Health and Wellness

January 17, 2012
Evidence Byte: Planning a journal club? Toolkit to the rescue!
The Journal Club Toolkit has documents and resources for planning and implementing a journal club. Sample fliers, worksheets, references, critical appraisal guides, a statistical reference sheet, and continuing education documentation reduce the preparation time needed for a journal club session. The kit can be used in any setting by occupational therapy practitioners interested in developing best practice. Read more.

December 6, 2011
Evidence Byte: Evidence Exchange Opens for Critically Appraised Paper (CAP) Submissions
The AOTA Evidence Exchange, a central repository for evidence-based literature reviews and related resources, is currently seeking submissions of critically appraised summaries of research articles or CAPs. There will be four rounds of submissions per year, and the first deadline is February 1. Read more.

September 13, 2011
Evidence Byte: Study on Evidence-Based Pain Management
McMaster University is conducting a study on Pain Plus—a new free information service for evidence-based pain management—and is looking to recruit occupational therapy practitioners to participate. Pain Plus will make keeping up to date easier for clinicians by offering a searchable database of the best evidence from the health care literature and an e-mail alerting system. Read more.

June 21, 2011
Evidence Byte: Meta-analysis of Impact of Cultural Competence on Outcomes
A meta-analysis studying the impact of cultural competence interventions on rehabilitation outcomes for ethnically and linguistically diverse individuals with disabilities found that cultural competence interventions result in improvements in disability-related symptoms, well-being, self-efficacy, and quality of life. The National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research recently published a technical brief of the meta-analysis here.

May 24, 2011
Evidence Byte: Community Guide Systematic Reviews
The Community Guide produces systematic reviews covering a variety of public health topics that answer questions such as: What interventions have and have not worked? What might the intervention cost? What interventions need more research before we know if they work or not? A task force of independent, nonfederal, and volunteer public health and prevention experts selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conduct the reviews. The topics cover conditions and issues across the life span, including the most recently added review on health communication and social marketing 

April 26, 2011
Evidence Byte: New Practice Guidelines Posted on the National Guideline
The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has recently posted AOTA's evidence-based practice guidelines on autism, driving, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and work-related injuries and illnesses. These guidelines join the previously posted guideline on neurodegenerative diseases. Each guideline posted on NGC includes a summary of evidence as well as recommendations for evaluation and treatment. Read more.

February 1, 2011
OT and Work-Related Injuries and Illnessess
The January/February 2011 issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) has a wealth of evidence on occupational therapy for work-related injuries and illnesses. The special issue includes four systematic reviews on conditions related to the shoulder, elbow, hand, wrist, and forearm, and low back. Also include is an article describing the methodology used for the reviews. Read more.

December 21, 2010
Evidence Byte: Evidence-Based Practice Resources for Veterans
The North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services has resources on evidence-based practices for those working with veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), substance use disorders, and challenges with mental health issues and homelessness. Included in the TBI section are general resources as well as specific information on screening, evaluation, and treatment. Read more.

August 3, 2010
Evidence Byte: Cochrane Review on Upper Limb Sensory Impairment Following Stroke
A recently published Cochrane Collaboration systematic review by occupational therapists Susan Doyle, Sally Bennett, Susan Fasoli, and Kryss McKenna examines the effectiveness of interventions that target sensory impairment in the upper limb following stroke including, sensory retraining, sensory stimulation, intermittent pneumatic compression, mirror therapy, and thermal stimulation. Read more.

June 8, 2010
Evidence Byte: Evidence for Effectiveness of Hand Function Measure
A recent article by Christine Chen and Rita Bode in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reported good psychometric properties for a recently developed hand function outcome measure. The Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36) uses self-report to determine performance in a variety of functional tasks. Read more here.

May 11, 2010
Evidence Byte: Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline
A new evidence-based report on interventions to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitive decline has recently been posted on the website of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.  Protective factors demonstrating a consistent association with decreased risk of AD and cognitive decline were cognitive engagement and physical activities. The full report can be downloaded there.

April 14, 2010
Evidence Byte: Improved Access to Evidence Resources
AOTA recently reorganized the Evidence-Based Practice resources on AOTA.org (log in) by the six main practice areas, then by type of product, making it easier than ever to find evidence to inform and guide your work. Under each of the practice areas, resources are now organized by AJOT articles, OT Practice articles, SIS Quarterly articles, CATs and CAPs, Evidence Briefs Series, Evidence Perks, and Evidence Bytes. Try this enhanced member benefit now (log in).

March 16, 2010
Evidence Byte: Practice Guideline for Fall Prevention
A comparison and synthesis of three practice guidelines for the prevention of falls in the elderly is available at the website of the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). The NGC synthesis includes information on assessment, intervention, grading process for making recommendations, and areas of agreement between the three practice guidelines.

February 16, 2010
Newsletter Provides Evidence-Based Resources
reSearch, a newsletter of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) provides free, downloadable PDFs of topics of interest to occupational therapy practitioners. The newsletters provide summaries of articles and resources. Titles include Evidence-Based Practice in Life Skill Training, Brain Injury and Community Integration, and Aphasia and Stroke Rehabilitation.

November 10, 2009
Evidence-Based Yoga
The Center for the Study of Yoga and Health—Evidence-Based Yoga evaluates peer-reviewed scientific research on yoga for children and youth and provides information on its benefits. A bibliography of evidence-based articles pertaining to yoga is available at the site, and includes studies on chronic pain, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.

September 14, 2009
Evidence for Treatment of Overweight and Obesity
Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults provides important background evidence and treatment ideas for occupational therapy interventions in this innovative existing and emerging area of practice. The guideline is available online at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at NIH.

July 7, 2009
Evidence-Based Alternative Medicine
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine from the National Institutes of Health provides evidence-based information on a variety of topics and conditions in A-Z Index of Health Conditions. Of interest to occupational therapy practitioners are summaries of research on topics such as tai chi, yoga, stress, and spinal manipulation.

April 27, 2009
US Cochrane Center Summit on Evidence-Based Guidelines
The US Cochrane Center of the Cochrane Collaboration will be sponsoring a “Stakeholder Summit on Using Quality Systematic Reviews To Inform Evidence-Based Guidelines” on June 4 to 5 in Baltimore, Maryland. Experts will discuss the role of guidelines in health care and the latest methods and practices for systematic review and guideline development.

April 14, 2009
Follow-up Study of Community-dwelling Older Adults
Laura Gitlin, PhD, and colleagues recently published the follow-up of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a home-based program for community-dwelling older adults. Five OT and 1 PT session introduced modifications to home environments and task performance. Mortality was reduced for those in the intervention group until 2 years following the intervention. Read more here.

March 3, 2009
Evidence for Injury Prevention
Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (HIPRC) has a wealth of information on topics of interest to occupational therapy practitioners, including head injuries, bicycle accidents, burns, occupational injury, rehabilitation, and violence. Find valuable evidence in the Best Practices Section and in the bibliography listing in HIPRC Publication.

December 22, 2008
Public Health Interventions 
The CDC's Community Guide provides systematic reviews and evidence-based recommendations on public health issues such as obesity, physical activity, mental health, violence, the work site, driving, and the social environment (including early childhood development). This Web site is a must-see for any student, clinician, or researcher interested in preventative approaches or health promotion.

October 27, 2008
Healthcare 411
Healthcare 411, developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), provides news and evidence-based information for consumers and clinicians. Transcripts, video, and podcasts are available on a variety of topics. "Health Care Innovations," a guide to evidence-based decision making, is a recent addition.

October 14, 2008 
Research Webcasts  
A free webcast from the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research, When the Best Is the Enemy of the Good—The Nature of Research Evidence Used in Systematic Reviews and Guidelines, is scheduled for October 28, from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (CDT). The webcast was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ike.

September 29, 2008
Find EBP Resources by Practice Area
AOTA's Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Resource Directory has been reorganized to allow you to find resources under the six broad practice areas identified in the Centennial Vision¬—Children and Youth; Mental Illness; Health and Wellness; Productive Aging; Rehabilitation, Disability, and Participation; and Work and Industry. See the September 8 Evidence Perk column in OT Practice for search and navigation tips!

September 3, 2008
Systematic Review Webcasts 
The National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) will host two free Webcasts in September to discuss the systematic review process used for evidence-based practice by those in the disability and rehabilitation fields. See the Web site for descriptions of the September 3 and September 17 Webcasts and free registration.

August 18, 2008
Updated NCDRR Web Site 
The Web site for the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) has been recently updated and includes a Registry for Systematic Reviews. Search the registry by keyword, journal title, author, type of review, and year of publication. Resources on knowledge translation are also included.

July 21, 2008
Falls, Neurological and Cognitive Disorders
Health Care Innovations Exchange, a resource of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is a nationwide repository for successful and failed health care innovations. A description and rating of evidence for each program is provided. Search by topic to find information on falls and on neurological and cognition disorders.

June 23, 2008
Health and Wellness
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability contains summaries of evidence-based studies on the effects of an active lifestyle on the health and wellness of persons with disabilities. The Center also has information specialists available to answer questions and help consumers and practitioners maximize their use of the Web site.

May 27, 2008
AccessMyLibrary 
The AccessMyLibrary Web site provides free access to subscription databases for educational, personal, and research needs through your personal library card or U.S. driver’s license. Type in key search words or browse by encyclopedia, publication, or a specific subject heading to begin your search.

May 12, 2008
Improving the Quality of Health Care 
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Evidence-Based Practice Centers (EPCs) Program provides links to evidence reports and technology assessments. Reports are categorized into clinical, technical, and health care services headings, and include diagnostic, prevention, and treatment information to improve the quality of health care.

April 14, 2008
Model of Human Occupation 
The MOHO Clearinghouse features information about the Model of Human Occupation. Searches for articles that inform evidence-based practice can be specified by topic of interest, age, practice area, setting, and assessment. Archived listserv discussions related to searches done at this site are also available.

March 17, 2008
Evaluating the Evidence
The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) of the Public Health Research Unit, in Oxford, has excellent resources to evaluate the quality of research articles being considered as evidence for practice. The resources can apply to a variety of research designs, including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and qualitative research.

March 3, 2008
Making Scientific Evidence More Relevant to Practice  
A recent National Institutes of Health lecture by Lawrence W. Green, a public health researcher and developer of the "Precede-Proceed Model," proposes five ways to make scientific evidence more relevant to practice. The methods—both traditional and new—offer a comprehensive approach that could be used for occupational therapy and other health professions. The lecture is available as a video or podcast titled "If We Want More Evidence-Based Practice, We Need More Practice-Based Evidence."

February 4, 2008
Institute of Medicine Report Calls for National Program to Assess Health Care Services 
Citing soaring health care premiums and consumer and payer confusion, a prestigious panel of scientists has recommended a national program that would give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services the authority and resources to fund and manage the systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of health care services. The proposed program would serve as a "trusted resource for reliable information" and lead to the development of a common language and standards for systematic reviews, scientists said.

January 22, 2008
New International OT Database 
Evidence-based resources and tools for OT have been added to JBI COnNECT, a Web site maintained by the Joanna Briggs Institute in Australia. The site's information is aimed at facilitating clinical decision making at the point-of-care. Resources include databases of best practices, systematic reviews, and a patient outcomes program. A subscription is required

November 5, 2007
UW Site Offers Evidence-Based Learning 
HealthLinks, a University of Washington (UW) Web site, offers a wealth of information for practitioners. Included are articles on reading and interpreting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, qualitative studies, and economic analyses. A format for developing focused clinical questions also is available.

October 9, 2007
Home Modifications Interventions
The Home Modification Information Clearinghouse Project is an online resource library with evidence-based reviews of modification interventions such as selecting diameters for grab rails. Managed by the Health Sciences and Architecture faculty at the University of Sydney, the site was designed to meet the needs of occupational therapy practitioners, designers, building contractors, and consumers.

September 24, 2007
Health Protection Research
Advancing the Nation's Health: A Guide to Public Health Research Needs, 2006-2015, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasizes the need for future evidence-based programming and research. It covers many areas of importance to occupational therapy, including promoting health to reduce chronic diseases and disability, creating safer and healthier places, and promoting interdisciplinary, cross-cutting health research.

August 27, 2007
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Provider Education Project is a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the CFIDS Association of America. The project includes two free online courses on CFS that are relevant to occupational therapy and provide evidence-based information on fundamentals and management.

June 4, 2007
NIH Offers E-Newsletter on Research-Based Health Information
NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter sharing health news and information on the latest National Institutes of Health research, is now available online. Sign up to be notified when new issues are posted. Check out past topics: "What Causes Addiction" (April 2007); "Caring for the Caregivers" (August 2006); and "Low-Calorie Diet May Slow Aging Process" (May 2006).

• Newsletter
• Sign up

May 7, 2007
CDC Site Expands Health Resource Offerings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has unveiled a new user-centered site to provide better access to health and safety topics; data and statistics; news and events; expanded resources; and an improved search engine. Download podcasts, and sign up for e-mail update service at the CDC Web site. Check out a virtual tour of the site.

March 12, 2007
Setting Up an Evidence-Based Health Program
Using What Works: Adapting Evidence-Based Programs to Fit Your Needs is a training tool for educators and health promoters sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. This course, available free on a CD-ROM, discusses how to choose an evidence-based health program, modify it to meet the specific needs of a population, and evaluate the success of the program.

December 4, 2007
Occupational Therapy Improves Quality of Life for Clients With Dementia and Caregivers
Occupational therapy significantly improves overall functioning and reduces the need for assistance in day-to-day tasks, according to a new study in the British Medical Journal. In addition, occupational therapy also reduces pressure on caregivers and helps them feel more competent. Read more here.

November 6, 2006
Disability in America
Funded by the CDC, NIDRR, and NIH, the Institute of Medicine study to update the 1991 report Disability in America and the 1997 Enabling America project has published "Workshop on Disability in America: A New Look—Summary and Background Papers." Topics include disability across the age spectrum and in the context of normal aging; and trends in the amount, types, and causes of disability.

September 25, 2006
Clinical Practice Guidelines Available Online
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) Web site is a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The site offers summaries (brief and full) of many OT-relevant practice guidelines, including the revised "Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders," published in 2004 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

August 28, 2006
Have You Had Your EVIDENCE BYTE?
EVIDENCE BYTE is a bimonthly feature of the 1-Minute Update designed to connect members with resources and information about the evidence-based practice of occupational therapy. Two new resources include the American Society of Interior Designers' "Aging in Place Resource Center," which links to the National Aging in Place Council and information about state and national policies and programs. Also, see the NIDRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research and Training Center of Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA) for the results of innovative research, downloadable reports, and articles.

August 14, 2006
Check Out These Evidence-Based Practice Resources
The National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) offers two online services that support EBP: (1) REHABDATA Connection, a monthly listserv that provides abstracts of newly published articles on topics of interest (e.g., home modification); and (2) reSearch, a monthly feature that presents abstracts of articles on topics posed by real world scenarios (i.e., evidence-based practice in life skills training).

• Visit REHABDATA Connection.
• Visit reSearch.