Facilitation of Research-Based Evidence within Occupational Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the facilitation of evidence-based practice with the use of everyday life occupations and client-centred practice within occupational therapy in three settings of stroke rehabilitation. Method: The study was based on a phenomenological hermeneutical research approach, and inspired by participatory action research methods. Participant observations, focus group discussions and individual interviews took place over a period of 20 months. Text interpretation, developed by Ricoeur, was used in data analysis. Findings: The key role of the facilitator in the implementation of evidence-based practice as a change process was stressed. During the implementation, it was crucial that the therapists as a group had the opportunity to discuss local practice knowledge, and to appraise the knowledge use critically, in order to develop their practice knowledge and new skills adapted to local contexts. The implementation resulted in various new working routines. Learning processes became part of developing the occupational therapists' professional identities, expressed in more professional confidence. Collaboration in the organisation of the implementation process was significant. Conclusion: The main findings indicated that the use of participatory action research methods and theory of situated learning interacting with the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework provided useful perspectives and structures for the investigation of the implementation of evidence-based occupational therapy.