Where Do Practicing Occupational Therapists Get Their Evidence?Consuelo M. Kreider, MHS, OTR/L1 & Nita Ferree, MAIS, AHIP2

1Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, 2Health Science Center Libraries, University of Florida

Years in practice n=263

Less than 3 Years = 36 (13.7%)

3 to 7 Years = 45 (17.1%)

8 to 12 Years = 60 (22.8%)

13 to 17 Years = 45 (17.1%)

General adults37%

School-based 13%

Neuromotor 11%

Orthopedics10%

Developmental disabilities

7%

Psycho-social 6%

Sensory integration / processing

6%

Pediatrics3%

Spinal cord 2%

Early intervention

3%

Cognitive rehabililitation

2%

Primary area of practice n=258

Assistive technologies

Geriatrics

Mixed adults & pediatrics

OT administration or education

Oncology

ObjectiveWe surveyed practicing occupational therapists in order to discover (1) whatsources they are using when seeking information to better serve their clients, and(2) why they choose these particular resources.

BackgroundAOTA’s Centennial Vision espouses occupational therapy to be “a powerful, widelyrecognized, science-driven, and evidence-based profession…” (AOTA, 2007). Verylittle research has been conducted on the information-seeking behavior ofpracticing clinicians (Kloda 2009), especially in the United States. Rehabilitationtherapists most often consult “printed materials (books and journals) andcolleagues” for answers to questions that arise in practice (Kloda & Bartlett, 2009;Sweetland & Craik, 2001). Perceived barriers to evidence-based practice include alack of time, limited searching and appraisal skills, the overwhelming amount ofpublished research, and access to information (Law & MacDermid, 2008;McCluskey, 2001).

MethodsApproval received from University of Florida’s Institutional Review Board.Prior to formal data collection, survey questions were pilot-tested for clarity andadjusted as needed.Web-based survey of practicing OTs and COTAs was open May 20 through July 1,2010.Recruitment• Posted invitations through Research Forum at OTConnections, Facebook pages

of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association and Facebook OccupationalTherapy Association.

• Email invitations asking for subscribers to forward invitation to interested partieswere sent to the Florida Health Sciences Library Association (FHSLA) email list,Occupational Therapy clinical coordinators and clinical fieldwork instructorsnationwide, and all practicing occupational therapists already known to thestudy researchers.

ResultsRespondents: 294 self-selected participants

7670

6458

4324

2313

127

66

433

21111

peers

journals

workshops, seminars, cont. ed.

internet

textbooks

conferences

database search

senior clinicians

specific websites

library or librarian

books

professional organization

practice publications

evidence feeds

online professional community

class notes

clients

journal club

manufacturers

student supervision

Resources providing the MOST USEFUL information n=242

DiscussionEvidence based practice requires critical appraisal of multiple forms of evidence. Elucidation of thepreference and sources of evidence being used to answer clinical questions adds to our understanding of ourprogress toward meeting the goals of our profession’s Centennial Vision. The use of evidence-based researchis of paramount importance in the field of Occupational Therapy.

ConclusionPracticing OTs rely on a wide variety of resources to inform clinical practice, including research from a variety of sources & disciplines, their peers, clients, and the internet.References* American Occupational Therapy Association. (2007). AOTA’s Centennial Vision and executive summary. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 613–614.* Kloda, L. A., & Bartlett, J. C. (2009). Clinical information behavior of rehabilitation therapists: a review of the research on occupational therapists, physical * therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 97(3), 194-202.* Law, M., & MacDermid, J. (2008). Evidence-based rehabilitation: A guide to practice (2nd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Inc.* McCluskey, A. (2008). Occupational therapists report a low level of knowledge, skill and involvement in evidence-based practice. Australian Occupational Therapy

Journal, 50(1), 3-12.* Sweetland, J., & Craik, C. (2001). The use of evidence-based practice by occupational therapists who treat adult stroke patients. The British Journal of Occupational

Therapy, 64(5), 256-260.

When patients, friends or family members ask you for consumer health and/or medical information that they can understand, where do you direct them?

Where do you find what you consider to be the most useful information?

When searching for clinical answers outside of OT, in what other fields do you search?

1.9%

49.8%

28.6%

15.1%

1.9%

2.7%

Associate prepared OT Assistant

Bachelor prepared OT

Masters prepared OT

Post-professional Masters

Doctorate prepared OT

Post-professional Doctorate

Highest level of academic trainingn=257

MedlinePlus34

WebMD 142

MedScape 8

Library 49

Other 100

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Consumer health resources recommended Other resources named:

GoogleWikipedia

General internet searchReputable online sites

Their physicianSpecific websites researched previous to

recommendationBooks from personal library

Hospital-approved packets only

120

61

57

42

40

23

20

18

12

5

5

5

3

2Business

Medicine

Speech Therapy

Education/Special Ed.

Psychology/Development

Mental & Behavioral Health

Nursing

Neuroscience

Assistive Tech/Environmental Design

Health & Wellness

Creative & Recreational Therapies

Social Sciences

Physical Medicine & Rehab

Physical

Therapy

212 respondents provided 413 responses

258 respondents provided

333 responses

206

189

171

135

110

89

60

30

20

10

6

2

2

OTCATS (n=246)

OT Seeker (n=245)

journal clubs (n=246)

library or librarian (n=249)

discussion boards, wikis, blogs, email listserves (n=252)

PubMed (n=251)

AOTA's EB Practice Reseach (n=254)

journals (n=258)

conferences (n=253)

textbooks (n=256)

general internet search (n=257)

continuing ed, workshops (n=258)

peers (n=252)

Self-reported non-use of resources