Practice Development: Bridging the Research-Practice Divide Through the Appointment of a Research Lead (Practice Evaluation‪)‬

Research suggests that while most clinicians endorse the importance of evidence-based practice, without the right culture of support and encouragement it can be difficult to achieve such practice. This paper presents an outline of one method to enhance evidence-based practice. It reports on the evaluation of a new type of occupational therapy post, a research lead based in clinical practice, and suggests that the post has the potential to bridge the research-practice divide. Based on feedback from clinicians, research outputs and the impact on practice, the results offer an insight into the role of the research lead in contributing to and enhancing the use of evidence-based practice. It is hoped that these findings may be beneficial to other areas that are considering the strategies and support required to enhance and invest in evidence-based practice. Key words: Practice development, evidence-based practice, research, audit, clinical effectiveness.