title: A characterization of clinical questions asked by rehabilitation therapists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored the information needs of rehabilitation therapists (occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists) working with patients who have had strokes in order to characterize their clinical questions, defined as their formalized information needs arising in the context of everyday clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The researchers took a constructivist, interpretive approach, in which fifteen rehabilitation therapists working in various settings were recruited. Data were gathered using diaries, followed by diary-guided interviews, and thematically analyzed using template analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rehabilitation therapists' clinical questions were characterized as having one or more of twelve foci and containing one or more of eight possible structural elements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings demonstrate that the evidence-based practice framework currently applied for questions relating to rehabilitation is inadequate for representing rehabilitation therapists' clinical questions. A new framework that is more comprehensive and descriptive is proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Librarians working with students and clinicians in rehabilitation can employ knowledge of the twelve foci and the question structure for rehabilitation to guide the reference interview. Instruction on question formulation in evidence-based practice can employ the revised structure for rehabilitation, offering students and clinicians an alternative to the traditional patient, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) structure. Information products, including bibliographic databases and synopsis services, can tailor their interfaces according to question foci and prompt users to enter search terms corresponding to any of the eight possible elements found in rehabilitation therapists' clinical questions.
authors.affiliation: lorie.kloda@mcgill.ca Associate Librarian, McGill University Library, McLennan Library Building, 3459 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC H3A 0C9, Canada; joan.bartlett@mcgill.ca Associate Professor, McGill University School of Information Studies, 3661 Peel Street, Montreal, QC H3A 1X1, Canada.
authors.forename: Lorie Andrea
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kloda
authors.affiliation: lorie.kloda@mcgill.ca Associate Librarian, McGill University Library, McLennan Library Building, 3459 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC H3A 0C9, Canada; joan.bartlett@mcgill.ca Associate Professor, McGill University School of Information Studies, 3661 Peel Street, Montreal, QC H3A 1X1, Canada.
authors.forename: Joan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D016390:Allied Health Occupations; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008606:Mental Processes; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011792:Quebec