OCTH 624: Clinical Inquiry
Prerequisite: Successful completion of OCTH 610, 612, 614 and 616 or permission of
the Chair
Credit Hours: (3)
An introduction to methods and resources for fathering and appraising research evidence
about occupation and occupational therapy services. Students develop clinical questions;
then use the matrix method along with evidence-based practice databases and bibliographic
software to plan, carry out and communicate the results of literature reviews.
Detailed Description of Content of the Course
Topics will include:
- The relationship of research evidence to clinical practice in occupational therapy
- Writing focused clinical questions and occupation and occupational therapy
- Using electronic resources (national and international, within and outside of occupational
therapy) to gather current published evidence
- Appraising the relevance and trustworthiness of research studies
- Communicating the evidence for decision-making
- Using the matrix method to plan, organize and synthesize a review of research literature
- Formatting a literature review in APA style
- Using bibliographic software
- Using research evidence in quality improvement programs
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Readings, lecture and discussion will be supplemented by library instruction and individual
and group practice with the steps of evidence-based practice. Each student will conduct,
synthesize and report a review of research literature to answer a clinical question
about occupation or occupational therapy.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
At completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Articulate the importance of research relevant to the profession of occupational therapy;
- Demonstrate competence in basic computer use, including the ability to use databases
and search engines to access information and word processing for writing;
- Effectively locate, understand and evaluate information, including the quality of
research evidence;
- Use national and international sources of evidence, and appreciate the contributions
of international occupational therapy to research;
- Understand the Principles underlying the data analysis/statistical methods reported
in research studies;
- Read research studies and critique their internal and external validity;
- Employ logical thinking, critical analysis, problem-solving and creativity to formulate
a clinical question and plan a review of research literature;
- Demonstrate the skills necessary to conduct and synthesize the results of a review
of the literature;
- Demonstrate the basic skills necessary to write a literature review in a format appropriate
for presentation or publication.
- Given clinical scenarios, use research literature to make evidence-based decisions;
- Explain how research evidence can be used in the design of processes for quality improvement.
Assessment Measures
Tests, participation in discussions and library instruction sessions, and a graded
literature review project may be used to evaluate the outcomes of this course.
Other Course Information
Review and Approval
February, 2009