Everyday Evidence
Everyday Evidence presents research straight from the source by featuring interviews with experts in the field of occupational therapy. Each episode is designed to summarize research, highlight why it is important to consider for practice, and emphasize how to translate evidence to interventions. Publications and resources, including AOTA systematic reviews, practice guidelines, and official documents are discussed in a conversational way with a focus on real-life examples and the experiences of featured guests.
AOTA Practice Guidelines for Autistic Individuals
On today's episode we are joined by Kristie Patten, Stephen Shore, and Kavitha Murthi. We discuss their research and work in contributing to the upcoming Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Autistic Individuals Across the Lifespan. They give recommendations on how to improve the OT process when working with autistic individuals, conduct inclusive and meaningful research, and discuss the limitations of current research and practice perspectives.
AOTA's Practice Guidelines for Alzheimer's Disease
On this episode we speak with Stacy Smallfield and Liz Metzger, the co-authors of the Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Adults Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Neurocognitive Disorders. We discuss the research, case studies, and clinical recommendations included in the practice guidelines and they provide recommendations to help all practitioners enhance their practice when working with this population.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in OT Practice
Date: April 2024
On today's episode we are joined by Ganesh Babulal and Sarah Brzeszkiewicz. We discuss their work and research related to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into OT practice. They give recommendations on how to use artificial intelligence to enhance occupational therapy services for clients and provide examples and summaries of how AI can be applied to older adults.
AOTA Webinar on Artificial Intelligence
Activating Behavior for Lasting Engagement (ABLE)
Date: March 2024
On today's episode we are joined by assistant professor and director of the Disability and WELLness laboratory at the University of Minnesota, Emily Kringle. We discuss her work on developing the ABLE and duoABLE projects, which are behavioral activation-based interventions aimed to reduce post-stroke sedentary behavior through engagement in meaningful daily activities.
Stroke Rehabilitation: Development and Feasibility of a Sedentary Behavior Intervention for Stroke
AJOT: Activating Behavior to Reduce Sedentary Behavior After Stroke
Clinical Psychology Review: What is Behavioral Activation?
Restorative Occupational Approaches for Disordered Eating
Date: February 2024
On this episode, we speak with Mark Hardison about OT and eating disorders. He details a 2023 intervention research grant for “Assessing the Feasibility of the Restorative Occupational Approaches for Disordered Eating” (ROADE) Program.
Contact Mark about his research
UCLA MARC Free Guided Meditations
Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults Free Guided Meditations
Early Childhood Competencies
Date: January 2024
On this episode we speak to Mary Beth Bruder, Professor of Public Health Sciences and Health Promotion, Pediatrics, and Educational Psychology at UConn and The Director of Evidence-Based Practice at AOTA, Susan Cahill. We discuss Early Childhood Intervention, comprehensive systems of personnel development, and best practices for interdisciplinary care.
Additional resources:
ECPC Cross-Disciplinary Competencies
50 Studies Every Occupational Therapist Should Know
Date: November 2023
On this episode we speak with Beth Pyatak and Elissa Lee, who co-edited a book in the 50 studies Every Doctor Should Know series, 50 Studies Every Occupational Therapist Should Know. We discuss seminal research included in the book and they provide tips, tricks, and recommendations to help all practitioners find, consume, and apply evidence to practice.
Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy
Date: October 2023
On this episode we speak with Hannah Oldenburg and Jennifer Bergstrom, the founders of the Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy. They share the story of starting the journal and provide recommendations for practitioners to consume and apply evidence to enhance their practice.
Additional Resources:
Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy
The Transformative Justice Initiative
Date: September 2023
On this episode we speak with Dr. Lisa Jaegers about working with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health, founding the Saint Louis University (SLU) Transformative Justice Initiative (TJI), directing the OT Transition and Integration Services (OTTIS) program, and Facilitating the Justice Based Occupational Therapy network. She details how occupational therapy can play a role in the justice system and provides recommendations for practitioners across settings.
Additional Resources:
Transformative Justice Initiative @slu_ottis
Justice-Based Occupational Therapy @ot4justice
Including Caregivers Across the Continuum
Date: August 2023
On this episode, we speak with Beth Fields about her research and efforts that examine the quality, access, and outcomes of caregivers across the continuum of care.
Additional Resources:
University of Wisconsin-Madison Geriatric Health Services Research Lab
Augmented Reality Tool for Home Assessments
Substance Use and Occupational Therapy
Date: July 2023
On today's episode we discuss the March 2023 special issue of the journal Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment on substance use and occupational therapy. Emily Rothman, Amy Mattila, and Deirdre Ryan share information related to occupational therapy's role in working with people effected by substance use disorder and provide evidenced based recommendations for clinical practice, education, and research.
Additional Resources:
Read the articles in Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy Featuring Stacey Reynolds
Date: June 2023
On this episode of Everyday Evidence, we speak with the editor and chief of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Stacey Reynolds. We talk all things AJOT, discuss the state of the science within occupational therapy, and she shares recommendations on how you can get involved and improve your own consumption and application of research to practice.
Additional Resources:
TBI Practice Guidelines
Date: May 2023
On this episode we discuss the Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Adults with traumatic brain injury and the work Dr. Steven Wheeler and Dr. Amanda Acord-Vira do conducting research related to TBI at West Virginia University.
Additional Resources:
Previous guidelines available in the AOTA store
A Multi-site Quality Improvement Project
Date: April 2023
On this episode we are joined by Taelor Coyle and Kelly Tanner who were part of a multi-site quality improvement project titled “Implementing Parent Coaching in Occupational Therapy for Young Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Multi-Site Project.” We discuss their project, outcomes, and strategies for implementing quality improvement initiatives.
Additional Resources:
Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Early Childhood: Birth through 5 years
The Early Childhood Coaching Handbook
Ready to Learn and Play Sensory Regulation Framework
Date: March 2023
On this episode we speak with Amanda Newchok and Erin O'Hara about the Ready to Learn and Play sensory regulation framework. We discuss the "why's" of sensory based intervention, how they developed this framework to make sensory regulation accessible and understandable to clients and caregivers, and how to share your OT magic with clients to facilitate regulation and improved occupational performance.
Additional Resources:
Ready to Learn and Play website
Finding our Strengths and Recognizing Professional Bias featuring Kristie Patten
Date: February 2023
On this episode we speak with Kristie Patten, the 2022 Eleanor Clarke Slagle award recipient and the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of occupational therapy at NYU. We discuss her research and implications for practice related to autism.
Additional Resources:
Neurodiversity Strengths checklist from this book
Interventions for Caregivers of People with Stroke Systematic Review featuring Mary Hildebrand and Amanda Mack
Date: January 2023
On this episode we speak with Dr. Mary Hildebrand and Dr. Amanda Mack about the Systematic Review addressing the question “What is the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice for caregivers of people who have had a stroke that facilitate maintaining participation in the caregiver role?”. We discuss principles and implications of caregiver interventions and the evidenced related to their implementation to promote increased health and well-being for patients and caregivers.
Additional Resources:
Family Caregiver Alliance website
The Multicontext Approach to Cognitive Rehabilitation
Date: November 2022
On this episode we speak with Joan Toglia and Erin Foster about their new textbook, The Multicontext Approach to Cognitive Rehabilitation, along with research they've championed related to functional cognition. They share clinical examples, implications, and recommendations for occupational therapy practitioners and any clinician working with people who have cognitive deficits.
Additional Resources:
Functional Cognition and OT book
Functional Cognition series bundle
Home and environmental modifications with Susy Stark
Date: December 2022
On this episode we speak with Dr. Susy Stark from Washington University in St. Louis about a grand round session for the Learning Health Systems Rehabilitation Research Network (LeaRRn) about environmental interventions for fall prevention titled “Designing Complex Behavioral Interventions for Implementation” she gave in January 2022. We discuss principles and implications of home and environmental modifications and the evidenced related to the implementation of modifications to reduce fall risk.
Additional Resources:
Shared decision making with Penny Moyers
Date: September 2022
On this episode we discuss principles of shared decision making, client centered care, and evidence-based practice with Penny Moyers.
Additional Resources:
Clinical Management of COVID-19 Living Guideline
Date: October 2022
On this episode we speak with Malachy Clancy about the World Health Organization's Clinical Management of COVID-19 Living Guideline. He shares his role in contributing to the guideline and outlines important information and recommendations from the guideline and specifically Chapter 24: Care of COVID-19 patients after acute illness.
Additional Resources:
Student Initiated Journal Clubs on Fieldwork featuring Ashley Efaw
Date: September 2022
On this episode we speak with Ashley Efaw, a Clinical Assistant Professor and OT academic Fieldwork Coordinator at the University of Oklahoma. She outlines her recent study "Occupational Therapy Student-initiated journal clubs in pediatric fieldwork settings" and we discuss why journal clubs are important and how OT professionals can begin to implement them into their day to day practice.
Additional Resources:
AOTA Knowledge Translation Toolkit
Patient Reported Outcome Measures featuring Brocha Stern and Craig Velozo
Date: September 2022
On this episode we discuss the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) with Brocha Stern and Craig Velozo. We discuss what patient-reported outcomes measures are and hear from our guests how to access, administer, score and use them within organizations and throughout clinical practice.
Additional Resources:
AJOT article: Clinical Potential of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Occupational Therapy
Reflex Integration with Aimee Piller
Date: August 2022
On this episode we discuss Choosing Wisely recommendation #8, "Don’t use reflex integration programs for individuals with delayed primary motor reflexes without clear links to occupational outcomes." Aimee Piller shares her involvement in the development of Choosing Wisely and provides recommendations to help pediatric practitioners to apply principles of reflex and sensory integration to practice.
Additional Resources:
Choosing Wisely recommendation
Read a transcript of this podcast
CIMT with Amy Darragh and Mary Rebekah Trucks
Date: July 2022
On this episode we are joined by Dr. Amy Darragh and Mary Rebekah Trucks. We discuss their work on an NIH funded efficacy trial examining pediatric contstraint induced movement therapy (pCIMT) including implications and applications for practitioners.
Additional Resources:
Article from Pediatrics journal
Handbook of Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
Read a transcript of this podcast
Functional Cognition with Gordon Giles
Date: June 2022
On this episode, we speak with Gordon Giles about functional cognition. He outlines how to approach functional cognition throughout the OT process and shares personal stories, clinical and research examples to illustrate how functional cognition sets occupational therapy apart from other professions and can be applied to help clients achieve improved outcomes.
Additional Resources:
Read a transcript of this podcast
Person-Centered Medication Safety featuring Carol Siebert
Date: June 2022
On this episode, we speak with Carol Siebert, OTD, OT/L, FAOTA, who served as a representative of AOTA for the National Quality Forum (NQF) Action Team on Person-Centered Medication Safety in 2021. She shares how her occupational therapy expertise led to opportunities as a leader on this interprofessional and nation-wide initiative. She offers advice on how we can recognize the unique value of occupational therapy and make an impact across settings.
Additional Resources:
NQF Action Team presentation meeting recording
Read a transcript of this podcast
Co-op Principles for Participation
Date: May 2022
On this episode, we discuss the CO-OP Principles for Participation implementation guide with it's developer, Lara Barros. She shares personal examples and clinical recommendations gained from more than 25 years of practice.
Additional Resources:
Co-op and Implementation Guide
Read a transcript of this podcast
HOT Evidence with Katie Caspero
Date: May 2022
On this episode, we discuss we discuss the HOT Evidence Infographics and clinical applications for practitioners with Katie Caspero. Listen along as we summarize the evidence and research found in the graphics and hear tips and takeaways for improving your own application of research and evidence to practice.
Additional Resources:
Chronic Conditions Practice Guidelines
Date: April 2022
On this episode, we discuss the Chronic Conditions Practice Guidelines and clinical applications for practitioners with Dr. Stacy Smallfield and Dr. Beth Fields. Listen along as we summarize the evidence and research found in the guidelines and hear case studies, clinical recommendations, and major takeaways from content experts.
Additional Resources:
Institute for Health Care Improvement
Self Management Resource Center
Occupational Therapy Practice Guideline for Adults with Chronic Conditions
The updated CDC Developmental Surveillance Milestone Checklists
Date: March 2, 2022
We discuss the updated 2022 CDC Developmental Surveillance Milestone Checklists with Kate Barlow, OTD, MS, OTR/L, and Kris Barnekow, PhD, OTR/L, IMH-E®, who are both ambassadors for the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." program. We discuss changes to the checklists and principles of developmental screening, surveillance, and monitoring for practitioners to consider.
Additional Resources:
Read a transcript of this podcast
Evidence-informed milestones for developmental surveillance tools
AOTA FAQ: CDC Developmental Surveillance Milestone Checklists
Choosing Wisely with Glen Gillen
Date: March 30, 2022
We speak with Dr. Glen Gillen about his experience with evidence-based practice and the Choosing Wisely Initiative. He outlines each recommendation that patients and providers should question as well as giving us insight into how Choosing Wisely developed and how it can be used to enhance your work as an OT practitioner.
Additional Resources:
Advancing the Entry-Level Practitioner
Date: February 23, 2022
Dr. Erika Kemp discusses the "Advancing the Entry-Level Practitioner" paper published in the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. She shares how evidence-based practice and knowledge translation are integrated into the curriculum at Ohio State University and provides practical recommendations and applications for students and practitioners to incorporate EBP and knowledge translation into their professional practice.
Additional Resources:
Post-Acute Care Practice
Date: February 9, 2022
We discuss a recent systematic review about Post-Acute Care interventions with Dr. Beth Hunter and Julie Malloy. They give background on the importance of emphasizing quality care in
OT practice and how you can help clients avoid adverse health events and increase their quality of life by participating fully in meaningful occupations.
Additional resources:
Critically Appraised Topics on Post Acute Care
How CAPs can facilitate EBP
Date: January 26, 2022
We speak with Dr. Molly McCarthy of University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of OT education about her recent article, "Using Critically Appraised Papers (CAPs) in an OT curriculum: Ideas for teaching and practice." We discuss barriers clinicians face when implementing EBP, recommendations for using CAPs to promote EBP, and she shares a golden nuggets of advice for all OT professionals.
Additional resources:
Foundations of Clinical Practice
Putting the Knowledge Translation Toolkit to work
Date: January 5, 2022
On today's episode, we speak with Kelly Tanner, PhD, OTR/L, and Lisa Juckett, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, about the development of the Knowledge Translation (KT) Toolkit. We discuss barriers to implementing evidence into clinical practice and outline resources that can enable practitioners across all settings to use evidence-informed care in clinical scope.
Patient-centered outcomes and practice guidelines for autism
Date: December 22, 2021
On today's episode we speak with Dr. Teal Benevides about how to improve health outcomes by engaging stakeholders in research, intervention, and education. Teal describes her research with clients on the spectrum and their caregivers, provides practical recommendations for listeners, and describes the process and implications of the Practice Guidelines for working with Autistic individuals.
Children and youth practice guidelines
Date: December 8, 2021
On today's episode we discuss the Children and Youth Practice Guidelines for ages 5-21 and clinical applications for practitioners with Dr. Susan Cahill and Dr. Stephanie Beisbier. Listen along as we summarize the evidence and research found in the guidelines and hear case studies, clinical recommendations, and major takeaways from content experts.
Telehealth interventions
Date: November 17, 2021
On today's episode Dr. Lauren Little shares her research and expertise related to telehealth interventions for autism spectrum disorder. We discuss how telehealth has evolved during the pandemic, how access remains an issue, and how telehealth can supplement early intervention occupational therapy services. Listen for evidence summaries, clinical recommendations, and additional resources.
EBP Basics
Date: November 3, 2021
Today we speak with Dr. Beth Hunter about her work with the Evidenced Based Practice Team at AOTA. Beth summarizes the basic principles of evidenced-based practice and shares how you can use systematic reviews, practice guidelines and additional resources to improve your knowledge and practice.
The student fieldwork experience at AOTA
Date: October 20, 2021
On today's episode we speak with Julia Kuehn, MOT, OTR/L, about her lived experience as a fieldwork student with AOTA's evidence based practice (EBP) team. She offers advice to help students select meaningful and successful fieldwork experiences, prepare for the NBCOT® exam, transition to practice, and incorporate EBP as budding practitioners.
Best practices for adults with multiple sclerosis
Date: October 7, 2021
Rebecca Cunningham, OTD, OTR/L; and Ashley Uyeshiro Simon, OTD, OTR/L, MSCS, discuss their work in the University of Southern California Multiple Sclerosis (MS) clinic and their contributions to an AOTA systematic review, Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice affecting instrumental activities of daily living (IADLS) for adults with multiple sclerosis. They share personal knowledge gained from lived experiences working with clients who have MS, students learning to think like OT practitioners, and applying the Lifestyle Redesign approach to treatment.
EBP in pediatrics
Date: September 22, 2021
We speak with expert pediatric therapist and evidence-based champion Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, about generating, implementing, and promoting evidence in pediatric occupational therapy practice. She shares her experience as a practitioner, a clinic owner, and the Chairperson of AOTA's Sensory Integration and Processing Special Interest Section.
Social determinants of health and OT's role in novel settings
Date: September 8, 2021
Joy Doll, OTD, OTR/L, FNAP, leads us on a deep dive into the importance of Health Information Exchanges, social determinants of health, and the role of OT in primary care and telehealth.
OTPF case applications
Date: August 25, 2021
Caitlin Synovec, OTD, OTR/L, BCMH; and Julie Miller, MOT, OTR/L, SWC, share their experience developing the Application of the OTPF-4 to Support and Advance OT short course, and outline three case applications using the OTPF-4 in person, group, and population interventions.
Quality indicators for school-based practice
Date: July 23, 2021
On today's episode we hear from Patty Laverdure, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, Program Director of Occupational Therapy at Old Dominion University School of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Chairperson of AOTA's Special Interest Section Council (SISC). She shares her work and research in developing quality indicators for school-based practice, and details a systematic review on occupation and activity-based interventions to improve performance of ADLs, play, and leisure for children and youth ages 5 to 21, which was published in the February issue of AJOT.
COVID-19 pediatric care case application
Today we introduce the final episode in our three-part COVID-19 case application series. We speak with Shelley Coleman Casto, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Inpatient Clinical Lead; and Jordan Walter, OTD, OTR/L, an Inpatient Occupational Therapist both at Nationwide Children’s hospital in Columbus, Ohio. We discuss the importance of understanding how COVID-19 can impact children, review how to approach implementing safe and specialized treatment for children with COVID-19, and outline a case application of the inpatient pediatric care process for children with COVID-19.
COVID-19 outpatient care case application
Date: July 21, 2021
On episode two of our three-part COVID-19 case application series we speak with the Lead Clinician at USC’s Keck Medical Center, Jamie Wilcox, OTD, OTR/L. She shares how she and her colleagues consulted, used, and developed evidence-based approaches to address client care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and summarizes a case study she co-authored outlining the process for providing occupational therapy services to a client with COVID-19 in the outpatient setting. See Managing long term effects of COVID-19 rapid guideline.
COVID-19 critical care case application
Date: July 19, 2021
Today we introduce the first episode in our three-part series dedicated to outlining and expanding on the COVID-19 case applications published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Since March 2020, Jamie Wilcox, OTD, OTR/L; and John Margetis, OTD, OTR/L, have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic caring for patients during and after hospitalization for acute COVID-19-related illness. On today’s episode we discuss their lived experience as OT practitioners in a critical care setting during the global pandemic, outline a case application of their approaches and interventions, and share recommendations and lessons learned for all practitioners. Additional resources:
Research for acute respiratory failure
Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale
OTPF 4th edition with Julie Dorsey
Date: June 16, 2021
On today’s episode we speak with the Chair of Occupational therapy at Ithaca College and Chairperson of AOTA’s Commission on Practice, Dr. Julie Dorsey. We discuss the importance and process of developing the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, review the updates and changes to the guiding document of our profession, and explore the OTPF 4th edition’s implications for everyday practice. Additional resources:
Measurement in OT with Craig Velozo
Date: May 19, 2021
We re-visit the 2021 Eleanor Clarke Slagle lecture, “Using Measurement to Highlight OT’s Distinct Value” with featured guest Craig A. Velozo, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA. Velozo offers a new perspective on applying measurement to practice and gives recommendations for OT practitioners to be leaders in using measurement in a more client-centered way through Rasch analysis and item response. Additional resources:
Serious mental illness with Liz Griffin Lannigan
Date: May 10, 2021
We speak with the Chairperson of AOTA’s Mental Health Special Interest Section about the OT Practice Guidelines for Adults Living with Serious Mental Illness and a recent AOTA member appreciation webinar titled, Applying Evidence for Best Practices in Mental Health Settings. We cover OT's expanding role in working with this population, best practices supported by evidence, and recommendations for your practice. Additional resources discussed on this episode:
OT Practice Guidelines for Adults Living with Serious Mental Illness
Text recommendations:
The Evidence-Based Practitioner: Applying Evidence to Meet Client Needs
Occupational Therapy in Community and Population Health Practice
Parkinson's disease
Date: April 21, 2021
We discuss occupational therapy’s fit in working on comprehensive care teams for people with Parkinson’s disease. This episode covers topics including the AOTA Parkinson’s Disease Practice Guidelines, evidence-based interventions you should consider using in treatment, how to use clinical reasoning and creative problem solving to navigate clinical research gaps, and the LSVT Big program. Additional resources:
The Beck Institute (CBT training)
The Allied Team Training through the Parkinson’s Foundation
Stanford University community page
The virtual journal club guide with Brocha Stern
Date: March 22, 2021
We talk with Brocha Stern, PhD, OTR, CHT, about a virtual journal club guide, how to find and critically appraise material for your existing journal club, and recommendations for starting a journal club that help you apply evidence to practice. Resources discussed:
Cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance
Date: March 17, 2021
In this episode, Bill Janes is joined by Timothy Wolf, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, to discuss his research on the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach in stroke rehabilitation and the 2016 American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) article.
The Comfortable Cafeteria program
Date: March 17, 2021
In a study published in 2018, researchers explored the outcomes of the Comfortable Cafeteria Program, a 6-week occupational therapist–led program designed to create a positive mealtime environment. Host Bill Janes is joined by Sue Bazyk, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, to discuss this study, as well as her initiative, Every Moment Counts. Bazyk also shares tips on how occupational therapy practitioners can support their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introduction
Date: March 18, 2021
Being an occupational therapy practitioner and consuming evidence to inform practice is a commitment. It takes time, deliberate effort, and focus. Everyday Evidence was designed to present research straight from the source by featuring interviews with experts in the field of occupational therapy. Each episode is designed to summarize research, highlight why it's important to consider for practice, and emphasizes how to translate evidence to interventions. Publications and resources, including AOTA systematic reviews, practice guidelines, and official documents are discussed in a conversational way with a focus on real-life examples and the experiences of featured guests.