We all have different needs when it comes to developing our skills to use evidence to inform our practice. This will depend on the confidence and capability we developed during our pre-registration studies, the learning and development opportunities we’ve had both in and outside the workplace, and our motivation to engage in activities to develop our confidence and capability in the research pillar.
Occupational therapists report barriers to using research and this often relates to a lack of confidence and skills. But we don’t know if occupational therapists are actively identifying evidence based practice skills as learning needs, and engaging in activities which are helping them to meet their development objectives. We’re also not sure what approaches may be most effective. We’re really interested in knowing the types of activities occupational therapists engage in to help build their confidence and capability to use research evidence. Having a better understanding of effective activities will help us to showcase examples of good practice, identify barriers and gaps and help inform planning of learning activities to support the professional development of our occupational therapy workforce.
In this week’s OTalk we’ll be exploring this with you. To prepare for the chat, you could complete our survey to help you to reflect on your own learning needs and previous development actives you may have engaged in. Or you might like to take part in the chat first to reflect and hear others’ experiences to help plan your own learning and development.
We’ll be asking:
- Tell us a bit about how you feel about your confidence and capability to use research to inform your practice? Has it grown, plateaued or diminished since you did your pre-registration training?
- Do you actively identify learning and development needs to help you to grow your confidence and capability to use research to inform your practice? Are you encouraged to do so as part of your supervision or as part of your annual appraisal process?
- Tell us about any activities you’ve already engaged in which you think have helped you to grow your confidence and capability to use research to inform your practice.
- What types of activities do you think you might find helpful to develop your confidence and capability to use research to inform your practice?
- Is there anything we need to do as a profession to help us continue to grow our confidence and capability to use research evidence?
- Is there anything else you would like to tell us about developing confidence and capability to use research to inform your practice?
OTalk 