Wendy J. Coster, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Courses
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► Entry-Level MSOT courses

► Post-Professional MS and OTD courses

► Doctoral ScD courses

Entry-Level MSOT courses:

Click here to visit our on-campus, entry-level MSOT and BS/MSOT websites.

SAR-OT620-A1 Evidence-Based Practice II
This second course in the evidence-based practice sequence focuses on critical analysis of research on intervention effectiveness. Students examine issues of internal, external, and statistical validity as they relate to the appropriate use of evidence for clinical decision-making.

Post-Professional MS and OTD courses:

Click here to visit our online post-professional MS and clinical OTD (distance education) website.

SAR-HP561-OT Evidence-Based Practice I
This course introduces the basic principles and methods of Evidence-based Practice (EBP) and how to apply these methods to examine clinical questions that relate to defining clinical problems and identifying appropriate intervention options. It is the first course in a sequence that includes three subsequent courses: OT618 (Directed Study in Evidence-based Practice) and OT900 and 901 (Scholarly Project I and II). Topics covered in the course include; how to develop effective questions related to particular clinical decisions; conducting efficient and effective searches of Internet, library, and other resources to find evidence to answer these questions; reading, critiquing, and applying descriptive, relational, and qualitative evidence; and communicating the results of a research appraisal using the clinically appraised topic (CAT) format.

SAR-OT617-OL Contemporary Trends
This course examines three important current topics of discussion in the profession. The first theme is client-centered practice: What is contemporary thinking about this principle and how does my practice reflect this principle? The second theme is occupation-centered practice: What does it mean to have occupation as the core focus of practice and what are current challenges to keeping this focus? The third theme is looking outward: How do the concerns of occupational therapy relate to work emerging in other fields and where might we find knowledge to enhance our practice, or collaborators who share similar concerns and values? The course assignments are designed to facilitate critical reflection on the student's own practice in relation to these developments.

SAR-OT618-OL Evidence-Based Practice II
This course builds on the knowledge and skills that were introduced in HP561 OT and provides further practice in appraisal and application of research evidence. The course revisits some of the measurement issues introduced previously in more depth and examines other research approaches that provide evidence for practice, including single subject research and prediction designs. Additional topics include; how to use research evidence to evaluate and refine the models that guide clinical decision-making, and how to apply the methods and measures of research to gather outcomes evidence in one's own practice. The major assignments of the course are completed through participation in a virtual journal club with students collaborating in small groups to examine evidence on a question of mutual interest.

SAR-OT915-OL Evaluating Clinical Theory and Research
This course examines the nature and structure of clinical theories in occupational therapy and rehabilitation and scientific approaches for testing theory with an emphasis on theories of mechanisms of change.

SAR-OT916-OL Practicum in Theory Analysis
This course builds on and refines the skills developed in OT 915: Evaluating Clinical Theory and Research. The student is guided through systematic analysis of the status of theory in his or her area of practice. The practicum format of the course will assist students to construct a sound theoretical and evidential base for the innovation in practice that they are proposing for their Doctoral Project.

SAR-OT930-OL Doctoral Project:

The purpose of the doctoral project is to actualize the program's mission by engaging the student in the preparation of a detailed plan for clinical practice improvement. The process begins at application with the student identifying a short-coming, gap, or specific need in his or her area of practice that the project will address. Subsequent tasks provide the rationale, design, and methods for the proposed response to this need. The project outcomes include:

1. Description of a short-coming, gap or specific need in the student's area of practice and the impact of this short-coming for the relevant client population.

2. Implementation of a thorough literature review of existing methods and programs to address the identified gap. The literature review forms the justification for and foundation of the development of a new program or approach.

3. Description of the proposed program, including the population for whom it is appropriate and criteria for identifying appropriate clients. The program must be congruent with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and Scope of Practice.

4. Analysis of relevant policy and systems factors (e.g., payment methods; regulations) that must be considered in the design of the proposed innovation. The student must identify the specific factors that are relevant and describe how these will be addressed or adhered to in the program.

5. Theoretical basis of the proposed program. The student will articulate the theoretical basis of the proposed program along with evidence to support its relevance and scientific soundness.

6. Evaluation Plan for the program. The proposal must include methods to evaluate outcomes at the individual and group level. These methods must be suited to regular implementation in the practice environment. In addition, the proposal must describe how the outcomes data gathered would be analyzed to guide future program revision and decision-making.

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Doctoral ScD courses:

Click here to visit our on-campus research doctorate (ScD in Rehab Sciences) website.

SAR-HP870-A1 Theory and Research
Seminar on the nature, sources, and uses of theory in practice professions; critical examination of research-generated knowledge relevant to health and rehabilitation sciences.

Dept of Occupational Therapy Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 (617-353-2000) Boston University | Sargent College | OT Programs | PT/AT Programs | InfoCenter

June 9, 2009