Creation of an evidence-based practice reference model in falls prevention: findings from occupational therapy

This study attempted to capture the evidence-based practice (EBP) behaviours of expert occupational therapy (OT) clinicians in order to develop a reference model of EBP in falls prevention.

Expert clinicians participated in the creation of a clinical vignette through focus group discussions. Using the vignette as the stimulus case, the same clinicians answered questions that reflected the EBP process. Validation of original responses and data synthesis occurred through a second focus group. This validation process resulted in the elaboration of a tree structure EBP decision model.

Findings show that clinicians are not expert evidence-based practitioners. Although some of the experts' clinical decisions were based on a combination of professional experience and research evidence, clinicians relied primarily on clinical experience for more complex aspects of decision-making. When explicitly instructed to answer questions corresponding to the five EBP steps, experts were compelled to think about the use of evidence and could proceed through the EBP process.

The model represents the expert clinical decisions in each of the EBP steps and illustrates what aspects of the decision-making process are in line with EBP versus aspects that are driven primarily by experience. This research has the potential to assist clinicians working in prevention of falls in geriatric rehabilitation who can use the model as a practice framework to guide them through the EBP process.