DALLAS: Growing numbers of occupational therapists (OTs) are combining clinical practice with a research career as part of a national drive to build an evidence-based profession. Attracted to academia and passionate about people, dozens of therapists are researching the effectiveness, and cost effectiveness, of different interventions, ranging from stroke rehabilitation to community support for dementia patients.
The need for a strong knowledge base has led to the emergence of a new research climate for occupational therapy, which for too long has traditionally been associated with handrails and mobility aids. Helped by a tranche of new grants, OTs are increasingly investigating the effectiveness of different treatments through the study of master’s degrees and doctorates…