Table 1.
Description of the five occupational therapy cohorts and their respective exposure to EBP within [masked] University’s School of Physical and Occupational Therapy
| Cohort | N | Description | Content | Exposure to EBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 42 | First year students, primarily with no previous university experience. | Two OT specific courses, remainder of coursework dedicated to physical sciences (e.g., anatomy, physiology). | Students are taught how to perform literature searches using common databases. |
| Year 2 | 35 | Second year students. | Primarily complementary courses, including human and physical sciences, languages, and research methods. | Basic concepts and rationale for EBP Students are introduced to critical appraisal. EBP concepts introduced in research methods course. |
| Year 3 | 76 | Two subgroups: U3 – past U1/U2 students. At the end of this year students receive an undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation Sciences (non-practicing). QY - students admitted to the qualifying year with a previous undergraduate degree (or higher). Both groups form one class and receive the same teaching content. |
All courses are OT specific. | Explicit teaching of EBP rational and steps of application to clinical scenarios, workshops on conducting appropriate literature searches. • Foundations of EBP: • EBP steps/process • Library workshop on creating a PICO and searching the literature • 3 courses covering concepts of EBP and searching the literature • 1 course covering concepts and process of EBP and integration of evidence EBP guidelines, asking and answering a clinical question, searching to find the answer to a PICO, critical appraisal, classifying evidence on the effectiveness of interventions according to specific guidelines, synthesizing research information for clinical applicability, research design Application of EBP is expected in assignments and exams. |
| M1 | 54 | Summer semester - clinical placements 1 and 2 (7 weeks each) Fall semester – coursework. Winter semester - clinical placement 3 (7 weeks) Spring semester - coursework Summer semester – group research project |
All courses are OT specific. | EBP teaching heavily integrated in lectures and coursework. EBP skills and knowledge developed and refined with clinical application in placements. Research project integrates concepts |
| M2 (New graduates) | 65 | Clinical placement 4 (8 weeks) November 2013 graduates, recruited as new clinicians. |
Clinical placements. | Application of EBP |