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Evidence-Based Practice

Practice Guidelines and Evidence-Based Clinical Resources

Your home base for clinical guidance across the lifespan. Browse the topics below for evidence-based OT practice guidelines, systematic review briefs (formerly Critically Appraised Topics), intervention ideas, and infographics.

CMS cites AOTA Practice Guidelines as "relevant and credible"
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What are Practice Guidelines?

AOTA's Practice Guidelines are topic-specific recommendations that practitioners use to guide client care. Based on the findings of systematic reviews, practice guidelines present clinical recommendations and tools for translating knowledge to guide your practice. 

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AOTA Practice Guideline Development

The AOTA Practice Guidelines are developed from systematic reviews of evidence, based on guiding questions. Information from the research is extracted, appraised, and synthesized into the clinical recommendations table. The practice guidelines are then written by translating the the information identified in the clinical recommendations table.

The information from the systematic reviews is also used to develop HOT Evidence Infographics, Evidence-Informed Intervention Ideas, and Evidence Connection articles.

Adults with Neurological Conditions

For adults with stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson's disease

Man sitting in wheelchair cooking at stove inside kitchen

Read the Practice Guidelines in AJOT

Infographics

Systematic Review Briefs (AJOT)

ADLs & IADLs:

Work, Leisure, & Social Participation:

Caregivers:

 

Chronic Conditions

OT interventions for clients with heart disease, chronic lung conditions, diabetes, and kidney disease.

Read the Practice Guideline in AJOT
Group of seniors sitting on yoga mats with arms raised in the air

Rest and sleep

Social participation and leisure

Living with Alzheimer's Disease or other Neurocognitive Disorders

Read the Practice Guideline in AJOT
Senior woman sitting on couch helping elderly woman put on sweater

Interventions to address depression in care partners

Interventions to improve cognitive performance

Interventions to improve psychological symptoms

Living with and Beyond Cancer

Practice Guideline coming in 2024!

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Interventions to Address Fatigue and Physical Activity

Interventions to Address Pain and Well-being