A SWOT analysis within health care can allow organisations, programs and individuals to determine both internal and external factors that influence a practice either positively or negatively, in terms of identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016). Strengths Strengths are internal factors that assist or contribute to achieving a particular goal or outcome successfully (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016).
Some strengths of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy include: There may be valuable library services available and access to literature within the organisation making it easy and convenient for researching (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -There may be people already employed within the organisation who are skilled in technology or searching databases. Students and new graduates skilled in this area, who can relay this information onto other staff (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -Staff are often interested to learn new skills and are excited for change (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -May be improvements to patient care if based on evidence (Bennett & Bennett, 2000)
Weaknesses Weaknesses are internal factors that may prevent a successful goal or outcome to occur successfully, these are things that should be avoided (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016). -Adherence to evidence-based practice may limit the occupational therapists who believe in using a client-centered, approach. -Lack of time is usually given to staff to allow for research (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -Occupational therapists often don’t have technical skills needed for research; they have not been trained in searching databases or appraising literature (Bennett & Bennett, 2000).
Research is time consuming and staff may not know where to start in their research, therefore wasting time that they could be spending with clients (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -The Organisation may not have access to a library or computers, or these may be located in a different building (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -May be a lack of research evidence in a particular area or lack of valid research. Research may display bias, have limitations, be conflicting or insufficient information be available.
Author’s intentions, their professions and experience may create bias or invalid evidence. Size of research field, sampling methods etc. might not be considered (Bennett & Bennett, 2000). -Income may be lost due to OTs spending more time researching and less time with the clients, where their income is generated (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002) -Staff may feel anxious and threatened with change into evidence-based practice. May be difficult to adapt to change and encourage staff to be excited for change (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). OTS may be used to practice for the change and depend on habit and may therefore return to previously used practices if they are not motivated (Bennett & Bennett, 2000)
-Current working practices and beliefs of OTs differ from the use of evidence-based practice (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -Some OTs believe research is separate to practice and that patient care is of higher importance and research is to be performed else where(Bennett & Bennett, 2000) Opportunities Opportunities are external factors that may contribute to achieving a successful outcome or goal (Minnesota Dept. f Health 2016). This includes political, socio cultural, technological, regulatory, social etc. Opportunities within evidence-based practice include: -Staff can use critical appraisal checklists to assist in determining the validity of the research they have found (Bennett & Bennett, 2000)
-The best available research can be used and clients can be informed of potential bias (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -When information is not available, expert clinical reasoning and be used to determine the best treatment (Bennett & Bennett, 000) -Work time can be negotiated and planned out to allow for research and time with clients (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -Staff can seek continuing education on researching (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -There are training and courses available to train staff in how to search databases and appraise literature (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -Funding towards evidence-based research may be increased, lessening the impact on lowered income due to not spending more time with paying clients (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002).
Threats Threats are external factors in the environment that may disrupt or prevent a goal or outcome to be achieved (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016). This includes political, socio cultural, technological, regulatory, social etc. Threats within evidencebased practice include: – Staff with differing views on evidence based practice can mean they will not working together effectively, be a threat to the organisation and the clients (Bennett & Bennett, 2000). Workloads of OTs will be increased, therefore increasing stress and possibly lowering job satisfaction, another threat to the occupational therapy field (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -If motivation, encouragement and rewards are not occurring through work place, staff may be less likely to carry out evidence based practice (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002).
-Clients are likely to be expecting a certain treatment or the use of particular interventions from their OT sessions, and with the introduction of evidence based practice, clients may be disappointed and may be lost (Bennett & Bennett, 2000). Many staff have spent years using particular interventions and have a lot invested in these especially after seeing success with these in their practice (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002) -OTs may find it hard to apply the research personally to the individual client, or to the client’s values and treatment preferences (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). – -Loss of respect to profession if evidence isn’t used in practice Evidence based practice in Occupational therapy Using Evidence based practice within Occupational Therapy is beneficial and should be mandatory within the field.
Information from varied and diverse sources can be critically evaluated and appraised to provide evidence relating to degrees of effectiveness of certain occupational therapy treatments (CAOT 2016). This allows occupational therapists to give clients and other professionals the services they want based on available evidence, improving patient care (CAOT 2016). Decisions in treatments can then be made through combining the evaluation with client needs and judgments by the occupational therapy (CAOT 2016). This practice also reduces the use of ineffective interventions.
Although critically evaluating research is time consuming and occupational therapists often lack knowledge and skills surrounding researching and appraising information (Bennett & Bennett, 2000), I believe this is an area within the field that can be taught to OTs, by integrating this is into university courses and allowing current occupational therapists to complete short courses, or to learn from others, such as new graduates. Staff can use critical appraisal checklists to assist them in determining the validity of the research they have found.
Although time consuming, teamwork between colleagues and effective time management/ rostering will be beneficial to assist with this. I believe using evidence to formulate decisions on practice would maximize the effectiveness of treatments to the clients. A SWOT analysis within health care can allow organisations, programs and individuals to determine both internal and external factors that influence a practice either positively or negatively, in terms of identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (Minnesota Dept. f Health 2016).
Strengths Strengths are internal factors that assist or contribute to achieving a particular goal or outcome successfully (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016). Some strengths of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy include: -There may be valuable library services available and access to literature within the organisation making it easy and convenient for researching (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -There may be people already employed within the organisation who are skilled in technology or searching databases.
Students and new graduates skilled in this area, who can relay this information onto other staff (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -Staff are often interested to learn new skills and are excited for change (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -May be improvements to patient care if based on evidence (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) Weaknesses Weaknesses are internal factors that may prevent a successful goal or outcome to occur successfully, these are things that should be avoided (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016).
-Adherence to evidence-based practice may limit the occupational therapists who believe in using a client-centered, approach. Lack of time is usually given to staff to allow for research (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -Occupational therapists often don’t have technical skills needed for research; they have not been trained in searching databases or appraising literature (Bennett & Bennett, 2000). -Research is time consuming and staff may not know where to start in their research, therefore wasting time that they could be spending with clients (Bennett & Bennett, 2000)
-The Organisation may not have access to a library or computers, or these may be located in a different building (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) May be a lack of research evidence in a particular area or lack of valid research. Research may display bias, have limitations, be conflicting or insufficient information be available. Author’s intentions, their professions and experience may create bias or invalid evidence. Size of research field, sampling methods etc. might not be considered (Bennett & Bennett, 2000). -Income may be lost due to OTs spending more time researching and less time with the clients, where their income is generated (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002) -Staff may feel anxious and threatened with change into evidence-based practice.
May be difficult to adapt to change and encourage staff to be excited for change (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -OTS may be used to practice for the change and depend on habit and may therefore return to previously used practices if they are not motivated (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -Current working practices and beliefs of OTs differ from the use of evidence-based practice (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -Some OTs believe research is separate to practice and that patient care is of higher importance and research is to be performed else where(Bennett & Bennett, 2000)
Opportunities Opportunities are external factors that may contribute to achieving a successful outcome or goal (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016). This includes political, socio cultural, technological, regulatory, social etc. Opportunities within evidence-based practice include -Staff can use critical appraisal checklists to assist in determining the validity of the research they have found (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -The best available research can be used and clients can be informed of potential bias (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) When information is not available, expert clinical reasoning and be used to determine the best treatment (Bennett & Bennett, 2000) -Work time can be negotiated and planned out to allow for research and time with clients (Bennett & Bennett, 2000)
-Staff can seek continuing education on researching (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -There are training and courses available to train staff in how to search databases and appraise literature (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -Funding towards evidence-based research may be increased, essening the impact on lowered income due to not spending more time with paying clients (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). Threats Threats are external factors in the environment that may disrupt or prevent a goal or outcome to be achieved (Minnesota Dept. of Health 2016). This includes political, socio cultural, technological, regulatory, social etc.
Threats within evidencebased practice include: – Staff with differing views on evidence based practice can mean they will not working together effectively, be a threat to the organisation and the clients (Bennett & Bennett, 2000). Workloads of OTs will be increased, therefore increasing stress and possibly lowering job satisfaction, another threat to the occupational therapy field (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -If motivation, encouragement and rewards are not occurring through work place, staff may be less likely to carry out evidence based practice (McCluskey & Cusick, 2002). -Clients are likely to be expecting a certain treatment or the use of particular interventions from their OT sessions, and with the introduction of evidence based practice, clients may be disappointed and may be lost (Bennett & Bennett, 2000).