Perceived barriers to research utilization: a survey of four therapies

TLDR

Little is known about therapists’ perceived barriers to implementing research findings into practice. The study surveys hospital‑ and community‑based therapists’ perceptions of barriers to research utilization and recommends allocating time for reading research and implementing changes. A survey of 103 therapists from dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech and language therapy was conducted. Therapists unanimously identified lack of time as the greatest barrier, with additional concerns about insufficient facilities and difficulty interpreting research.

Abstract

Little is currently known about what therapists perceive as barriers to implementing research findings into practice. This paper reports a survey of the perceptions of both hospital- and community-based therapists of the major barriers to research utilization. One hundred and three respondents from dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy were included in the study. They were unanimous in their reports that the greatest barrier was the lack of time, both for reading about research and implementing findings into practice. Other important factors included lack of facilities for implementation and difficulties in understanding and interpreting research findings. Recommendations are made for encouraging research utilization, in particular for ringfencing time for reading research reports and introducing changes into practice.