Strategic Plan

Issue A

2005 Year-End Progress Report (4th Quarter)

Issue A: A limited basic, applied, and efficacy research base in communication sciences and disorders, related fields of study, and related functions for the discipline and professions is not sufficient to provide evidence-based clinical practice and quality clinical services.

NOTE: The work plan for the Focused Initiative on Evidence-Based Practice has been developed to achieve the Outcomes for this Issue in the Strategic Plan. Following are additional strategies that have been identified by individual units within the National Office that relate to this Issue. Some of the indicated strategies may overlap with those included in the Focused Initiative work plan.

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

Completed Strategies

Disseminate technical assistance information and practice policy documents based on current evidence (e.g. apraxia, autism, dementia, early intervention, memory disorders, severe disabilities, supervision and telepractice) to educate members about evidence-based practice.
Serve as content coordinator for sessions on evidence-based practice at the 2005, Schools Conference.
Publish articles highlighting the availability and use of treatment efficacy research and evidence-based practices in issues of The ASHA Leader.
Survey ASHA members about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) relative to evidence-based practice.
Establish a clearinghouse for member access to scientific evidence, information about ongoing research projects in the field of communication sciences and disorders.
Transition to using structured abstracts in all four journals, helping readers more easily assess the evidence level of the article.
Initiated a dialogue with the Publications Board as to how changes in format or content of the journals might best serve the readership re: evidence.
Incorporate explicit evidence-based practice references into conferences, Web workshops, telephone seminars, and self-study programs developed by ASHA Professional Development.
Collaborate with National Office staff responsible for implementing strategies to educate and disseminate information to ensure that CLD populations are addressed in evidence-based practice documents.
Disseminate audiology policy documents and technical assistance materials based on current evidence.
Have evidence-based practice as the ASHA Convention theme and encourage presentations that focus on EBP.
Work with the Special Interest Divisions to provide information about evidence-based practice through a variety of mechanisms.

To be Continued in 2006

Initiated a discussion with the Publications Board as to what supplemental materials might be appropriate to invite or commission to educate members on evidence-based practice.
Include all ASHA journal articles back to 1980 in the journals' online archive so members can search for evidence-based practice information.

Outcome 2: Increased funding for basic/applied/efficacy/evidence-based research.

Completed Strategies

Collaborate with internal (e.g., other national office units and Special Interest Divisions) and external groups (e.g., National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Education) to identify and address research gaps and needs for evidence resulting in national research agendas and federal funding initiatives.
Work with selected Special Interest Divisions to provide supplemental financial enhancements to the Foundation’s New Investigator Research Grants program that includes funding for projects collecting data and information on evidence-based practice.

Partially Completed Strategies

Pursue increased availability of research funding opportunities with emphasis on EHDI and early literacy programs, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Outcome 3: Increased applied/efficacy research and evidence-based clinical practice in all areas of communication sciences and disorders, including literacy, communication wellness, and prevention.

Completed Strategies

Establish a mechanism for the prioritization of clinical questions needing systematic evidence review and/or practice guidelines.
Add emphasis in the weighting for proposals that support the application of efficacy research or evidence-based clinical practice with multicultural populations.
Publish an ACCESS Audiology on "Evidence-based clinical practice.”
Develop a literature review resource list of evidence-based research sources in audiology and audiology related fields.
Work with selected Special Interest Divisions to provide support for research studies that promote evidence-based practice.

To be Continued in 2006

Disseminate an Association-wide standard, consistent with national and international standards, for the content of evidence-based practice guidelines.

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

Completed Strategies

Continue use of ACCESS Audiology as a vehicle for transmitting information and encouraging communication among national and international subscribers.
Continue active involvement as a member of the Cochrane Collaboration, Campbell Collaboration, and the UK Evidence Network.
Provide international professionals with information on how to obtain visas to attend the ASHA Annual Convention and make sure all of the convention information is provided to the State Department for easy access.

Partially Completed Strategies

Develop and maintain an in-depth, international, retrospective and prospective registry of clinical trials in communication disorders.
Work with the Special Interest Divisions to foster interaction and communication with researchers from other countries through their newsletters, email lists, and conferences.