Interprofessional Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-based practice is important to consider when researching for interventions, further knowledge, or help to guide a new idea in the health professions. Evidence-based practice is comprised of three significant concepts: respect and awareness for the targeted population’s values, previous clinical practice or experience with that population, and systematic research to establish a better understanding of what is already known about the study’s focus. These concepts are all taken into consideration when designing and conducting a study because it provides a more valid and credible source for others.
When we seek out interprofessional evidence-based practices, we find successful studies that take into consideration the three concepts

but also have more than one discipline involved. A study created to test a specific intervention for children with stutters aged 5-10 conducted by only speech language pathologists may seem credible and very informative. Speech language pathologists have an immense amount of knowledge and skills to provide individuals with interventions or forms of therapy to treat their stutter. However, what if this study involved not just one discipline area but other disciplines as well like occupational therapy, for example. Instead of professionals from the same educational backgrounds, it seems the collaboration and insight from numerous backgrounds of higher education would be more beneficial to the study’s formation and outcome.
In comparison to discipline specific evidence-based practice, interprofessional evidence-based practice has a few advantages. One, is there is simply more brain power. Using the scenario above, the speech language pathologist may plan the intervention for a child with a stutter, but need they could use the expertise of an occupational therapist to seek creative processes for success or alternatives for communication. The more heads combined can integrate not only different backgrounds of education but research and clinical experience as well, making the study more concrete. Second, working within a group of different educational backgrounds gives many opportunities to become a more competent health care professional. Skills such as communication, role changing, cooperation, and confidence. Most importantly, this multidisciplinary technique can increase productivity and efficiency. Lastly, the mixture of diverse perspectives may influence your own based on what you learn throughout the process. The integration of all disciplines and their specialized knowledge can increase the competency of each discipline, itself.
A study published in the Nursing and Health Sciences Journal using both quantitative and qualitative measures evaluated the effectiveness of a music-with-movement intervention for people with dementia and their families.

The participants were recruited based on the qualifications of being older than 65 years, scoring 0.5-1 on the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, and a primary caregiver willing to volunteer in the study (Cheung, Ho, Lai, Lai, & Wong, 2015). Staff for the study, consisting of social workers and occupational therapists, were recruited by posters (Cheung et al., 2015). The staff took a training course and all came up with a protocol for the music-with-movement intervention, with the aims to promote the wellbeing of people with dementia, and also their primary caregiver. A music therapist constructed various songs for specific activities for the people with dementia to engage in with their

caregiver.
Interestingly, this study involved more than one discipline. Not only was a music therapist, but also occupational therapists, nurses, and social workers. The music therapist was included to produce his songs and attempt to do this to treat a person with dementia. The occupational therapists were included to share their insight about the occupations at hand and how the participants would adjust or need modifications within the intervention. Social workers give guidance and counseling services and pay attention to the relationship and enjoyment of each participant and their caregiver. Nurses were assumedly included in the study for medical purposes and emergencies. Without such an integrated team, much less knowledge and feedback would be given regarding the study and the participants volunteering.
Thankfully, many areas for improvement were suggested to the music therapist from each discipline of expertise. The justifiable complaints about the intervention were that it was too structured, the participants lacked a choice in the songs, and it did not cater to individual needs of each participant (Cheung et al., 2015). Corrections were acknowledged and made to the protocol to ensure the staff were motivated and enjoying the intervention so they could better motivate the families to implement music-with-movement. One major limitation to this study, noticed by a social worker, was the practicality of this intervention for a participant that possibly had a stroke, for example, restricting movement in the whole left side of his body (Cheung et al., 2015). As you can notice more now, this is why multiple backgrounds of higher education are integrated to ensure more safety and potentially better success.
In my future area of expertise, occupational therapy, I will use studies like this one to learn from.

This study, for instance, could enhance my knowledge on client-centered practice, considering the intervention did not fit as a meaningful occupation for all participants engaging in it. The understanding needed for the disability’s capabilities would be crucial for me to bring about if I was ever a part of a study like this. Also, I can humbly recognize other areas of expertise, like doctors, art therapists, and nursing home staff that could be involved in this study or greatly benefit from the idea of it. However most of all, getting the privilege to work with a multidisciplinary team for a study like this would allow me to learn more about myself as a health professional, educator, and a cooperative, intelligent

teammate.