Increasing research utilisation through accessible research findings for occupational therapists

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-248
Author(s):  
Kate Laver ◽  
Ted Brown ◽  
Reinie Cordier ◽  
Natasha A. Lannin
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Research Utilisation ◽  
Research Findings

Getting the Evidence into Practice: The Challenges and Successes of Action Research

2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 335-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Atwal
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Fractured Neck Of Femur ◽  
Neck Of Femur ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Discharge Model ◽  
Interprofessional Working

In health and social care, occupational therapists are acknowledging the importance of being evidence-based practitioners. The challenge is not only how to find the evidence but also how to implement research findings or best evidence in clinical practice. Furthermore, the pressure for more effective implementation of research findings is likely to increase. This paper discusses the issues and challenges that occupational therapists may face and must overcome when doing action research from the inside. Action research can be used to improve clinical practice by identifying and solving practical problems. The paper demonstrates the use of action research to change practice by implementing a new interprofessional discharge model with fractured neck of femur patients in an inner-London teaching hospital. The strategies used to help to overcome the challenges of action research are discussed. The main problems encountered were the difficulties in reaching amicable solutions and in empowering health care professionals who often had little or no influence on decision making. While the aims of the research project were not met, it did highlight further areas that needed to be resolved in order to enhance interprofessional working.

Do Occupational Therapists Feel Equipped to Deal with the Adult Legacy of Childhood Sexual Abuse?

1998 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Abrahamson
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Client Group ◽  
Research Findings

Research findings are consistent in showing a strong, specific and coherent association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and long-term psychiatric problems. Occupational therapists working in mental health services must therefore have contact with survivors of abuse, yet the literature reveals a paucity of research on their role. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine occupational therapists to explore their knowledge and practice concerning this issue. All respondents considered that awareness of CSA was pertinent to their profession and should be taught during education and training. None of them had received teaching in this area. Most respondents thought that it was not their role to deal with CSA in depth. However, the context in which they worked provided an opportunity for initial disclosure which might not happen elsewhere and needed to be handled skilfully. Occupational therapy techniques, including creative methods, link in well with other approaches, especially counselling, in treating the long-term effects of CSA. Continuing educational requirements and the role of occupational therapy with this client group need to be addressed by the profession.

Evidence-Based Practice and Occupational Therapy

1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 474-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Lloyd-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
History Of ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Market Driven

Occupational therapists, like other health care professionals, are constantly being asked to confront major changes in the way health and social care services are structured and, in turn, how their working practices are organised. In order for the market-driven National Health Service to function, it requires detailed information on whether services are clinically effective. The use of evidence-based practice has been widely advocated as one way to meet these demands. This article focuses on evidence-based practice as an approach, and considers its implications and relevance for occupational therapists. First, a short history of the background of evidence-based practice is given, followed by a discussion of recent social and political developments which have increased demands for its wider use. A number of key issues associated with evidence-based practice are then considered, including implementing research findings into practice; the nature of evidence itself; time; the accessibility of research findings; and skills required for evidence-based practice. Practical suggestions are also offered to enable therapists to make the most appropriate use of evidence-based practice. The aim of this article is to stimulate debate about evidence-based decision making for practitioners.

The Model of Human Occupation: An Overview of Current Concepts

1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Kielhofner ◽  
Kirsty Forsyth
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Model Of Human Occupation ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Interdisciplinary Theory

The model of human occupation has evolved since it was first published. A number of important changes and refinements have been made. These changes reflect research findings, new interdisciplinary theory and insights encountered in practice. This article provides an overview of the current theoretical arguments. These concepts attempt to offer a way of understanding how human occupation is motivated, organised, performed and influenced by the environment. This is followed by a discussion of how occupational therapists can use this framework in their clinical practice.

Taking up Arts and Crafts in Later Life: A Qualitative Study of the Experiential Factors That Encourage Participation in Creative Activities

2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Arts And Crafts ◽  
Art Making ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Craft Skills

Background and aim: Creative occupations promote wellbeing among older people, but how people discover creative occupations in later life, or why they intensify their participation in certain creative occupations after retirement, is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the experiential factors that older women perceive as encouraging their take-up of, and participation in, visual art-making during later life. Method: Twelve older women (aged 61–80 years) were recruited through a magazine for an older readership. Their interview transcripts were subject to interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: A variety of distal and proximal factors appeared to encourage the take-up of art-making in later life. Distal factors included pre-existing craft skills, family role models and positive attitudes to managing change. Proximal factors included the need to fill occupational voids and the sensitive encouragement of husbands and friends. Serendipitous events featured in some accounts. Conclusion: The participants did not uniformly regard themselves as creative. None had participated in the visual arts throughout adulthood. The multiplicity of influences that enabled these older women to participate in art in later life extends previous research findings and may encourage occupational therapists to help clients to regain wellbeing through exploring novel creative arts occupations.

Occupational Therapy Research: Building Capacity

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 224-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth White
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Research Skills ◽  
Building Capacity ◽  
Opinion Piece ◽  
Apply Research ◽  
Research Findings

At a time when the need for the generation and application of occupational therapy research has never been greater, this opinion piece explores the agenda that currently has an impact on the profession's research capacity. The opportunities available to all occupational therapy personnel to develop research skills and apply research findings to enhance their practice are identified and the support offered to members by the College of Occupational Therapists is described.

Occupational Therapy Group Work in Psychiatric Settings

1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 226-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Lloyd ◽  
Frikkie Maas
Keyword(s):  
Group Therapy ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Therapy Group ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Client Feedback ◽  
Traditional Group ◽  
Process Of Change ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Research Findings

Traditionally, occupational therapists have used group therapy as part of their overall treatment regimens in psychiatric settings. The therapeutic factors evident in group therapy play an important part in the process of change. The traditional group therapy approach needs to accommodate modern trends, such as the shorter length of client stay, the rapid client turnover and the validity of client feedback. The purpose of the present article is to summarise recent research findings in order to provide information about the state of current research and to consider implications for occupational therapy practice.

Knowledge Translation in Cancer Services: Implementing the Research and Evidence in Practice Model

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 535-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Caldwell ◽  
Jennifer Fleming ◽  
Amanda Purcell ◽  
Mary Whitehead ◽  
Ruth Cox
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Practice Model ◽  
Cancer Services ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Effectiveness Studies

Occupational therapy lacks intervention effectiveness studies, which are crucial to the profession's survival. Literature also describes problems in the translation of research findings into occupational therapy clinical practice. Despite this, there is limited information regarding specific organisational models of practice to facilitate both the generation and the translation of research evidence. In 2006, occupational therapists at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia, developed and implemented the Research and Evidence in Practice model. Over the past 5 years, the model has evolved to enable a more seamless and strategic approach to the generation and translation of evidence into practice. This practice analysis describes the current model, and provides a practical example from the cancer services clinical team to demonstrate its effectiveness.

‘Why are You doing That?’ A Project to Look for Evidence of Efficacy within Occupational Therapy

1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 487-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Catherine Conroy
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Emotional And Behavioural Problems ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Therapy Service

Nine occupational therapists working with children agreed to participate in a project designed to extend their awareness of evidence of efficacy in their clinical practice. Successful procedures would be developed for use in other areas of the occupational therapy service in Southampton. The occupational therapists divided themselves into three groups – those working with children whose needs were primarily physical, those working with children with emotional and behavioural problems and those working in mainstream schools with children with special needs – and used the following process to develop the project. They devised a statement related to their clinical practice. Electronic databases were used to search for relevant articles. Papers published during the past 10 years and available locally were distributed to the participating therapists. They reviewed the articles, using an agreed format. The articles were discussed by the therapists at regular meetings, culminating in a summary of the research findings, how they related to clinical practice and priorities for future research. There is evidence of increased research-related activity beyond that required by the project. Requests have been made by occupational therapists in other clinical areas to be included in this process.

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