are very light activities, typically performed while seated or with minimal exertion. Brushing teeth while standing falls within this MET level range, requiring minimal energy expenditure. Activities like meal preparation, showering, or water aerobics generally require higher MET levels (3-4 or more), making them unsuitable for a patient restricted to MET level 2.
Free Master of Occupational Therapy Analysis & Practice Management Questions and Answers
Jane is five years old and attends a preschool.
She just underwent an occupational therapy evaluation and received a score on a standardized test assessing visual-motor skills that was two deviations under the mean.
Given this knowledge, what would be a suitable objective?