Danielle E. Parrish

Views of Evidence-Based Practice among Faculty in Master of Social Work Programs: A National Survey.

Objective: A national online survey assessed the views of 973 faculty members in master of social work programs regarding their receptivity toward, definition of, and views of disparate sources of evidence pertinent to evidence-based practice (EBP) and the teaching of EBP. Method: Due to Internet-related technical difficulties, the response rate could not be precisely determined; however, it was at least 33% and conceivably much higher. Results: Although the large majority (73%) of respondents expressed a favorable view toward EBP, disparities are identified among respondents in both the definition of EBP and views regarding the EBP research hierarchy. Conclusion: Efforts appear to be needed to increase agreement regarding the definition and conceptualization of EBP among educators, with special attention to divergent views regarding what constitutes sufficient evidence to guide practice decisions or to convey that an intervention is evidence-based.

CHALLENGES TO THE FUTURE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION

This article critically analyzes challenges that may influence whether evidence-based practice (EBP) enjoys more success than previous efforts to improve the integration of practice and research in social work education. Key challenges include: (1) alleviating disparities in how EBP is being defined by social work educators; (2) maximizing the feasibility of implementing the EBP process appropriately after graduation, while at the same time preparing students not to over-rely on authoritative publications that designate certain interventions as evidence-based; and (3) preventing evidentiary standards from getting softened to the point that EBP becomes a meaningless term, as any study, regardless of its methodological rigor, can be cited to justify deeming an intervention to be evidence based.

An Effective Model for Continuing Education Training in Evidence-Based Practice

This study utilized a replicated one-group pretest-posttest design with 3 month follow-up to evaluate the impact of a one-day continuing education training on the evidence-based practice (EBP) process with community practitioners (N = 69). Outcome measures assessed the level of workshop participants’ familiarity with the EBP process, their attitudes toward the EBP process, their perceived feasibility of the EBP process, their intentions to engage in the EBP process, their self-reported engagement in the EBP process, and their knowledge about the EBP process. The results supported the effectiveness of this EBP training model, as there was significant change and moderate to strong effect sizes for each of the dependent variables over time in the desired direction.

Problematic Phrases in the Conclusions of Published Outcome Studies: Implications for Evidence-Based Practice

Objective: This study examined the extent to which conclusions of published outcome studies contain phrases that could be misconstrued as implying more empirical support than is warranted. Methods: All articles (N = 138) reporting outcome studies from 2000 to 2005 in two social work research journals and two topical database searches were assessed regarding research design, findings, and wording of conclusions. Substantial interrater agreement was indicated by kappa values of .95 for research design, 1.00 for nature of findings, and .70 for wording of conclusions. Results: Of the articles, 70% used designs that do not warrant making conclusive causal inferences, and 60% of articles with those designs contained phrases that could be misconstrued or exploited as implying an inflated evidence-based status. Conclusion: To prevent evidence-based practice from becoming a meaningless shibboleth, authors, reviewers, and editors should become vigilant in avoiding wording that could be misconstrued as implying more empirical support than is warranted.

Development and Validation of the Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale: Preliminary Findings:

Objective: This report describes the development and preliminary findings regarding the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of a scale that has been developed to assess practitioners’ perceived familiarity with, attitudes about, and implementation of the phases of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process. Method: After a panel of national experts on EBP supported the scale’s content validity, social workers were surveyed by mail in Texas and Missouri to assess the scale’s internal consistency reliability and criterion validity. Additional data on the scale’s criterion validity and sensitivity were gathered in pretests and posttests of social workers participating in EBP continuing education workshops in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. Results: Preliminary findings support the scale’s internal consistency reliability, criterion validity, and sensitivity. Conclusion: In light of the current need and requests for this scale, dissemination of the preliminary findings is warranted while awaiting data collection at additional sites. These findings support the use of the scale to evaluate current efforts to educate students and practitioners in EBP.

Using virtual reality to investigate complex and contextual cue reactivity in nicotine dependent problem drinkers

Alcohol and cigarette smoking frequently co-occur among adults in the U.S., resulting in a myriad of deleterious health outcomes. Cue reactivity has been posited as one factor that precludes individuals from overcoming alcohol and nicotine dependency. While cue reactivity studies have focused on the impact of proximal cues on cue reactivity, much less is known about the unique impact of complex and contextual cues. This pilot study compares nicotine and alcohol cue reactivity among a sample of nicotine dependent, daily drinkers (N=21) across neutral, party, and office courtyard virtual reality (VR) contexts embedded with proximal smoking cues to: 1) explore and compare the effects of complex nicotine cues on alcohol cross-cue reactivity between nicotine/alcohol dependent drinkers and nicotine dependent/non-alcohol dependent daily drinkers, and 2) assess the effectiveness of VR for eliciting cue-induced nicotine craving responses using complex nicotine cues. Nicotine dependent/non-alcohol dependent drinkers had significantly lower craving for alcohol in the non-alcohol congruent office courtyard VR scene and there was no difference in the alcohol-congruent party scene when compared to the alcohol dependent group, suggesting that the non-alcohol dependent daily drinking group was more likely to react to contextual cues. Consistent with prior cue reactivity studies, dependent smokers experienced significantly higher craving for nicotine in the VR smoking congruent contexts compared to the neutral contexts; however, nicotine/alcohol dependent participants did not return to baseline craving after exposure to smoking cues. These results suggest substantive differences in the ways that nicotine-dependent, daily alcohol drinkers and nicotine/alcohol dependent drinkers experience craving, whether cross-cue or traditional.

Validation of the Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale–Short Version

Objective: This report describes the reliability and validity of the Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale (EBPPAS)— Short Version, validated with three disciplines (Social Work, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), and Psychologists), that assesses practitioners’ perceived familiarity with, attitudes about, and implementation of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process. Method: Social work practitioners, psychologists and LMFTs (N = 1001) were surveyed to assess the scale’s internal consistency reliability and criterion and factorial validity. Results: Findings support the scale’s internal consistency reliability, criterion and factorial validity. Conclusion: These findings support the use of the shorter version of the EBPPAS scale in surveys or to evaluate efforts to educate a wide range of behavioral health practitioners in EBP.

An adapted brief strategic family therapy for gang-affiliated Mexican American adolescents

Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness of an adapted Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) intervention for gang-affiliated Mexican American adolescents and their parents. Methods: A total of 200 adolescents and their family caregivers were randomized to either a treatment or a control condition. Outcomes included adolescent substance use, conflict resolution, gang identification, parent substance use knowledge, gang awareness, family cohesion, child conduct problems and stress. Participants were assessed at baseline, treatment exit at 16 weeks, and 6 months follow-up. General linear mixed-effects and generalized estimating equations models were used to evaluate between-group differences in outcomes. Results: There were significant differences between the BFST and control groups on adolescent alcohol use at 6 months and parents’ reported conduct problems. No impact on marijuana use was found. Conclusions: Results provide emerging evidence supporting the adapted BSFT for gang-affiliated Mexican American adolescents and their families for alcohol and behavioral outcomes. Future adaptations may be needed to reduce drug use.

Validation of the Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale:

Objective: This report describes the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of a scale that assesses practitioners’ perceived familiarity with, attitudes of, and implementation of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process. Method: Social work practitioners and second-year master of social works (MSW) students (N = 511) were surveyed in four sites to assess the scale’s internal consistency reliability and criterion and factorial validity. Additional data on the scale’s criterion validity and sensitivity were gathered in pretests and posttests of 97 social workers participating in EBP continuing education workshops. Results: Findings support the scale’s internal consistency reliability, criterion and factorial validity, and sensitivity. Conclusion: These findings support the use of the scale in surveys or to evaluate efforts to educate students and practitioners in EBP.

The Development and Validation of the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Practice Assessment Scale

Objective: This article describes the development and validation of the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Practice Assessment Scale (RSIPAS). The RSIPAS is designed to assess social work practitioners’ self-efficacy, attitudes, behaviors, and perceived feasibility concerning the assessment or integration of clients’ religious and spiritual beliefs in clinical practice. Methods: After establishing content validity of the RSIPAS with a group of nationally known experts in the area of religion/spirituality and behavioral health, a national sample of master’s social workers (N = 482) was randomly selected to assess the scale’s internal consistency, criterion validity, discriminant validity, and factorial validity. Results: Findings support the scale’s reliability (α = .95), criterion validity, discriminant validity, and factorial validity. Conclusions: The RSIPAS may be a useful instrument for elucidating current views and training needs among social work practitioners or to evaluate the outcomes of training or educational programs that provide content on religion and spirituality in the practice context.