Linda Niemeyer, PhD, OT

Undergraduate Prerequisites: PP-OTD Online students - Graduate Prerequisites: PP-OTD Online students - This graduate-level course for occupational therapy practitioners aims to develop the essential skill set for competence in evidence-based practice. In HP 561, we will apply the basic steps of the EBP process. Starting with a practice situation or problem, we will develop a clear, focused, answerable clinical question, conduct an effective systematic search for published literature that provides research evidence, critically appraise the evidence, and draw an unbiased conclusion as to how the evidence answers the clinical question. The practicum that follows, entitled OT618: Directed Study in Evidence-Based Practice, builds upon the knowledge and capabilities gained in this first course. The course format will include weekly self-paced lessons, live online classrooms, written discussions, and assignments. (Credits: Var)

Graduate Prerequisites: OTD degree students only. - This on-line graduate course builds on the knowledge and skills that were introduced in HP561: Evidence Based Practice 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. (Credits: 3)

Graduate Prerequisites: OTD degree students only. - This on-line graduate course gives students the opportunity to apply the skills developed in the first two evidence-based practice courses Evidence Based Practice (EBP) and Directed Study in Evidence Based Practice: to investigate an intervention question related to their own practice. Students will conduct an in-depth search for evidence, analysis of best evidence, and the outline of a synthesis that proposes the current, "best answer" to the clinical question posed. Students will work as partners to provide assistance, guidance, and feedback to each other during this structured process. (Credits: Var)

Graduate Prerequisites: OTD degree students only. - This on-line graduate course completes the work begun in Scholarly Project I. The specific emphasis of work in this course is on preparing evidence summaries in different formats that are suitable for client/consumer, management, and peer audiences. (Credits: Var)

Graduate Prerequisites: OTD degree students only. - This on-line graduate case-based course examines current models of and perspectives on disability and their influence on social policy. The history of disability policy is examined as well as the ways in which social, medical, and universal models are manifest in current health and social service delivery systems in the US and other developed countries. The course also examines cultural assumptions about the nature of health, disability, and quality of life and the implications of cultural differences for practice models and methods. (Credits: 3)

Graduate Prerequisites: OTD degree students only. - This on-line graduate course examines quantitative and qualitative methods developed for systematic program evaluation, providing the foundation knowledge and skills needed to complete an evaluation plan for the Doctoral Project. Examples of program evaluations from the clinical literature are examined and their applicability to programs in the student's area of clinical practice evaluated. (Credits: 3)

Graduate Prerequisites: OTD degree students only. - This on-line graduate course builds on methods introduced during the foundation courses on evidence-based practice to develop skill in the application of quantitative methods of outcome evaluation for individual clients. These methods include client surveys, performance assessments, continuous performance monitoring, and single-subject designs. The course prepares the student to identify and/or create appropriate methods to evaluate individual results for the evaluation plan for his or her Doctoral Project. (Credits: 3)

Graduate Prerequisites: OTD degree students only. This is an on-line graduate course in the post-professional OTD program. Concurrent with each full semester (fall, spring, summer) in the OTD program, students register for one credit of the Doctoral Project. In the fourth semester of the program, students register for 3 credits of the Doctoral Project course. The Doctoral Project is organized around the student's proposed innovation in practice. It is in the form of a series of qualifying tasks, each of which represents a critical phase of the proposal. Guidance in the doctoral project will be through a combination of three elements: Faculty advising and mentorship, peer mentorship and a circle of Advisors composed of a minimum of two professionals with content expertise in the doctoral project. The project outcomes include: description of a short-coming, gap or specific need in the student's area of practice; compilation of a theoretical and evidence base to support the proposed project; description of the proposed program; evaluation plan; funding plan; dissemination plan; executive summary and Fact Sheet. (1 credit each full semester until completed, 3 credits in the final semester - a minimum of 6 credits) (Credits: Var)