Evidence-Based Practice in Primary Care Occupational Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Sweden

Abstract

Introduction Understanding of attitudes, knowledge, and behaviour related to evidence-based practice (EBP) and guidelines in Swedish occupational therapy is limited. The study aims were to investigate attitudes, knowledge, and behaviour related to evidence-based practice and guidelines of Swedish occupational therapists in primary care. Methods A web-based survey of 94 Swedish primary care occupational therapists (response rate 53.7%). Data were analysed using logistic regressions. Results Attitudes towards EBP and guidelines were highly positive (97%–98%). About half of the respondents reported confidence in finding and using evidence. Almost two-thirds reported being aware of guidelines and 47% knowing where to find guidelines. Four-fifths stated that they had easy access to guidelines and 75% that they used guidelines frequently. Men were more likely to feel confident to find research (OR 8.58, 95% CI 1.03 to 71.66; p = 0.047) and have easy access to guidelines (OR 9.10, 95% CI 1.94 to 42.83; p = 0.005). Occupational therapists older than 50 years were more likely to integrate patient preferences with guideline use (OR 6.44, 95% CI 1.14 to 36.57; p = 0.035). Few reported reading scientific articles, and many expressed uncertainty in finding research. The main barrier for using guidelines was reported to be lack of time. Conclusion Although attitudes among primary care occupational therapists towards EBP are positive and a large proportion report using guidelines, many state that they want to learn more and improve their evidence-based practice skills. The findings suggest that education measures need to be taken to address the identified shortcomings.

Screening for Scientific Skills in Spanish-Speaking Occupational Therapists (HACTO-Screen): Study Protocol of a Cross-Sectional Survey

“…In recent years, although the role and position of EBP have gained importance among occupational therapists [4], the integration of research findings into practice still has not become a routine task in their clinical performance [5][6][7][8]. One of the most plausible explanations of why the use of EBP keeps being a significant challenge for occupational therapists lies in the fact that research evidence for most interventions is still scant [9].…”

“…Intriguingly, despite the available literature suggesting that EBP is widely perceived as positive by occupational therapists, several studies identified the lack of confidence and skills in appraising research analysis as a common obstacle to applying research-based knowledge in occupational therapy practice [4,6,8,[16][17][18]. Moreover, some studies also indicated that limited time available, restrictions on access to research literature, fieldwork educators not practicing EBP, and/or putting higher value on clinical experience rather than research were seen as barriers particularly relevant to clinical settings or the workplace [4,6,7,[16][17][18][19][20].…”

Evidence‐based practice and clinical reasoning in occupational therapy: A cross‐sectional survey in Chile

“…The same barriers to applying EBP in the workplace as those commonly identified in Anglophone countries were lack of time, lack of skills in literature searching, and lack of organisational support (Bennett et al., 2016; Buchanan, 2011; Lindström & Bernhardsson, 2018; Thomas & Law, 2014; Upton et al., 2014). Additional difficulties identified were lack of access to databases and scientific journals, language barriers, and emerging research culture in Chile.…”

“…This movement has largely been led by Anglophone countries (Bannigan, 2011; Buchanan, 2011), with non‐English speaking countries seen as falling behind (Buchanan, 2011; Garcia, 2017). Despite positive perceptions, occupational therapists internationally encounter barriers when accessing research evidence and implementing EBP (Bannigan, 2011; Garcia, 2017; Upton et al., 2014), such as lack of time, resources and research skills (Lindström & Bernhardsson, 2018; Thomas & Law, 2014). Non‐English speaking and developing countries face additional obstacles.…”

Developing Tailored Program Proposals for Occupational Therapy in Primary Care

“…In the position paper "The Role of Occupational Therapy in Primary Care," the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA, 2014) stated that the distinct value of OT on the interprofessional PC team is the occupational therapist's ability to address the habits and routines that contribute to the risk of developing, or the difficulty in managing, chronic illnesses, and the habits and routines that affect an individual's health and wellness. Occupational therapists are gaining increasing recognition and demonstrating skill as effective members of interprofessional PC teams in international contexts (Dahl-Popolizio, Doyle, & Wade, 2018;Lindström & Bernhardsson, 2018).…”