Revised 8/2023

OCT 195 - Topics in Evidence Based Practice in Occupational Therapy (1 CR.)

Course Description

Provides an opportunity to explore topical areas of interest to or needed by students. In particular, this course will provide students with the ability to be able to understand and perform the process of identifying appropriate professional literature in order to apply the evidence to practice effectively. Course is 1 credit.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the importance of evidence as related to practice. Students will be equipped with the skills to locate, choose quality sources, read and integrate scholarly professional reports and apply their understanding with clients’ interests, values, and goals.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: Completion of OTA program semester 1 and 2 coursework.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Articulate the importance of using psychometrically sound assessment tools within a client-centered model to deliver evidence-based intervention plans and strategies. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.4)
  • Describe the importance of evidence-based intervention plans and strategies in OT practice. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.4)
  • Develop focused PICO questions and use evidence to enhance clinical reasoning and decision-making in practice.
  • Understand what a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) and a Critically Appraised Paper (CAP) are as related to occupational therapy practice.
  • Effectively be able to locate and understand information contained within a variety of professional resources, including the quality of the source of information to make evidence-based decisions in OT practice. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.6.1)
  • Articulate the importance of how scholarly activities and literature contribute to the developing and ever-changing profession of occupational therapy. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.6.1)
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the differences between quantitative and qualitative research studies. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.6.2)
  • Demonstrate the skills to read and understand a scholarly, professional report. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.6.3)
  • Apply scientific evidence that underlies the practice of occupational therapy to guide and inform interventions in a variety of practice contexts and environments. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.2.1)

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Importance of evidence-based practice and the development of the profession of OT.
  • How to locate and choose the best evidence and effectively read and understand a scholarly, professional report.
  • Differences between a quantitative and qualitative research studies
  • Importance of using statistics, tests, measurements in relationship to providing evidence-based practice to the clients receiving occupational therapy services.