Resources for Implementing Evidence In Practice
This page offers some of the key links to evidence-based practice resources available on the Internet, some of which are directly relevant to occupational therapy. It is by no means a comprehensive listing. Click on one of the selections below for links.
Websites
NHMRC-NICS – The National Institute of Clinical Studies
NICS is an institute of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in Australia. As part of NHMRC, NICS works to improve health care by getting the best available evidence from health and medical research into everyday practice.
NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)
NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.
Implementation Central
This website aims to provide information about, and resources for, implementing evidence into clinical practice, created in response to an existing gap on resources specific to evidence implementation and knowledge transfer. While there are large numbers of resources dedicated to evidence synthesis and access to evidence, this is not the case for transfer of evidence into clinical practice. This website was created by Dr Saravanna Kumar, from the International Centre for Allied Health Evidence.
KT+ Knowledge Translation
KT+provides access to the current evidence on "T2" knowledge translation* (ie, research addressing the knowledge to practice gap), including published original articles and systematic reviews on health care quality improvement, continuing professional education, computerized clinical decision support, health services research and patient adherence. Knowledge Translation+ (KT+) is provided by McMaster University’s Health Information Research Unit.
National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research – Knowledge Translation
NCDDR's scope of work focuses on knowledge translation (KT) of NIDRR-sponsored research and development results into evidence-based instruments and systematic reviews. It contains many resources about knowledge translation
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)- Knowledge Translation Resources
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have developed a knowledge translation casebook providing case examples of applying knowledge translation methods. Other knowledge translation activities of the CIHR include publications, presentations, and briefings
KT Clearinghouse
The KT Clearinghouse website serves as the repository of Knowledge Translation (KT) resources for individuals who want to learn about the science and practice of KT, and access tools that facilitate their own KT research and practices. It is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). This website contains a knowledge base about knowledge translation as well as tools that can facilitate the practice or the science of knowledge translation.
BMJ Learning
BMJ Learning is an independent online learning service for health and medical professionals. The site offers over 500 peer reviewed, evidence based learning modules and the service is constantly updated. Topics include ‘Becoming an agent of change: Key principles and practical examples of change’ and ‘Audit: How to do it in practice’. BMJ Learning can be used to meet continuing professional development (CPD) and training needs by distance. Registration is free.
Back to top
Tools
Audit maker
Audit-Maker is a tool for clinical audit and is freely available software. It is built on an ACCESS platform (you need Microsoft Office 97 but it will work in newer versions too), by the Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice.
PACES (Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System)
PACES (Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System) is an audit tool designed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. It is a web based tool and has defined audit indicators upon which to base the audit. PACES requires membership to the Joanna Briggs Institute corporate members and to subscribers of JBI COnNECT nodes. The information you enter into the PACES interface is de identified, such that only the user has access to the information, since all the information is also encrypted the guarantee is that your information is safe. An audit can be done in two different ways: clinician based or organization based, depending of the organizational settings of the practice you work for. It allows clinicians to benchmark their health care outcomes against like facilities, departments or wards also utilising the system.
NICS barriers to using evidence resources
NICs provides resources about managing barriers to implementing research in practice. Resources include including information about different kinds of obstacles - or barriers - that can hinder health care improvement efforts, successful strategies for enabling change and The NICS barrier tool (2006) to help health professionals identify barriers and enablers to applying evidence and changing practice.
Back to top
Journal Articles
Glasziou P, Haynes B. The paths from research to improved health outcomes. ACP Journal Club 2005; 142:A8-A9.
Greenhalgh T, Robert G, Bate P, Macfarlane F, Kyriakidou O. Diffusions of innovations in health service organisations: A systematic review. Oxford, UK: BMJ Books, 2005.
Grimshaw JM et al. Effectiveness and efficiency of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies. Health Technology Assessment 2004; Vol 8: no 6.
Grol R & Wensing M. What drives change? Barriers to and incentives for achieving Evidence-based practice. Med J Aust. 2004 Mar 15;180(6 Suppl):S57-60.
Haynes RB and Haines A. Barriers and bridges to evidence based clinical practice. BMJ 1998; 317:273-276.
Implementation Science
Implementation Science is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that aims to publish research relevant to the scientific study of methods to promote the uptake of research findings into routine healthcare in both clinical and policy contexts. It contains many articles about identifying barriers and enablers to implementing evidence.
Kitson A, Harvey G, McCormack B. Enabling the implementation of evidence based practice: a conceptual framework. Qual Health Care. 1998 Sep;7(3):149-58.
Sales A, Smith J, Curran G, Kochevar L.Models, strategies, and tools. Theory in implementing evidence-based findings into health care practice. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Feb;21 Suppl 2:S43-9.
Straus SE, Tetroe J, Graham ID. Knowledge to action: what it is and what it isn’t. In: Straus S, Tetroe J, Graham ID (Eds). Knowledge translation in health care. 2009, Blackwell Publishing: Oxford, UK
Torrey WC, Drake RE, Dixon L, Burns BJ, Flynn L, Rush AJ, et al. Implementing evidence-based practices for persons with severe mental illnesses. Psychiatr Serv. 2001 Jan;52(1):45-50.
This 'Links' page was last updated in July 2013. Some of the web links listed above may have been altered or removed since this information was updated.