Enhancing research use through online action research.
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.
Helene
Mary Egan
ME
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON. mary.egan@uottawa.ca
Dubouloz
Claire-Jehanne
CJ
Rappolt
Susan
S
Polatajko
Helene
H
von Zweck
Claudia
C
King
Judy
J
Vallerand
Josée
J
Craik
Janet
J
Davis
Jane A
JA
Graham
Ian D
ID
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009788:Occupational Therapy