What supports and impedes evidence-based practice implementation? A survey of Australian social workers

Journal article


Gray, Mel, Joy, Elyssa, Plath, Debbie and Webb, Stephen A.. (2015). What supports and impedes evidence-based practice implementation? A survey of Australian social workers. The British Journal of Social Work. 45(2), pp. 667 - 684. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bct123
AuthorsGray, Mel, Joy, Elyssa, Plath, Debbie and Webb, Stephen A.
Abstract

This paper reports on findings from a national survey (n = 364) of social workers' views on what impedes and supports evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation. In contrast to some prior research, support for EBP was found to be strong among the social workers surveyed. Open-ended responses, however, reflected some reservations about the formalisation, relevance, usability and applicability of EBP in social work. A range of barriers to EBP implementation for social workers were identified at individual and organisational levels, which is largely supportive of findings from prior research. An interesting distinction was discerned between those respondents who preferred to engage in the whole EBP process themselves (locating, appraising and applying research) and those who preferred to adopt practice guidelines based on appraisal of research evidence by other experts. This finding has implications for the way organisations and the social work profession approach the implementation of EBP.

Keywordsevidence-based practice; implementation; social work; barriers; facilitators
Year2015
JournalThe British Journal of Social Work
Journal citation45 (2), pp. 667 - 684
PublisherOxford University Press
ISSN0045-3102
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bct123
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84925632381
Page range667 - 684
Research GroupSchool of Allied Health
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Grant IDARC/DP0985174
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8v061/what-supports-and-impedes-evidence-based-practice-implementation-a-survey-of-australian-social-workers

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 73
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

The slow interview? Developing key principles and practices
Young, Charlotte, Zubrzycki, Joanna and Plath, Debbie. (2020). The slow interview? Developing key principles and practices. Qualitative Research. 21(4), pp. 481-497. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794120935300
Clarifying the role of belief-motive explanations in multi-stakeholder realist evaluation
Evans, Susan, Dadich, Ann, Stout, Brian and Plath, Debbie. (2020). Clarifying the role of belief-motive explanations in multi-stakeholder realist evaluation. Evaluation and Program Planning. 80, pp. 1 - 6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2020.101800
School-based program for young children with disruptive behaviours: Two-year follow-up
Plath, Debbie. (2018). School-based program for young children with disruptive behaviours: Two-year follow-up. Children Australia. 43(1), pp. 67 - 76. https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2018.2
Engaging human services with evidence-informed practice
Plath, Debbie. In J. Gutin (Ed.). (2017). Engaging human services with evidence-informed practice National Association of Social Workers.
Evidence discovery and assessment in social work practice
Plath, Debbie. (2016). Evidence discovery and assessment in social work practice. Australian Social Work. 69(3), pp. 382 - 383. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2015.1134295
Clinicians’ views on parental involvement in the treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa
Plath, Debbie, Williams, Lauren T. and Wood, Cath. (2016). Clinicians’ views on parental involvement in the treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa. Eating Disorders. 24(5), pp. 393 - 411. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2016.1189796
Outcomes of a school-based program for young children with disruptive behaviors
Plath, Debbie, Croce, Nic, Crofts, Penny and Stuart, Graeme. (2016). Outcomes of a school-based program for young children with disruptive behaviors. Children and Schools. 38(1), pp. 9 - 19. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/cdv036
Engaging families in early intervention for child conduct concerns
Plath, Debbie, Crofts, Penny and Stuart, Graeme. (2015). Engaging families in early intervention for child conduct concerns. Children Australia. 41(1), pp. 49 - 58. https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2015.5
Implementing evidence-based practice: An organisational perspective
Plath, Debbie. (2014). Implementing evidence-based practice: An organisational perspective. The British Journal of Social Work. 44(4), pp. 905 - 923. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcs169
A national disability insurance scheme: What social work has to offer
Fawcett, Barbara and Plath, Debbie. (2014). A national disability insurance scheme: What social work has to offer. The British Journal of Social Work. 44(3), pp. 747 - 762. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcs141
Opinions about evidence: A study of social workers' attitudes towards evidence-based practice
Gray, Mel, Joy, Elyssa, Plath, Debbie and Webb, Stephen A.. (2014). Opinions about evidence: A study of social workers' attitudes towards evidence-based practice. Journal of Social Work. 14(1), pp. 23 - 40. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017313475555
Organizational processes supporting evidence-based practice
Plath, Debbie. (2013). Organizational processes supporting evidence-based practice. Administration in Social Work. 37(2), pp. 171 - 188. https://doi.org/10.1080/03643107.2012.672946
Evidence-based practice
Plath, Debbie. (2013). Evidence-based practice. In In M. Gray and S. A. Webb (Ed.). Social work theories and methods pp. 229 - 240 Sage Publications Ltd..
Implementing evidence-based practice: A review of the empirical research literature
Gray, Mel, Joy, Elyssa, Plath, Debbie and Webb, Stephen A.. (2013). Implementing evidence-based practice: A review of the empirical research literature. Research on Social Work Practice. 23(2), pp. 157 - 166. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731512467072
Support for evidence-based practice in a human service organization
Plath, Debbie. (2013). Support for evidence-based practice in a human service organization. Administration in Social Work. 37(1), pp. 25 - 38. https://doi.org/10.1080/03643107.2011.638731
Single session social work in hospitals
Gibbons, Jill and Plath, Debbie. (2012). Single session social work in hospitals. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy. 33(1), pp. 39 - 53. https://doi.org/10.1017/aft.2012.5
Egg donor wanted: Social work with women looking for an egg donor
Hart, Vivien and Plath, Debbie. (2011). Egg donor wanted: Social work with women looking for an egg donor. Australian Social Work. 64(4), pp. 515 - 525. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2011.573859