Final Reflection on EBP

The artifacts included in this section of my portfolio are not the only ones I would
attribute to my improved understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice (EBP).
Artifacts included in the occupation-based practice section also helped me learn how to bridge
the use of evidence into intervention planning with actual clients. From the beginning of the
program I understood why supporting our practice with evidence is necessary and helpful, in day
to day practice. I noticed this from the many literature reviews we completed in both OCCT 504
and OCCT 523. Even though I was familiar with reading and writing research papers from my
undergraduate program studying psychology; those classes were the first time I ever read
occupational therapy research. Though it was a bit painful in the beginning, because it was more
difficult to picture what the studies were talking about since I hadnt had much fieldwork
experience at that time; it still seemed very theoretical. But overall, I did understand the benefits
of reading the research to make sure what we do as occupational therapists is safe, effective, and
worth the precious time we have with our clients. Learning how to analyze that information, how
to extract the bottom line and understand the limitations of studies was really learned during
writing the quantitative paper. That paper was the first time I was working with a large group,
which was challenging on its own. But then to conduct our own research was really eye opening.
It gave me new appreciation for how much work goes into contributing to the current evidence of
our practice. Flash forward to a couple semesters after that first research paper, I started working
with Dr. Lau and some of my peers on research that is occupation based. Honestly, starting that
process and seeing where I am now (in the middle of helping write the manuscript) is very
surreal. It has showed me even more about how much work and how many little details go into
completing your own original research. I feel that if I want to complete my own research in the
future, I would have to be really passionate about the topic because you really have to dive deep.

Final Reflection on EBP

Though in the beginning of this program I could understand why evidence was necessary
in daily practice, I never understood why it was important to our overall profession. From a
grander perspective, I never understood why it was so important in validating our profession to
others until later in the program. Completing the critically appraised topic (CAT) during fourth
semester was the most difficult because at that point, we needed our topic to be within our
profession. As opposed to first and second semester when we conducted research that was
interesting to our group but not necessarily based in occupational therapy. That was the first time
I realized that compiling the research needed to support our clinical question was an opportunity
to prove what we do as a profession. Once I started to understand more about reimbursement for
our services throughout the program, it helped me realize that with presenting our evidence we
validate our worth. That if we can present the research behind what we are doing, we can
continue to be recognized as a valued and skilled science, which we are. But that last part has
been the most difficult for me. During my first Level II fieldwork, I found it very difficult and
time consuming to find research and implement it in daily treatments. I think it may have had to
do with the collaboration with my fieldwork educator. Since he has worked for many years and
has specific ways of doing things; it was difficult to present new ideas as a student. I am hopeful
that with a little bit of fresh new graduate energy I will be able to present the evidence to my
patients and colleagues once working.