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Organisational support for evidence‐based practice: occupational therapists perceptions
Author(s) -
Bennett Sally,
Allen Shelley,
Caldwell Elizabeth,
Whitehead Mary,
Turpin Merrill,
Fleming Jennifer,
Cox Ruth
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/1440-1630.12260
Subject(s) - occupational therapy , perception , psychology , nursing , medicine , psychiatry , neuroscience
Background Barriers to the use of evidence‐based practice extend beyond the individual clinician and often include organisational barriers. Adoption of systematic organisational support for evidence‐based practice in health care is integral to its use. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of occupational therapy staff regarding the influence of organisational initiatives to support evidence‐based practice on workplace culture and clinical practice. Methods This study used semi‐structured interviews with 30 occupational therapists working in a major metropolitan hospital in Brisbane, Australia regarding their perceptions of organisational initiatives designed to support evidence‐based practice. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (i) firmly embedding a culture valuing research and EBP , (ii) aligning professional identity with the Research and Evidence in Practice model, (iii) experiences of change: pride, confidence and pressure and (iv) making evidence‐based changes to clinical practices. Conclusion Organisational initiatives for evidence‐based practice were perceived as influencing the culture of the workplace, therapists' sense of identity as clinicians, and as contributing to changes in clinical practice. It is therefore important to consider organisational factors when attempting to increase the use of evidence in practice.