Developing multisectoral strategies to promote evidence-based practice in rehabilitation: findings from an end-of-grant knowledge translation symposium

Abstract

Purpose

Following a longitudinal study to understand how evidence-based practice evolves during the initial years of occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) practice, we held an end-of-grant symposium with representatives from education, practice, research, and policy. The objectives were to: (1) elicit feedback on the implications of the study results; and (2) co-develop a list of actionable recommendations for each sector.

Methods

Qualitative participatory approach. The symposium was held over two half days and consisted of a presentation of study findings, a discussion on the implications of the research for each sector and future recommendations. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis.

Results

The themes related to implications of the longitudinal study included: (1) A need to rethink what evidence-based practice (EBP) really is; (2) How to practice EBP; and (3) The continuing challenge of measuring EBP. The co-development of actionable recommendations resulted in nine strategies.

Conclusions

This study highlighted how we may collectively promote EBP competencies in future OTs and PTs. We generated sector-specific avenues that may be pursued to promote EBP and argued for the importance of pooling efforts from the four sectors so that we may achieve the intended ethos of EBP.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• There is a need to revisit the definition of evidence-based practice (EBP) and the traditional 3-circle model in rehabilitation to include a broader conceptualization of what constitutes evidence.

• We recommend using EBP measures as tools for self-reflection and professional development that can support practitioners to be reflective and accountable evidence-based practitioners.

• Optimal promotion of EBP competencies in occupational therapists and physiotherapists should rest upon collaborative efforts from the education, practice, research, and policy sectors.

Keywords:

• Rehabilitation practice
• evidence-based practice
• integrated knowledge translation
• end of the grant

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge faculty members, clinicians and representatives from our partner organizations who participated in our symposia.

Ethical approval

Ethics approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of McGill University (IRB: A10-B55-16B).

Consent to participate

All participants of this study were informed about the objectives and methodology of this research project in detail. Symposium participants consented to have the sessions recorded and analyzed.

Disclaimer

The authors declare that the work reported in this study is original. The authors also declare that this study has neither been submitted to any other journal, nor has been published, in part or full, in any literature.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The raw datasets recorded in the form of digital audio recordings and analysed data files are available from the corresponding author on request.

Additional information

Funding

This was a part of the larger Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded study [grant #: 148544].