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Embracing Pragmatic and Observational Studies to Enhance Therapy Practices

Embracing Pragmatic and Observational Studies to Enhance Therapy Practices
As a therapist working in an educational setting, I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to improve my practice and provide the best possible care for my students. One of the most valuable insights I've gained recently comes from a research article titled "The value of pragmatic and observational studies in health care and public health." This article highlights the importance of pragmatic and observational studies in complementing traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to enhance our understanding of real-world clinical practices.

The Limitations of Classical RCTs

Classical RCTs are often considered the gold standard in research. However, they have significant limitations, particularly in their generalizability to real-world settings. These trials typically focus on achieving optimal internal validity, often at the expense of external validity. This means that the results, while scientifically rigorous, may not always apply to the diverse and complex situations we encounter in everyday practice.

The Value of Pragmatic and Observational Studies

Pragmatic and observational studies offer a different perspective. They focus on real-world applicability and can provide invaluable insights into how interventions work in routine clinical practice. Here are some key benefits:

Implementing Findings in Your Practice

So, how can you, as a practitioner, leverage the insights from pragmatic and observational studies to improve your therapy practice? Here are a few steps to consider:
  1. Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest research in your field, including studies that use pragmatic and observational methods.
  2. Apply Findings: Integrate the findings from these studies into your practice. For example, if a pragmatic study shows that a particular intervention is effective in a diverse population, consider incorporating it into your treatment plans.
  3. Conduct Your Own Research: If possible, engage in your own pragmatic or observational research. This can provide valuable insights tailored to your specific practice setting.
  4. Collaborate: Work with other practitioners and researchers to share insights and develop best practices based on real-world evidence.

Encouraging Further Research

The field of therapy, especially in educational settings, can greatly benefit from more research that focuses on real-world applicability. Encourage your colleagues and peers to consider the value of pragmatic and observational studies and to incorporate these methods into their research efforts.To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The value of pragmatic and observational studies in health care and public health.

Citation: Barnish, M. S., & Turner, S. (2017). The value of pragmatic and observational studies in health care and public health. Pragmatic and Observational Research, 8, 49-55. https://doi.org/10.2147/POR.S137701
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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