When Research Saves Lives: What the “Back to Sleep” Story Teaches Us About the Power of Dissemination — and Why OTs Are Built for It
In 1989, pediatrician Dr. Peter Fleming stood before the International Society for the Prevention and Investigation of Perinatal and Infant Deaths to share a startling finding: babies who slept on their stomachs were dying at dramatically higher rates from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than babies placed on their backs.
The research was rigorous, the data clear, yet thousands more infants would die before the findings reached the public in a meaningful way. Two years later, journalist, Anne Diamond’s son died suddenly and she used her journalistic skills to learn why and her fame to yell it from the rooftops. Her connection to Peter Fleming saved potentially millions of lives!
Only because she marched to parliament in 1991, the United Kingdom launched the “Back to Sleep” campaign. Within a single year, SIDS deaths dropped by more than half. When the United States followed in 1994, we saw the same life-saving trend.
The science didn’t change — the communication did.
Research is Only Powerful When It Reaches People
The Back to Sleep campaign is one of the most powerful examples in modern public-health history of how research, when properly disseminated, can change behavior and save lives.
For occupational therapists, this story carries a deeper message: we are uniquely equipped to bridge the gap between data and daily life.
We don’t just read the research; we translate it into actions families can understand and sustain. That skill — turning evidence into everyday participation — is at the heart of our profession.
Why Occupational Therapists Are Natural Researchers and Disseminators
1. Translators of Science into Real Life
OTs are expert at knowledge translation — the process of turning evidence into meaningful routines. Whether it’s sleep, feeding, play, or regulation, we help families apply science in ways that fit their lives.
2. Trained Observers and Pattern Recognizers
Our clinical reasoning is research in motion. Every session is an experiment in what works for this child, in this environment, with these supports.
3. Trusted Messengers
Families and educators trust OTs. When we share evidence-based guidance, whether it’s a safe sleep routine or a co-regulation strategy, it carries weight because it’s personal, compassionate, and practical.
4. Interdisciplinary Collaborators
The Back to Sleep campaign succeeded because pediatricians, public-health experts, and media professionals worked together. OTs thrive in this kind of collaborative ecosystem connecting health, education, and community.
5. Advocates for Equity
SIDS and SUIDs remain higher in low-income households and marginalized communities. Dissemination is not just education; it’s equity in action, ensuring all families have access to life-saving information.
Connecting to OT Vision 2030
This story beautifully aligns with AOTA’s Vision 2030:
“Occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living.”
Like Peter Fleming’s work, our research and practice are:
Science-driven and evidence-based: We ground our interventions in data.
Equitable and inclusive: We reach every family, not just the resourced ones.
Collaborative and interprofessional: We partner across disciplines.
Accessible and empowering: We translate evidence into simple, doable habits.
Leadership-oriented: We drive population-level change through prevention and participation.
From Research to Reach: The OT Superpower
Peter Fleming’s findings saved lives — but only after they were shared, simplified, and applied in homes around the world. Occupational therapists do that every single day. We are the bridge between science and the human experience between data and daily life. When OTs engage in research, interpret data, and disseminate evidence to the public, we’re not just advancing our profession we’re shaping a healthier, more equitable world.
Please visit me at POTA on Sunday October 26th for my presentation on this topic!
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Evidence base for 2022 updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths. Pediatrics, 150(1), e2022057991. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-057991
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Vision 2030. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, March 14). Sudden unexpected infant death and sudden infant death syndrome data and statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/sids/data.htm
Fleming, P. J., & Blair, P. S. (2016, August 26). Back to sleep: How parents were told to lay their babies down—and why. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/26/back-to-sleep-sudden-infant-death-syndrome-cot-death-peter-fleming
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (1994). Back to Sleep campaign launched to reduce risk of SIDS. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.