title: Maximizing usability of evidence in rehabilitation practice: tips for researchers.
abstract: The ultimate goal of rehabilitation research is to improve the lives of people with disabilities; yet, little research is implemented into clinical practice. The objectives of the current article are to serve as a guide for rehabilitation researchers regarding factors that contribute to translation of the evidence base in clinical practice, to highlight some common problems encountered by clinicians when trying to implement evidence-based treatments, and to provide tips that researchers can use to enhance the likelihood of their research products being used in clinical practice. The impact of clinician and environmental factors on use of evidence-based medicine are reviewed. Practical issues encountered by clinicians when attempting to translate evidence-based findings into practice are highlighted by discussing 2 areas of research: compensatory strategies for memory impairment after brain injury and use of electrical stimulation for weakness and paralysis in persons with spinal cord injury. The article closes with a series of tips to assist researchers in translating findings to clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine/Harris County Hospital District and Brain Injury Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX, USA. asander@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Angelle M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Van Veldhoven
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Backus
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012046:Rehabilitation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000458:organization & administration*