<p> A gap exists between what research supports as effective for clinical practice and what mental health practitioners administer in clinical practice. Low utilization rates of evidence-supported treatments (ESTs) are a concern because traditional methods (non-EST) of treatment are associated with poor therapy outcomes. One potential barrier for the use of EST by clinicians is limited EST exposure during graduate training. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which clinicians' prior exposure to and experience with EST was associated with clinicians' use of EST in clinical practice. The theoretical framework used is the theory of planned behavior, which indicates that certain behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and control beliefs create a clinician's intentions to use or not use EST in clinical practice. From this perspective, low exposure and few experiences with EST during graduate training lead to beliefs that, in turn, drive mental health practitioners' tendency not to use EST after graduation. Participants in this correlational study were 79 master's and doctoral level clinicians who practiced 10 or more direct hours per week, and who were members of social work or psychology professional organizations. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, the Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale-Short Version (Parish, 2007) and measures of EST exposure during graduate training. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of the four independent variables, number of courses devoted to ESTs, number of clinical hours per month practicing ESTs, number of ESTs covered in coursework, and the number of ESTs taught in graduate coursework, on EST use in clinical practice. A result of the study was a positive relationship between the numbers of courses devoted to EST with a clinician's use of EST in clinical practice. No other exposure variable was related to EST use. In addition, the longer clinicians had been working in their professions, the less they engaged in evidence-based practices. The implications of the study are exposure to academic courses devoted to EST may improve the likelihood that a clinician will use ESTs in clinical practice. Further research is needed to understand ways to improve EST use among clinicians.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:3643052 |
| Date | 11 November 2014 |
| Creators | Caridad, Kevin |
| Publisher | Capella University |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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