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Understanding of evidence‐based mental health care and the perceived importance of scientific information in a sample of U.S. adults
Author(s) -
Mora Ringle Vanesa A.,
Walsh Lucia M.,
Maxwell Colleen A.,
Smith Ashley M.,
Grossman Rebecca A.,
Becker Sara J.,
JensenDoss Amanda
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22856
Subject(s) - psychology , mental health , scientific evidence , sample (material) , scientific literature , function (biology) , applied psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , paleontology , philosophy , chemistry , epistemology , chromatography , evolutionary biology , biology
Objectives This online survey sought to qualitatively ascertain the extent to which a sample of U.S. adults understood the concept of evidence‐based mental health care (EBMHC). Additional goals included assessing the perceived importance of scientific information in EBMHC, and examining whether understanding EBMHC and science values varied as a function of participant factors. Method Participants ( N = 221) defined EBMHC and rated the importance of scientific information. Open‐ended EBMHC definitions were content‐coded, and binomial logistic and linear regressions examined predictors of accurately defining EBMHC and of the perceived importance of scientific information. Results Participants endorsed seven definitions of EBMHC, and only 20% defined it accurately. Having greater knowledge about mental health conditions was associated with understanding EBMHC and with the higher perceived importance of scientific information. Greater help‐seeking efficacy also predicted higher perceived importance of scientific information. Conclusions Results support customized strategies to promote basic EBMHC education among U.S. adults.