Occupational Therapists' Self-Reported Research Utilization and Use of Online Evidence Sources

Research utilization of occupational therapists may positively influence the quality and cost-effectiveness of service delivery; however, previous studies suggest that therapists' overall use of research in clinical practice is limited. This cross-sectional study used survey methodology to investigate the research utilization behaviors of occupational therapists and examine the differences in behaviors between those who had and had not used the Navigator^®. The Navigator^® online competence assessment platform supports research utilization through recommended readings and access to online databases with full-text articles. Findings showed a low level of research utilization overall, with Navigator^® users more likely to use online databases than non-users. Future research should examine if access to online platforms, such as the Navigator, combined with context-specific training that integrates active learning approaches could improve occupational therapists' research utilization for increased implementation of evidence-based practice.