American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

In This Section:

2006 Focused Initiative

Evidence-Based Practice

Date: January 1, 2006

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

  • 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.
  • 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.

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

Strategies

  • 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.
  • 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).

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • By December 31, 2006, staff in the National Center for Evidence-Based Practice (N-CEP) will have completed three additional EBSRs.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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

Strategies

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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