How To Understand The Evidence Based Practice Process

Transcription

1 Comparing MSW Students and Social Workers' Orientation Toward the Evidence-based Practice Process Renske van der Zwet (MSc), MOVISIE & Tilburg University Dutch social workers have a relatively low acceptance of and engagement in the EBP process o Slightly familiar o Slightly positive attitudes o Low intentions to engage in EBP Process o Actual engagement in EBP Process is low (Van der Zwet, Beneken genaamd Kolmer, & Schalk, 2014) 1

2 Social work education in the Netherlands Before 2008: After 2008: Intermediate vocational education Intermediate vocational education Higher vocational education (bachelorlevel programs) No academic Social Work program Higher vocational education (bachelorlevel programs) A professional Master Social Work program - Focus on finding and applying scientific evidence - Research methods courses No academic Social Work program One important barrier to address if EBP is to be successful, is social workers attitude toward EBP Barriers to EBP implementation in the Netherlands: o Social workers lack of research skills o Social workers suspicious attitude towards EBP o Inadequate agency resources o Organizational culture (Van der Zwet, Beneken genaamd Kolmer, & Schalk, 2011) 2

3 Are MSW students more likely to accept the EBP process and to engage in it than social workers? Research questions: (1) How do MSW students compare with social work practitioners with regard to their orientation to the EBP process? (2) How often do MSW students and social workers engage in the EBP process? We used the original EBP Process Assessment Scale (EBPPAS) to assess orientations toward EBP Process EBP Process Assessment Scale (Rubin & Parrish, 2011) + a section with background variables o Views regarding the EBP process (not EBPs) o 45 items followed by a 5-point Likert scale o Includes five subscales: 1. Familiarity with the EBP process 2. Attitudes about the EBP process 3. Feasibility to engage in the EBP process 4. Intentions to engage in the EBP process 5. How often currently engaged in the EBP process + Overall orientation toward EBP process 3

4 Samples and data collection Sample of social workers (See:Van der Zwet et al., 2014) Convenience sample mainly via national sector association(mogroep) Sample of Master Social Work students (Van der Zwet et al., submitted) Convenience sample through the Universities of Applied Sciences with a MSW program 22 social work organizations participated AllfourUniversities of Applied Sciences with a MSW program participated Online survey, two follow-ups Both hard-copy in class + digital survey Response rate 179 MSW students were invited to participate in the study 54 MSW studentscompleted and returned the survey 32 MSW students were employed as social worker at that time (providing a response rate of 18%). 4

5 MSW students are more strongly oriented toward the EBP process than social workers Social Workers (N=341) MSW students (N=32) α M (SD) M (SD) t η² Orientation toward EBP (0.39) 3.59 (0.41) -9.35***.19 (43) Familiarity/Self-efficacy (0.69) 3.76 (0.58) -5.34***.07 (10) Attitudes (13) (0.34) 3.67 (0.43) -7.55***.13 Perceived feasibility (5) (0.50) 3.24 (0.63) -2.99**.02 Intentions (7) (0.67) 3.71 (0.50) -7.27***.13 Behaviors (8) (0.78) 3.36 (0.59) -9.30***.13 *p<.05. **<.01.*** p<.001. MSW students are more engaged in the EBP process than social workers Response 1. I use the Internet to search for the best research evidence to guide my practice decisions. 2. I read about research evidence to guide my practice decisions. 3. I read research-based practice guidelines to guide my practice decisions. 4. I rely on research evidence as the best guide for making practice decisions. Social workers (N=341) Master social work students (N=32) n % n % Χ 2 (df= 1) *** *** *** * 5. I inform clients of the degree of *** research evidence supporting alternative intervention options. 6. I involve clients in deciding whether *** they will receive an intervention supported by the research evidence. 7. I evaluate the outcomes of my practice *** decisions. 8. I engage in all steps of the EBP process *** 5

6 The MSW-program is likely to be a valuable strategy to advance the use of the EBP process in the Dutch social work profession Recommendations for social work education: o Components that explicitly emphasize the EBP process should be added to the MSW curriculum (See: Bender et al., 2014) o Educators should address feasibility issues Recommendations for social work practice: o Focus on MSW-level practitioners to improve EBP implementation o Social work organisations need to address feasibility issues Recommendations for future research: o Pre-post test design + long term effects once MSW students are graduated and engaged in social work practice in the field. Thank you! 6