Introduction: Evidence-based practice informs clinical decision making and the delivery of occupational therapy services. Developing the skills required to source, understand and apply evidence, does not happen by accident. With guidance, students and occupational therapists can work together to align processes, skills and evidence to inspire change and enhance occupational therapy practice.
Objectives: To present innovative curriculum designed to partner with clinicians and meet industry need for evidence-based practice.
Approach: The Advanced Evidence-Based Practice course at an Australian university is an important honours level course for undergraduate students. Time-poor industry occupational therapists from Australia, Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe have submitted evidence-based practice questions that students investigated. Findings and evidence-based recommendations were disseminated through reports and presentations, ensuring ease-of-access and impact.
Practice implications: Evidence collated and presented by students provided clinicians with practical, evidence-based recommendations that could be immediately integrated. Examples include a training module on war trauma in the Ukraine, sensory integration in the Indian context and the role of occupational therapy in suicide prevention. This educational journey fosters knowledge translation and enhances the implementation of best practices in occupational therapy.
Significance to the occupational therapy profession: The Advanced Evidence-Based Practice course provides students with graduate ready skills, enabling them to critically appraise and disseminate evidence and apply it to future practice. Clinicians are supported to source and review the latest evidence and collaborate on recommendations to inspire change. There is potential to grow this program and further strengthen the connection between academia and clinical practice.