Award Date
May 2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Department
Brain Health
First Committee Member
Donnamarie Krause
Second Committee Member
Jefferson Kinney
Number of Pages
83
Abstract
Globally, diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent chronic condition many people encounter. DM is one of the primary causes of mortality due to individuals struggling to manage or prevent the condition. The healthcare field is also failing to provide sufficient education on DM. Individuals with this condition may begin to experience co-morbidities and depressive symptoms, which make it difficult for them to engage in meaningful occupations, in addition to decreased quality of life (QOL). This project examines the effectiveness of a low-intensity aerobic exercise (LIAE) program to enhance occupational performance (OP) and QOL in those diagnosed with the condition or at-risk, which was guided by the occupational performance process model and the problem-based learning theory. The objectives were to enhance engagement in desired occupations, provide guidance and resources to better manage or prevent DM, and increase awareness in the occupational therapy program. This project utilized a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design. Assessments utilized the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the Perceived Quality of Life (PQOL) scale. These assessments incorporated a 10-point Likert scale to determine performance and satisfaction rates. Three participants from Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Henderson, Nevada took part in a one-week LIAE program lasting approximately 15-30 minutes per session. Each participant began their program during different weeks. The exercise program consisted of yoga, tai chi, boxing, and upper extremity strengthening. The results indicated a correlation between LIAE, OP, and QOL. It was concluded that LIAE can have beneficial impacts on OP and QOL in DM patients or those at-risk. However, the outcomes did not demonstrate statistical significance.
Keywords
diabetes; exercise; health management; occupational performance; physical activity; quality of life
Disciplines
Occupational Therapy
Degree Grantor
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Language
English
Repository Citation
Suriyachottakul, Asia, "The Effects of a Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Program to Enhance Occupational Performance and Quality of Life in Diabetic Patients" (2024). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 5085.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/5085
Rights
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