Therapist Attitudes Towards Evidence-Based Practice: A Joint Factor Analysis

Abstract

Despite the accumulated research support for the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) with youth, these treatment approaches remain underutilized in community settings. Therapist attitudes towards EBPs play a pivotal role in their adoption and implementation of these practices. The present investigation employs joint exploratory factor analysis to evaluate the structure of two measures of therapist attitudes, the Evidence-Based Practices Attitudes Scale and the Modified Practice Attitude Scale. Results suggest three factors including (a) importance of clinical experience over EBPs, (b) clinician openness to change, and (c) problems with EBPs. Recommendations are provided for future evaluation of therapist attitudes and associated characteristics.

Adapting parent engagement strategies for an evidence‐based parent‐mediated intervention for young children at risk for autism spectrum disorder

“…The lack of significant associations between most of the provider characteristics and their attitudes about the PACT enhancements as measured by the feedback survey is consistent with some previous research (e.g., Brookman‐Frazee, Garland, Taylor, & Zoffness, 2009; Burgess et al, 2016). However, the results preliminarily suggest that professional focus (generalist vs. specialist) may play a role in providers' experiences receiving training on parent engagement strategies.…”

Comparing Fidelity Outcomes of Paraprofessional and Professional Delivery of a Perinatal Depression Preventive Intervention

“…Aarons et al's (2011) Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) conceptual framework for examining intervention implementation suggests that varying clinician attitudes toward evidence-based interventions may be another possible explanation for our finding that MHPs had lower adherence when delivering MB. For example, some studies have found that MHPs may find evidencebased interventions too restrictive in meeting clients' varied needs irrespective of how long the MHP had worked in the field as a clinician (Brookman-Fazee et al 2016;Burgess et al 2016). While most previous research has Fig.…”

How Intervention and Implementation Characteristics Relate to Community Therapists’ Attitudes Toward Evidence-Based Practices: A Mixed Methods Study

“…However, these studies were carried out with therapists who had minimal experience with manualized treatments, and studies have shown that training and implementation experiences are associated with improved attitudes toward EBPs (Edmunds et al, 2014; Lim et al, 2012). Yet in some studies, community therapists with training in EBPs have still cited concerns that the prescriptive nature of EBPs makes them too restrictive to meet the individualized needs of clients (Borntrager et al, 2009; Burgess et al, 2016; Jensen-Doss, Hawley, Lopez, & Osterberg, 2009). On the other hand, in qualitative interviews, therapists have identified benefits to using interventions with prescribed session content and order, indicating that manualized treatments made it easier to prepare for sessions and helped to keep therapists focused with their clients (Godley et al, 2001).…”

“…While some research suggests that individuals with less experience have more positive views of EBPs (Aarons, 2004), other studies have reported more positive attitudes among more seasoned therapists, as indicated by being licensed (Nakamura, Higa-McMillan, Okamura, & Shimabukuro, 2011) or by the number of years in practice (Reding et al, 2014). Furthermore, some studies have found no relationship between therapist experience and attitudes toward EBPs (Brookman-Frazee, Garland, Taylor, & Zoffness, 2009; Burgess et al, 2016). …”