Validation of the Evidence-Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) Scale With Occupational Therapists

Julie Helene Clyde; Dina Brooks; Jill I Cameron; Nancy M Salbach

doi:10.5014/ajot.2016.017061

Validation of the Evidence-Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) Scale With Occupational Therapists

Am J Occup Ther. 2016 Mar-Apr;70(2):7002280010p1-9. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2016.017061.

Authors

Julie Helene Clyde¹, Dina Brooks², Jill I Cameron³, Nancy M Salbach⁴

Affiliations

¹ Julie Helene Clyde, MSc, OT Reg. (Ont.), was Graduate Student, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, at the time of the study.
² Dina Brooks, PhD, PT, is Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
³ Jill I. Cameron, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
⁴ Nancy M. Salbach, PhD, PT, is Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; nancy.salbach@utoronto.ca.

PMID: 26943112
DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2016.017061

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the reliability, minimal detectable change (MDC), and construct validity of the Evidence-Based Practice Confidence (EPIC) scale among occupational therapists.

Method: In a cross-sectional mail survey, 126 occupational therapists completed the EPIC scale and a questionnaire to provide data for validity testing. Seventy-nine occupational therapists (63%) completed a second EPIC scale a median of 24 days later.

Results: Test-retest reliability was .92 (95% confidence interval [.88, .95]). The MDC values at the 90% and 95% confidence levels were 3.9 percentage points and 4.6 percentage points, respectively. The total EPIC score was significantly associated with holding a master's or doctoral degree; education in evidence-based practice (EBP); higher EBP knowledge and skill; and frequently searching, reading, and using research findings in clinical decision making (p < .05).

Conclusion: The EPIC scale has excellent reliability and acceptable construct validity for use in evaluating EBP self-efficacy among occupational therapists.