Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
A gap exists between what is known in occupational therapy and how occupational therapists practice. Knowledge translation approaches have been designed to bridge the gap between research and practice. Currently there is limited literature exploring the knowledge translation approaches being implemented specifically within occupational therapy. Therefore, a scoping review was completed to provide an overview of the existing literature on knowledge translation approaches in occupational therapy. Three electronic databases were searched. All peer-reviewed quantitative and qualitative articles which met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. A data extraction table aided the analysis and synthesis of the literature. The initial search returned 565 articles, of which 59 were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Comprehensive screening of the 59 articles resulted in 16 peer-reviewed articles being included in the review. A range of knowledge translation methods have been used in occupational therapy including face-to-face education sessions, online resources, and clinical audits of documentation with feedback to the therapists. A small number of studies used a knowledge translation framework to guide the knowledge translation approach. Findings from this study highlighted that knowledge translation approaches are useful for overcoming challenges and changing practice. In particular, a knowledge translation framework may be useful to guide the design and implementation of a knowledge translation initiative. Although there were a number of knowledge transfer strategies used in the studies, face to face education was used most often. However, a combination of transfer strategies had the most lasting impact on practice change. Including participants’ perspectives in the planning, delivery, and evaluation was beneficial. More research is needed to identify how the use of a theoretical framework might support positive outcomes for knowledge translation.
Biography
Brianna Perkins, BOccThy(Hons) is a former Student Occupational Therapist of Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. Brianna is an Occupational Therapist in the Alcohol and Other Drugs Service within Queensland Health.
Dr. Amelia Di Tommaso, PhD, BHthSc(OT)(Hons), GCHE is a Lecturer, in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy in the School of Allied Health Sciences at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.
Professor Matthew Molineux, BOccThy, MSc, PhD, MBA is Professor and Head of the Discipline of Occupational Therapy in the School of Allied Health Sciences at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.
Penny Power, B.Occ.Thy is the Acting Director of the Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy Department at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, Australia and the Clinical Education Leader for Paediatrics in the Occupational Therapy Clinical Education Program within Queensland Health.
Anna Young, BOccThy is the Director of the Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy Department at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, Australia.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Perkins, B., Di Tommaso, A., Molineux, M., Power, P., & Young, A. (2020). Knowledge Translation Approaches in Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Review. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 4 (3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2020.040312
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