2006 Focused Initiatives

Focused Initiative: Evidence-Based Practice

Fourth Quarter Progress Report (October - December)

Facilitating Team Member Responsible For Work Plan: Brenda Lonsbury-Martin, Chief Staff Officer for Science and Research

Issue: A robust and actively used high-quality basic, applied, and efficacy research base in communication sciences and disorders, related fields of study, and related functions for the discipline and professions is essential to provide evidence-based clinical practice and quality clinical services and is important for the future of the professions.

Outcome 1: Increased knowledge of the availability and use of treatment efficacy and other research and the principles of evidence-based practices to provide clinical services in communication sciences and disorders in the United States.

Strategies

1. By June 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have presented one or more sessions on evidence-based practice (EBP) at five state association meetings. [Completed]
2. By December 31, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have held two face-to-face meetings of the Advisory Committee on Evidence-Based Practice. [Completed]

Outcome 2: Increased funding for high-quality research to support evidence-based practices.

Strategies

1. By October 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) in collaboration with the CSDRG, will have convened a grant-writing meeting to develop applications for funding of research in clinical areas identified as ASHA priorities. [Carry Over to 2007]
2. By December 31, 2006, the Governmental Relations and Public Policy staff will have developed a plan to secure funding for high-priority research needs in the area of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). [Eliminated]*

Outcome 3: Increased amount and application of high-quality research and evidence-based clinical practice in all areas of communication sciences and disorders across the scope of practices in audiology and speech-language pathology, including literacy, communication wellness, and prevention.

Strategies

1. By May 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have launched a Web forum for connecting researchers and clinicians interested in collaborative research projects. [Completed]
2. By May 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) in collaboration with the Professional Practices Clusters [Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), Audiology (AUD), and Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA] willl have implemented revised standards for inclusion of evidence in ASHA policy documents. [Completed]
3. By July 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have established on the ASHA Web-site a searchable registry of systematic reviews related to CSD. [Completed]
4. By July 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have completed two evidence-based systematic reviews (EBSRs) piloting the methodology developed by N-CEP. [Partially Completed]
5. By December 31, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have completed three additional EBSRs. [Partially Completed]
6. By December 31, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have established on the ASHA Web site a searchable registry of randomized controlled trials related to CSD. [Eliminated]**
7. By December 31, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) in collaboration with the Audiology Services Cluster will have created and hosted a bibliography on the ASHA Web site to correspond to the major clinical issue presented in each issue of Access Audiology. [Eliminated]

Outcome 4: Increased interaction and communication with EBP researchers in communication sciences and disorders from other countries.

Strategies

1. By July 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have assessed the feasibility of joint support of the ASHA systematic reviews registry and the registries described under Outcome 3 with ASHA's Quadrilateral Agreement partners in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. [Completed]
2. By September 1, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have participated in the colloquia of the Campbell and Cochrane Collaborations. [Completed]
3. By December 31, 2006, staff in the Publications Unit will have solicited four scholarly manuscripts on EBP from CSD researchers from outide of the U.S. for publication in ASHA scholarly journals. [Eliminated]***

There are 14 strategies in the Evidence-Based Practices work plan. Following is the status for the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th quarters.

* A decision was made to put the Association's efforts into influencing the work plans of the new NIDCD Translational Research Branch rather than a general GRPP effort.  This strategy has been added to the planning category of the Association's 2007 public policy agenda.

** Development of a registry was not possible in 2006

*** No recommendations were forthcoming from the advisory group on EBP.