What does evidence-based practice require in pediatric occupational therapy?

• A. Relying solely on clinical intuition
• B. Integrating current best research evidence with clinical expertise and family preferences to guide care
• C. Following tradition without evidence
• D. Using only one data source

Answer: (B)

Evidence-based practice in pediatric occupational therapy means blending the best available research evidence with the clinician’s own expertise and the family’s values and preferences to guide care. This approach ensures interventions are supported by current findings, while still being tailored to the child’s unique needs and the family’s goals. It moves beyond relying on intuition, tradition, or a single data source by actively combining what is known from research, what the therapist has learned through experience, and what the family cares about for daily life and development. In practice, that involves asking focused questions, seeking high-quality evidence, appraising its relevance, and partnering with the family to choose and try strategies, then monitoring outcomes and adjusting as needed.