Occupational Therapists' Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice: A Cross Sectional Survey.

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Health sciences research
• Evidence-based practice

Background:

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is linked to improved healthcare outcomes.
• However, a low percentage of occupational therapists currently implement EBP.
• Understanding barriers and facilitators to EBP is crucial for enhancing clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current level of EBP implementation among occupational therapists.
• To identify factors supporting EBP implementation, including self-reflection and practice environment.
• To explore the relationship between advanced education and EBP use.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a random sample of U.S. occupational therapists.
• Data collected included EBP implementation frequency, skill/knowledge, self-reflection, and demographics.
• 578 surveys were analyzed to determine factors associated with EBP use.

Main Results:

• Occupational therapists reported implementing EBP less than once in the prior 8 weeks.
• Higher EBP use was associated with doctoral degrees (p = .002) and high self-reflection (p = .001).
• Organizational support, dedicated time for EBP, and access to full-text articles also marginally increased EBP use.

Conclusions:

• EBP implementation remains low among occupational therapists.
• Doctoral-level education and reflective practice appear to be key facilitators of EBP.
• Further research should investigate how these factors enhance EBP adoption in occupational therapy.