TY - JOUR
T1 - Preparing social work practitioners to use evidence-based practice
T2 - A comparison of experiences from an implementation project
AU - Manuel, Jennifer I.
AU - Mullen, Edward J.
AU - Fang, Lin
AU - Bellamy, Jennifer L.
AU - Bledsoe, Sarah E.
PY - 2009/9
Y1 - 2009/9
N2 - The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) as a professional model of practice for social work has been suggested as one approach to support informed clinical decision making. However, different barriers and processes have been identified that impact the use of EBP at individual, organizational, and systemic levels. This article describes results from a project that sought to enhance practitioner use of EBP by using a supportive strategy including training and technical assistance through a partnership between university-based researchers and three social work agencies. Results compare similarities and differences across each of the three agencies in terms of barriers and promoters at the team, organizational, and system levels. Results suggest that comprehensive multilevel interventions are needed to support the use of EBP in social work organizations and that further research is needed to test explicit partnership components. Findings suggest that a multilevel approach has the greatest potential to support implementation of EBP in social agencies.
AB - The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) as a professional model of practice for social work has been suggested as one approach to support informed clinical decision making. However, different barriers and processes have been identified that impact the use of EBP at individual, organizational, and systemic levels. This article describes results from a project that sought to enhance practitioner use of EBP by using a supportive strategy including training and technical assistance through a partnership between university-based researchers and three social work agencies. Results compare similarities and differences across each of the three agencies in terms of barriers and promoters at the team, organizational, and system levels. Results suggest that comprehensive multilevel interventions are needed to support the use of EBP in social work organizations and that further research is needed to test explicit partnership components. Findings suggest that a multilevel approach has the greatest potential to support implementation of EBP in social agencies.
KW - Evidence-based practice
KW - Implementation
KW - Professional training
KW - Social work
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449371977&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70449371977&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1049731509335547
DO - 10.1177/1049731509335547
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70449371977
VL - 19
SP - 613
EP - 627
JO - Research on Social Work Practice
JF - Research on Social Work Practice
SN - 1049-7315
IS - 5
ER -