Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
Reasoning, reflective practice, and evidence-based practice are essential skills for occupational therapy practitioners, but it is unclear how these skills are defined in occupational therapy education. We used Delphi methodology to explore educator conceptualizations of clinical reasoning, professional reasoning, reflective practice, and evidence-based practice. Eligible participants on the Delphi expert panel were required to have been an educator in an occupational therapy program for at least three years at the master’s level or higher, to be a current occupational therapy educator, based in the United States, and available across multiple survey rounds. Nine participants completed all three survey rounds. Among members of the expert panel there was continued moderate disagreement about terminology related to reasoning and there were some discrepancies between expert perspectives and the occupational therapy literature. However, these educators largely agreed on key features of the complex constructs. Consistency about the use of these terms will support both education and research related to essential professional skills.
Biography
Hannah K. Burke, MS, OTR/L is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University.
Pat L. Sample, Ph.D., M.Div. is Professor Emerita in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University.
Anita C. Bundy, Sc.D, OTL, FAOTA, FOTARA is Department Head and a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University.
Shelly J. Lane, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA is Academic Program Director and a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Burke, H. K., Sample, P. L., Bundy, A. C., & Lane, S. J. (2024). Defining Reasoning, Reflective Practice, and Evidence-Based Practice in Occupational Therapy Education: A Delphi Study. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 8 (1). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2024.080107
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