The Evidence-Based Practice Contradiction in Occupational Therapy

The term evidence-based practice (EBP) is now widely used, taught, and practiced. But should occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) accept EBP as the ‘gold standard’ for how we choose OT interventions? What are the downsides to EBP for a health profession like OT? What can we do instead? What should we use instead? The term evidence-based medicine … Read more

Autistic and Neurotypical Valued Occupations Model (ANVOM): A Proposed Model for Occupational Therapy Practice

Purpose The purpose of this article is to propose a model of practice for occupational therapy based on research that includes the voices of those who are Autistic, including Autistic adults with the lived experience of autism combined along with their neurotypical counterparts, e.g., parents, caregivers, and society. Language Based on a majority of the … Read more

Myth: Is Occupational Therapy Evidence-Based?

Occupational therapy is a health profession that helps individuals achieve their goals and participate in the occupations that are meaningful to them. Occupational therapists (OTs) use a variety of interventions, including exercises, adaptive equipment, and modifications to the environment, to enable individuals to engage in these activities despite any physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges they … Read more

Smell Retraining for Parosmia and the Loss of Smell from COVID-19 | Occupational Therapy

My family was watching the Cantonese news and they featured a segment from Dr. Sanjay Gupta on smell retraining for parosmia after COVID-19. He suggested that patients try retraining their sense of smell using scents such as essential oils. A research article published earlier this year suggests essential oils with those scents may help a … Read more

Where to Find Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) – Occupational Therapy

In occupational therapy, evidence-based practice is the integration of various factors to inform clinical practice with clients, groups, and the population. Factors that are considered include: Research and evidence in the literature Clinical expertise and opinion Client and caregiver perspectives Clinicians consider these factors together to make their practice decisions and to provide high-quality services … Read more

Preliminary Data for Pilot Study – Occupational Therapists Living with Chronic Disabilities – An Online Quantitative & Qualitative Survey

I decided to post the raw results from my 6 participants as this is a small sample size and not too overwhelming to read. This data comes from a survey I posted calling for participants who experienced a disability (mental or physical) in the field of occupational therapy. It asked questions about basic demographic information, … Read more

CBD for Chronic Pain – Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice 2021

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Research Human use of cannabis-derived products, including for medicinal use dates back many millennia. Clinical evidence suggests that CBD (cannabidiol) provides therapeutic benefits including analgesia in certain conditions. These therapeutic benefits can improve one’s quality … Read more

The New FDA Approved Alzheimer’s Drug Aduhelm and Occupational Therapy Practice

Aduhelm Controversy A headline showed up in my feed about how medicare may potentially cover the cost of the $56,000 annual controversial drug for Alzheimer’s, Aduhelm. This drug has created a lot of controversy as the FDA has approved it despite weak evidence for its efficacy and fierce criticism in the medical and research world. … Read more

Complexity – A Challenge in Occupational Therapy Research

Introduction In general, when research involves humans, it is not as simple to study and attribute variables to an intervention compared to other methods and means such as in the laboratory with laboratory mice. As occupational therapists often highlight and value the importance of the individual and use client-centered approaches, research in the field is … Read more

Sensory Processing Disorder & Diagnosis – A Call for More EBP in Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practice

Sensory Processing Disorder Featured

EBP = Evidence-based practice Current SPD Trends Many OT students, as did I, learned about Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in school. It is very much talked about and is very ‘OT’. I see many OT accounts on social media such as IG making content about SPD, selling products related to SPD, or using it as … Read more