Occupational Therapy: Research

These databases contain topics like therapeutic modalities, health education, physical activities, biomedicine, and learning.

Steven Depolo CC BY 2.0

Evidence Based Practice (EBP) or Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) uses the best current research evidence to support clinical decisions in patient health care.

Image source: Georgetown University Medical Center

PICO

PICO is an acronym that can help focus your research question. PICO stands for:

Here is an example:

P: In high school football players who have received head injuries...

I: ...would weekly checks of the air within the helmet padding...

C: ...when compared to checking air pressure before the season and again mid-season...

O: ...lead to lower concussion rates. Is the evidence enough for the school district to require weekly checks of high school football player's helmets?

In this example, the focus is on high school football players with head injuries. This study could be narrowed even more by selecting a certain football position to study. This study compares weekly helmet checks to only two checks a season. Is there a decrease in concussions rates with weekly checks? If there is enough evidence, should the school district require athletic trainers and football staff to check the helmets weekly? If the school district does changes their helmet-checking requirements and schedules, this would be an evidence based practice.

Also, see Centre for Evidence Based Medicine's guide.

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Donna Beck  | Gumberg Library