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RELATIONSHIP OF EVIDENCE‐BASED PRACTICE AND TREATMENTS: A SURVEY OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS
Author(s) -
DiMeo Michelle A.,
Moore G. Kurt,
Lichtenstein Carolyn
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.20516
Subject(s) - terminology , mental health , evidence based practice , confusion , service provider , psychological intervention , psychology , service (business) , applied psychology , medicine , psychiatry , alternative medicine , philosophy , linguistics , pathology , psychoanalysis , economy , economics
Evidence‐based treatments (EBTs) are interventions that have been proven effective through rigorous research methodologies. Evidence‐based practice (EBP), however, refers to a decision‐making process that integrates the best available research, clinician expertise, and client characteristics. This study examined community mental health service providers’ knowledge of EBP and perceived advantages, disadvantages, reasons for not implementing full EBT protocols, and attitudes toward EBTs. Qualitative examination of mental health service providers’ definitions of EBP reveals confusion between the terms EBP and EBT. Service providers indicated several advantages and disadvantages of using EBTs. Analysis suggests that many perceived EBT disadvantages would be eliminated if EBTs are implemented as part of the EBP approach, thus allowing for clinician expertise and patient characteristics to be combined with EBTs. Alternatively, distinguishing between EBP and EBT may be more confusing than useful for most community mental health practitioners, which indicates new terminology may be needed.