Graduation Year

2022

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Type

Open Access Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Background: Evidence-based practice is an expectation for the practice of occupational therapy, however, practitioners are not engaging regularly in it. Employers have started to offer activities, such as journal clubs and case studies, or access to research articles and continuing education activities, to help increase evidence-based practice use.

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive open-ended survey study was to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of employer-sponsored evidence-based practice activities by occupational therapy practitioners. It was the goal of the research to answer the question: what are occupational therapists’ perceptions regarding employer-sponsored evidence-based activities?

Theoretical Framework. The Model of Human Occupation provides the theoretical framework by looking at how the practitioner’s clinical skills and practice (output) are perceived to be influenced by employer-sponsored activities (input).

Methods. This study was a descriptive study design utilizing a combination of open and closed-ended survey questions on an online platform to gather the perceived opinions of employer-sponsored evidence-based practice activities. The researcher aimed to gather information from the participants based on their reality and knowledge in relation to themselves and their time.

Results. A total of thirty-six participants responded, demonstrating an overall approval of employer-sponsored activities and cited their perceived effectiveness in increasing evidence-based practice. Participants who did not report having activities sponsored by their employer voiced an interest in such activities to improve their practice of occupational therapy. Collaborative learning opportunities such as journal clubs were viewed similarly as access to databases and continuing education opportunities.

Conclusions: Employers have an opportunity to sponsor activities to influence the use of evidence-based practice. Additional research is needed to confirm and generalize the results, but overall, use of employer-sponsored activities is a step in the right direction for evidence-based practice use

Faculty Mentor

Allen Keener, OTD, MS OTR/L ATP

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Committee Member

Geela Spira PhD, OTR/L

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Committee Member

Shirley P. O'Brien PhD, OTR/L FAOTA

Department Affiliation

Occupational Therapy

Comments

This paper would not have been completed without the mentorship of Dr. Allen Keener. His guidance and feedback have made this research study possible. I am thankful for the opportunity to have him as my mentor and to meet with him weekly to make this project a reality. I would also like to thank Dr. Renee Causey-Upton for her assistance with the development of the survey. I would like to thank Dr. Geela Spira for her assistance and feedback in pulling this research together.

I would also like to thank my husband, Alex, for picking up extra dad duties so I could meet with my mentor and for providing encouraging words when things started to feel overwhelming. I would like to acknowledge my parents who listened to me talk about my research for the past year. Lastly, I would like to thank my children, Maddie and Owen. They were added rays of sunshine when times were stressful.

IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

4577

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