title: Enhancing research use through online action research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many health professionals, including occupational therapists, have difficulty utilizing research findings in daily practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if an online action research project could enhance research use among occupational therapists working in similar practice areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of 12-14 occupational therapists met online for approximately one year. They discussed barriers and facilitators to research utilization, defined practice questions, and attempted to search for, synthesize and apply relevant research findings. Online communications and post-group interviews were thematically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only half of the participants who began the project were still online with the research project at completion. These participants believed that their involvement in the group led to increased personal awareness, motivation and confidence regarding the use of research evidence in practice and knowledge to be used in practice. Time to review, critique and synthesize research evidence continued to be a major barrier to enhanced research utilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online meetings designed to enhance research use among occupational therapists appear to hold some promise, but refinements are needed to ensure their ultimate success.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON. mary.egan@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Mary Egan
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Helene
authors.forename: Claire-Jehanne
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dubouloz
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rappolt
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Polatajko
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Zweck
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vallerand
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craik
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009788:Occupational Therapy