Journal Club Utilization as a Means of Implementing Evidence-Based Research to Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practice

Abstract

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a key component of occupational therapy (OT) treatment, including pediatric settings (AOTA, 2019). The overall utilization of EBP to guide treatment is low across all practice areas (Wressle & Samuelsson, 2014). The purpose of this study is to determine whether the implementation of a journal club, in combination with the Traffic Light Grading System, will improve the utilization of EBP throughout various pediatric OT settings. A quasi-experimental instructional group design, with pre-post-post test measures, would be used over a period of 12 weeks with OT practitioners (OTP) to determine if EBP utilization increases. It is anticipated that the implementation of these measures will assist in overcoming the barriers to implementing EBP to treatment. Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to; - Describe what EBP is and why it is important to the OT profession. - Describe why a journal club could potentially assist in the utilization and implementation of EBP. - Describe why the "Evidence Alert Traffic Light Grading System" could be an effective tool to organize and implement research to OT practice. - Identify how EBP influences quality treatment within pediatric OT practice.