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Combining practice and research
1Ricard's International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
Summary
Occupational therapists integrating research into practice benefit from workplace learning and administrative support. Success hinges on personal commitment and a blend of formal education and informal problem-solving discussions.
Area of Science:
- Occupational therapy
- Clinical research integration
- Healthcare professional development
Background:
- Limited research exists on factors influencing occupational therapists' integration of clinical research into practice.
- Advocacy for research involvement is high, but empirical data on facilitators and barriers is scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore personal, educational, and environmental factors affecting occupational therapists' ability to integrate clinical research with practice.
- To identify key elements supporting a dual practice-research role.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory, descriptive study surveyed 103 occupational therapists.
- Participants reported work functions encompassing both direct patient care and research activities.
Main Results:
- Workplace learning focused on research application is crucial for adopting a dual role.
- Administrative support and personal commitment are critical for success.
- Both formal research courses and informal discussions on application are important.
Conclusions:
- Findings inform university curricula, continuing education, and clinical environments to better support research-practice integration in occupational therapy.
- Fostering a supportive environment and encouraging continuous learning are key recommendations.