The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that affected occupational therapy practice in the rural regions of the Rocky Mountains. It compared data from the Rocky Mountain region (Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona) to a previous study of the Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Washington and expanded on the Northwest study. Results indicated that the two areas were similar in their demographics and problems, including need for more occupational therapists. The results also have implications regarding specialized preservice training for rural-based occupational therapists, other professions' availability of continuing education, and other support systems. The authors provide recommendations based on the results, other literature, and conjectures, for recruitment, training, and ongoing support of rural occupational therapists through cooperative consortiums and distance learning.

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Two groups of 12 emotionally disturbed children were randomly assigned to either a distractive or a distraction-free room. The children were measured for inattention (length of time off task), distractibility (number of times off task), and impulsivity (measured by the Matching Familiar Figures Test). Results showed that children in a distraction-free room were more attentive than those in a distractive room. Also, children engaging in a structured activity were less distractible than those engaging in an unstructured activity. The relationship of room environment and activity structure on an emotionally disturbed child’s behaviors of distractibility and inattention were discussed in relation to clinical occupational therapy and future research efforts.

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