Predictors of the Use of Evidence-Based Interventions Among National Association of Social Work (NASW) Members

Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice in Rural Social Work: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Identify Key Determinants

PURPOSE

This study explores the application and extent of utilization of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) among rural social workers, identifying key factors such as attitudes, social pressures, and perceived barriers that influence its use.

METHODS

Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, this research involved a comprehensive survey targeting rural social workers. The survey assessed their attitudes toward EBP, the social pressures, and the barriers in implementing EBP. Data from 91 participants were analyzed using multiple regression to determine how these factors impact EBP utilization.

RESULTS

The analysis indicated that while attitudes toward EBP did not significantly affect its use, perceived ease of use, social pressures, and practical barriers were significant predictors. Interestingly, the data showed that external factors like organizational support and resource availability played a larger role than personal attitudes in the adoption of EBP. The regression model successfully explained 39% of the variance in EBP usage among rural social workers.

DISCUSSION

The findings underscore the importance of external over internal factors in the adoption of EBP within rural settings. The study suggests that improving access to EBP resources and enhancing organizational support could facilitate more effective use of EBP among rural social workers.

CONCLUSION

Effective implementation of EBP in rural areas necessitates addressing both perceived and actual barriers. Developing strategies to enhance resource availability and organizational support is recommended to boost EBP adoption, ultimately aiming to improve service outcomes and client well-being.

Exploring the Evidence-Based Practice Process with Social Work Practitioners

PURPOSE

This study investigates social work practitioners' feasibility, attitudes, and familiarity with the Evidence Based Practice (EBP) process in their work and their ability to access and integrate research into their practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Social work practitioners (N = 256) were recruited through Reddit and Facebook and completed an online survey. Participants completed demographic questions (e.g. time in practice, degree type, practice role), research-seeking behaviors, and completed three subscales of the Rubin & Parish Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale.

RESULTS

The three EBP process subscales assessed participants' familiarity, attitudes, and perceived feasibility of the EBP process. The familiarity subscale could range from zero to 40, and the mean in this sample was 26.75 (SD = 5.55). The attitudes subscale could range from 0 to 56, and the mean in this sample was 37.03 (SD = 5.49). Finally, the feasibility subscale could range from zero to 20, and the mean in this sample was 12.18 (SD = 2.81). A linear regression was run to predict familiarity, feasibility, and attitudes toward the EBP process. Those who reported seeking out research more often found the process more familiar and feasible. Those who were in practice longer found the EBP process less familiar and had more negative attitudes.

DISCUSSION

Strategies to address research familiarity, feasibility, and attitudes toward the EBP process include continuing experiential learning in education, accessing research in social media, and the use of continuing education.

CONCLUSION

Continuing to address the research-practice gaps is an essential step toward delivering EBP to clients.

The relevance of transformational leadership for promoting professional social work competence with EBPA

Health care social workers' attitudes towards evidence-based practice (EBP) are an indispensable precursor of implementing EBP. Using a subset including 405 health care social workers from the first nationally representative survey of social workers in China, this study empirically assesses how transformational leadership (TFL) promotes health care social workers' attitudes towards EBP. The results show that organisational learning capacity (OLC) and professional competence (PC) fully mediate the positive relationship between TFL and EBP attitudes. Furthermore, TFL, OLC and PC explain 56% of the variance in health care social workers' attitudes towards EBP. This result supports the perspective that both organisational factors and individual factors may facilitate social workers' positive attitudes towards EBP, but organisational factors are more important. Therefore, to adopt, use and sustain EBP in health care social work, learning and innovation in the organisation should be increased. Furthermore, it is important to help social workers improve their PC.

Provider Attitudes, Organizational Readiness for Change, and Uptake of Research Supported Treatment

PURPOSE

As implementation and evaluation of research supported treatment (RST) expands across diverse mental health settings, it is essential to understand the facilitators and inhibitors of uptake. The current study examined the relationships between organizational readiness for change, attitudes toward RST, and use of RST among a sample primarily of social workers.

METHODS

Participants included 158 providers from public child mental health outpatient clinics in the New York metropolitan area. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Use of RST was greater among providers who were younger and had fewer years of professional experience. Both organizational need for change and climate directly and indirectly related to use of RST through attitudes toward RST (partial mediator).

DISCUSSION

The organizational context is an important factor that relates to attitudes toward and use of RST in practice. Future research is needed to continue examining factors of RST uptake and sustainability.

Evidence-Based Practice: Attitude and Knowledge of Social Workers across Geographic Regions

The objective of the author in this article was to examine possible differences in knowledge and attitudes toward evidence-based practice (EBP) among social workers across geographic regions. A random national sample of 180 NASW members was obtained from mail and Internet groups. MANOVA analysis was performed to determine possible differences in knowledge and attitudes toward EBP among these social workers. Findings suggest that knowledge and attitude toward EBP did not differ among these practitioners. Despite increasing efficacy and widespread knowledge of EBPs, there is little or no empirical evidence to support any differences in attitudes and knowledge of EBP among social workers across geographic regions.