Occupational therapists report a low level of knowledge, skill and involvement in evidence‐based practice

Abstract

This study was conducted to collect information about Australian occupational therapists' involvement in evidence-based practice. The study aimed to document: (i) respondents' level of knowledge and skills; (ii) their level of participation in continuing education; and (iii) perceived barriers to evidence-based practice. A purposive sample of 85 occupational therapists was invited to complete a questionnaire prior to attending an introductory workshop on evidence-based practice. Sixty-seven questionnaires were returned and analysed (78.8% response rate). Half of the respondents rated their level of knowledge and skills required for evidence-based practice as low (conducting database searches = 50.7%; critically appraising literature = 53.0%). The majority of respondents (79.1%) reported a low level of knowledge about electronic databases. Few respondents had attended education sessions on evidence-based practice (15.0%). The six most commonly reported barriers to adopting evidencebased practice were lack of time, a large caseload, limited searching skills, limited appraisal skills, difficulty accessing journals and a perceived lack of evidence to support occupational therapy intervention. The majority of occupational therapists in this sample were entering the first phase of continuing professional development in relation to evidence-based practice.

Formal and Informal Continuing Education Activities and Athletic Training Professional Practice

“…As is the case in other health care professions, 3,17,[31][32][33] ATs found these informal CE activities important for improving professional practice; reading professional journals and textbooks were the most frequently completed informal CE activities. Nearly half of the ATs reported that they supervise athletic training students and teach an athletic training-related course.…”

Preferences for and Barriers to Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities

“…This finding is consistent with that of Hughes, 38 insofar as women preferred the lower cost of CE activities that involved less travel. Similar research in nursing, [20][21][22][23]25,26 physical therapy, 12 and occupational therapy 5,24 described the travel distance to CE and the cost of attending CE as the 2 most prominent barriers to participating in formal CE. Thus, excessive costs associated with formal CE activities and excessive travel distance are not unique to athletic training but also exist in other allied health professions.…”

“…In contrast, researchers in medicine 15 and nursing 6,24 showed that both a lack of self-confidence and time away from family were often reported as major barriers. The uniqueness of these professions may explain the different perceptions regarding these barriers to formal CE; each profession requires unique knowledge and skills.…”

“…Interestingly, ATs receiving less than $250 for CE participation more often reported a lack of staff to cover patient care responsibilities, a lack of time to commit to CE participation, and not being interested in taking time from personal or family responsibilities as barriers to formal CE. Lack of support from an employer and excessive cost of CE were also identified as barriers to formal CE in physical therapy, 12 nursing, 20,[22][23][24][25][26]28 and adult education. 11,39 This finding is important because ATs who receive less money for CE participation will need to find low-cost alternatives that involve less travel and less time away from patient-care responsibilities.…”

“…In this way, more appropriate CE activities can be developed and implemented. 19 For instance, poor content [20][21][22][23][24][25] and lack of relevance of the CE activity to clinical practice 12,25 have been identified in nursing and physical therapy studies as common barriers to CE participation. Additionally, a lack of financial support to attend CE activities and practice setting factors (eg, geographic location, time away from patient-care responsibilities) are important barriers to CE participation.…”