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Occupational Therapy

This is a guide of resources for Occupational Therapy graduate students.

What is Evidence-Based Practice?

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) or Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the intentional use of:

  • Research evidence found in health sciences literature
  • Clinical expertise and opinion
  • Patient preferences and values

Evidence-based practice requires the practitioner to assess research, clinical guidelines, and other information resources; integrate these with patient preferences and values; and create a plan for the best patient care. 

All medical evidence is not created equal! The highest levels of evidence are found at the top of the pyramid. Always use the best available evidence to help inform clinical practice.

Pyramid of types of evidence, ranked by quality

Source: UMass Global Library

More Resources on EBP

PICOT Search in CINAHL

You can now use the PICOT search in CINAHL to easily search your PICOT research questions!

To get to this search, all you need to do is open CINAHL Complete and select PICOT in the right corner above the search box.

Then, this screen will open where you can input the elements of your PICOT.

I hope that this new tool will help you in searching for articles in CINAHL!

PICO Resources