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Aus Occup Therapy J - 2024 - Greber - The use of practice evidence by Australian occupational therapists Perspectives and674.00 kB
Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The use of practice evidence by Australian occupational therapists: Perspectives and actions
Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Vol.71(4), pp.552-564
2024
PMID: 38472150
Abstract
Introduction
Evidence-based practice supports clinical decision-making by using multiple sources of evidence arising from research and practice. Research evidence develops through empirical study while practice evidence arises through clinical experience, client preferences, and the practice context. Although occupational therapists have embraced the paradigm of evidence-based practice, some studies have identified limits in the availability and use of research, which can lead to reliance on other forms of evidence. This study aimed to understand how Australian occupational therapists use practice evidence, manage potential bias, and enhance trustworthiness. Potential use of a critical appraisal tool for practice evidence was also explored.
Methods
A 42-item questionnaire was developed to address the study aims. It consisted of a 7-point Likert scale, ordinal and free text questions. Likert scales were collapsed into binary scales and analysed using SPSS. Ordinal data were graphed and free text responses were analysed using manifest content analysis.
Results
Most respondents (82%) indicated that practice evidence was an important informant of practice and is used alongside research evidence. Almost all respondents (98%) expressed confusion when reconciling discrepancies between research and practice evidence. There was general acknowledgement that practice evidence is prone to bias (82%), yet 92% were confident in trusting their own practice evidence. Most respondents (74.5%) undertook some measures to appraise practice evidence, and almost all respondents (90%) agreed they would refer to a critical appraisal tool that helped them evaluate practice evidence.
Conclusion
Occupational therapists in this study routinely use practice evidence arising from their own experience, client perspectives, and their practice context to inform clinical decision-making. While they agreed that practice evidence was prone to bias and misinterpretation, they generally trusted their own practice evidence. Participants indicated they needed guidance to critically appraise their practice evidence and supported the development of a critical appraisal tool for this purpose.
Details
- Title
- The use of practice evidence by Australian occupational therapists: Perspectives and actions
- Authors
- Craig Greber - Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health ServiceStephen Isbel (Corresponding Author) - University of Canberra
- Publication details
- Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Vol.71(4), pp.552-564
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Date published
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1111/1440-1630.12941
- ISSN
- 1440-1630; 0045-0766
- PMID
- 38472150
- Copyright note
- © 2024 The Authors. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Occupational Therapy Australia. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
- Data Availability
- Research data are not shared.
- Grant note
- University of Canberra Faculty of Health TIGER Grant
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Occupational Therapy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991103244402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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