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A Mixed Methods study of Early Intervention Practitioners’ Attitudes towards the Implementation of Evidence Based Practices in England and Wales / Joanna White

Swansea University Author: Joanna White

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/Suthesis.51971

Abstract

A key element of future plans for mental health services in England and Wales will be evidence based service models and approaches. This study examined attitudes towards the implementation of evidence based practices in a sample of early intervention practitioners. Evidence-based practice integrates...

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Published: 2019
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51971
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Abstract: A key element of future plans for mental health services in England and Wales will be evidence based service models and approaches. This study examined attitudes towards the implementation of evidence based practices in a sample of early intervention practitioners. Evidence-based practice integrates individual practitioner expertise with the best available evidence while also considering the values and expectations of clients. This study used a mixed methods sequential explanatory design to assess evidence based practices in mental health within early intervention practitioners. The quantitative component consisted of a survey using a demographic questionnaire and the Evidence Based Attitudinal Scale (Aarons, 2004) from n=70 practitioners, a response rate of 64%. The qualitative component of the study was semi-structured research interviews. Eighteen participants were selected via a purposive sampling using a range of criteria. Participants’ were asked questions about their everyday experiences of implementation issues in their early intervention teams focusing on aspects such as sustainability and fidelity. The results of the study show that attitudes towards adoption of evidence based practices can be assessed within early intervention teams. The main finding from the quantitative phase of the study is that the Evidence Based Practice Attitudinal Scale requirement and openness scales are strong predictors of attitudes. The semi-structured interview data provided a rich picture of the sustainability of evidence based practice in mental health and the challenges and opportunities that this brings such as barriers and protection of early intervention services to adopting evidence based practices. Future research should examine all stakeholders’ views on implementing evidence based practices as this research has shown that a whole systems approach is required. The move towards service user involvement in research and the possibilities of examining implementation in more democratic ways must also be explored further.
Item Description: A selection of third party content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis.
Keywords: Mixed Methods, Early Intervention, Evidence Based Practices, Implementation
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences