The Level of Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) by OT Managers

INTRODUCTION: Occupational therapy (OT) managers are stakeholders in the expectations of occupational therapists and hold great influence over evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation (Clark, Park & Burke, 2013). There are no research articles pertaining to the knowledge, attitudes or practices related to EBP among OT managers. The purpose of this research was to determine the knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers (KAPB) to EBP implementation held by OT managers. Through determination of the KAPB of EBP held by OT managers, this research fills a gap in the literature pertaining to EBP implementation in the OT profession. Managers who oversee occupational therapists will be referred to as OT managers in this study no matter their professional background.

METHODOLOGY: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, North Dakota. A descriptive design was used to conduct this study. Convenience sampling was utilized to obtain participants for this study using the University of North Dakota Fieldwork Contact Database. Participants were emailed a survey. Quantitative data was analyzed using Qualtrics and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 25. Quantitative data was analyzed using an open coding process.

RESULTS: A total of 40 surveys were returned out of 258 deliverable messages, yielding a response rate of 15.5%. Most of the respondents were female (85%, n= 34) and held Master’s degrees (72.5%, n=29). The respondents reported an overall “high” knowledge score (x= 25.36). The respondents had “moderate” attitudes towards EBP (x= 12.13, sd= 3.4). Scores related to EBP practice, indicated that practices were “moderate” (x=14.4). The mean score on the barriers subscale was 12.45, which indicated that a moderate level of barriers was perceived.

CONCLUSION: OT managers hold positive attitudes towards EBP, which positively influences their intentions to implement EBP. They also have moderate levels of EBP practices, which positively influences their intentions to implement EBP. Lastly, they have high knowledge of EBP, but perceive moderate levels of barriers to implementation, which decreases their perceived control over EBP implementation. Based on the results of this study, a potential factor inhibiting the intention to implement EBP, is OT managers’ perceived barriers to implementation. Understanding OT managers’ perceived KAPB of EBP and the relationships between those factors helps to guide the next level of research, which is knowledge translation. Future research at the level of knowledge translation needs to explore the most effective interventions for increasing EBP implementation and active involvement in EBP by OT practitioners, students, and managers alike.

References

Clark, F., Park, D.J., & Burke, J.P. (2013). Dissemination: Bringing translational research to completion. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, 185-193. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2013.006148

Novak, I. & McIntyre, S. (2010). The effect of education with workplace supports on practitioners’ evidence-based practice knowledge and implementation behaviours. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 57. 386–396

Stronge, M. & Cahill, M. (2012). Self-reported knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards evidence-based practice of occupational therapy students in Ireland. Occupational Therapy International, 19. 7-16. doi: 10.1002/oti.328

Thomas, A., & Law, M. (2013). Research utilization and evidence-based practice in occupational therapy: A scoping study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67, e55-e65. doi:10.5014/ajot.2013.006395