Where Do Practicing Occupational Therapists Get Their Evidence?Consuelo M. Kreider, MHS, OTR/L1 & Nita Ferree, MAIS, AHIP2
1Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, 2Health Science Center Libraries, University of Florida
Years in practice n=263
Less than 3 Years = 36 (13.7%)
3 to 7 Years = 45 (17.1%)
8 to 12 Years = 60 (22.8%)
13 to 17 Years = 45 (17.1%)
General adults37%
School-based 13%
Neuromotor 11%
Orthopedics10%
Developmental disabilities
7%
Psycho-social 6%
Sensory integration / processing
6%
Pediatrics3%
Spinal cord 2%
Early intervention
3%
Cognitive rehabililitation
2%
Primary area of practice n=258
Assistive technologies
Geriatrics
Mixed adults & pediatrics
OT administration or education
Oncology
ObjectiveWe surveyed practicing occupational therapists in order to discover (1) whatsources they are using when seeking information to better serve their clients, and(2) why they choose these particular resources.
BackgroundAOTA’s Centennial Vision espouses occupational therapy to be “a powerful, widelyrecognized, science-driven, and evidence-based profession…” (AOTA, 2007). Verylittle research has been conducted on the information-seeking behavior ofpracticing clinicians (Kloda 2009), especially in the United States. Rehabilitationtherapists most often consult “printed materials (books and journals) andcolleagues” for answers to questions that arise in practice (Kloda & Bartlett, 2009;Sweetland & Craik, 2001). Perceived barriers to evidence-based practice include alack of time, limited searching and appraisal skills, the overwhelming amount ofpublished research, and access to information (Law & MacDermid, 2008;McCluskey, 2001).
MethodsApproval received from University of Florida’s Institutional Review Board.Prior to formal data collection, survey questions were pilot-tested for clarity andadjusted as needed.Web-based survey of practicing OTs and COTAs was open May 20 through July 1,2010.Recruitment• Posted invitations through Research Forum at OTConnections, Facebook pages
of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association and Facebook OccupationalTherapy Association.
• Email invitations asking for subscribers to forward invitation to interested partieswere sent to the Florida Health Sciences Library Association (FHSLA) email list,Occupational Therapy clinical coordinators and clinical fieldwork instructorsnationwide, and all practicing occupational therapists already known to thestudy researchers.
ResultsRespondents: 294 self-selected participants
7670
6458
4324
2313
127
66
433
21111
peers
journals
workshops, seminars, cont. ed.
internet
textbooks
conferences
database search
senior clinicians
specific websites
library or librarian
books
professional organization
practice publications
evidence feeds
online professional community
class notes
clients
journal club
manufacturers
student supervision
Resources providing the MOST USEFUL information n=242
DiscussionEvidence based practice requires critical appraisal of multiple forms of evidence. Elucidation of thepreference and sources of evidence being used to answer clinical questions adds to our understanding of ourprogress toward meeting the goals of our profession’s Centennial Vision. The use of evidence-based researchis of paramount importance in the field of Occupational Therapy.
ConclusionPracticing OTs rely on a wide variety of resources to inform clinical practice, including research from a variety of sources & disciplines, their peers, clients, and the internet.References* American Occupational Therapy Association. (2007). AOTA’s Centennial Vision and executive summary. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 613–614.* Kloda, L. A., & Bartlett, J. C. (2009). Clinical information behavior of rehabilitation therapists: a review of the research on occupational therapists, physical * therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 97(3), 194-202.* Law, M., & MacDermid, J. (2008). Evidence-based rehabilitation: A guide to practice (2nd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Inc.* McCluskey, A. (2008). Occupational therapists report a low level of knowledge, skill and involvement in evidence-based practice. Australian Occupational Therapy
Journal, 50(1), 3-12.* Sweetland, J., & Craik, C. (2001). The use of evidence-based practice by occupational therapists who treat adult stroke patients. The British Journal of Occupational
Therapy, 64(5), 256-260.
When patients, friends or family members ask you for consumer health and/or medical information that they can understand, where do you direct them?
Where do you find what you consider to be the most useful information?
When searching for clinical answers outside of OT, in what other fields do you search?
1.9%
49.8%
28.6%
15.1%
1.9%
2.7%
Associate prepared OT Assistant
Bachelor prepared OT
Masters prepared OT
Post-professional Masters
Doctorate prepared OT
Post-professional Doctorate
Highest level of academic trainingn=257
MedlinePlus34
WebMD 142
MedScape 8
Library 49
Other 100
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Consumer health resources recommended Other resources named:
GoogleWikipedia
General internet searchReputable online sites
Their physicianSpecific websites researched previous to
recommendationBooks from personal library
Hospital-approved packets only
120
61
57
42
40
23
20
18
12
5
5
5
3
2Business
Medicine
Speech Therapy
Education/Special Ed.
Psychology/Development
Mental & Behavioral Health
Nursing
Neuroscience
Assistive Tech/Environmental Design
Health & Wellness
Creative & Recreational Therapies
Social Sciences
Physical Medicine & Rehab
Physical
Therapy
212 respondents provided 413 responses
258 respondents provided
333 responses
206
189
171
135
110
89
60
30
20
10
6
2
2
OTCATS (n=246)
OT Seeker (n=245)
journal clubs (n=246)
library or librarian (n=249)
discussion boards, wikis, blogs, email listserves (n=252)
PubMed (n=251)
AOTA's EB Practice Reseach (n=254)
journals (n=258)
conferences (n=253)
textbooks (n=256)
general internet search (n=257)
continuing ed, workshops (n=258)
peers (n=252)
Self-reported non-use of resources
