AOTA

Authors:

Aliki Thomas, PhD, OT(c), erg, is Associate Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Associate Member, Institute of Health Sciences Education, McGill University, and Researcher, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

Fatima Amari, MScM, OT, is Research Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

Maria Mylopoulos, PhD, is Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

Brigitte Vachon, PhD, OT(c), erg, is Associate Professor, School of Rehabilitation, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, and Scientist, Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

Anita Menon, PhD, OT(c), erg, is Assistant Professor (professional), School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

Annie Rochette, PhD, OT(c), erg, is Professor, School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, and Scientist, Institut Universitaire Sur la Réadaptation en Défience Physique de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

CE Credit:  .1AOTA CEUs (1 contact hour/1.25 NBCOT PDUs)

ABSTRACT:

Importance: Despite mounting evidence for the management of various health care conditions, the uptake of scientific evidence in occupational therapy is often suboptimal. Although positive attitudes and self-efficacy are key to evidence-based practices (EBPs), how one becomes an evidence-based practitioner, and how expertise in EBP manifests in practice, remains unclear.

Objective: To describe how expert evidence-based practitioners conceptualize and enact their expertise in stroke rehabilitation. 

Following this course, the learner will be able to:

1. Recognize the role of adaptive and routine expertise in clinical decision-making.

2. Explain the 6 overarching themes of this study.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of individual characteristics, motivators, and outcomes that explain how evidence-based practice (EBP) manifests.

What This Article Adds: Expert evidence-based occupational therapists develop their expertise in this domain through commitment to client-centered practice, efforts toward honing this aspect of practice, and a willingness to innovate and adapt to challenging situations.