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Getting evidence into practice: implementing a behavioural joint protection education programme for people with rheumatoid arthritis
- Authors:
- HAMMOND Alison, KLOMPENHOUWER Petra
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(1), January 2005, pp.25-33.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Researchers must disseminate findings, but this alone is often insufficient to change practice. To improve research implementation by rheumatology occupational therapists a 2-day training course for changing joint protection practice was developed aiming to improve understanding of joint protection, patient education and health behaviour research; develop skills in delivering a group joint protection programme; and reduce potential barriers to changing practice. To evaluate effectiveness a postal survey was conducted. Of 48 respondents, 45 subsequently changed individual patient education practice; 13 implemented the group programme; 25 contemplated doing so and 10 did not (precontemplators). Implementers and contemplators rated the joint protection programme significantly more effective and relevant in practice than the precontemplators. Barriers to change were limited staffing, access to facilities, time to make practice changes, funding for programme costs and clinical time to deliver the programme. Implementers considered that supportive managers and teams helped overcome these. Changing practice needs clinicians, researchers and managers to work together. This research implementation strategy helped most participating clinicians make practice changes that were readily within their control (individual patient education). Group education requires greater organisational change and manager support is important to facilitate this.