Attitudes Towards Evidence-Based Practice of Professionals Working with Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Bangladesh

Abstract

Like in many lower-middle-income countries (LMIC), progress in implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been slow in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study examined professionals’ attitudes towards evidence-based practice (EBP) for children and adolescents with ASD and explored how providers’ demographic factors are related to attitudes to and adoption of EBPs in Bangladesh. The sample consisted of 150 mental health professionals and special teachers from the urban area of Dhaka. Attitudes were assessed by the Evidence-based Practice Attitude Scale-36. Findings indicated that professionals have favorable attitudes towards EBP. Their attitudes varied depending on service settings (public clinical, private clinical, and special school) and caseload per year. Professionals who work in private and special school settings claimed to be more willing to adopt an EBP when required and perceived a higher fit of EBPs and their work than those in public clinical settings. The number of different EBPs used also differed by service setting. Every type of intervention (except medication) was used by more professionals in special schools than in private and public clinical settings. Many professionals reported few barriers to the implementation of EBPs. These findings indicate conditions that are often conducive to the implementation of EBPs. However, these results do not reflect the situation in rural areas, in which poverty is more widespread and the number of specialized professionals is low.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Evidence-Based Nursing among Nurses in Children’s Ward at Tertiary Health Institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria

“…Nevertheless, this study disagreed with the study conducted by Pervin and Hagmayer (2022) in Bangladesh. The findings indicated that professionals have favorable attitudes towards EBP.…”

Reexamining the Evidence-Based Practices Attitude Scale-36 (EBPAS-36) in a U.S. Sample of Trauma-Focused Treatment Providers

“…The results support other studies that have shown the balance, appeal, and divergence subscales of the EBPAS-36 to have marginally acceptable reliability. 30,31,35 A nal study aim was to examine correlates of provider attitudes toward EBP. Female gender was associated with more positive attitudes, a nding that has emerged in prior studies.…”

“…30 Other studies also have found that the appeal, balance, divergence, and t subscales have questionable internal consistency. 31,35 Additionally, multiple versions of the EBPAS have been tested in various samples of mental health providers, but few of these studies have explicitly focused on professionals who are trained in an evidence-based intervention.…”

The development of the Helping your Anxious Child programme: a parent-mediated group intervention for parents of autistic children in South Asia

“…HAC is designed to suit the needs of parents in South Asia, with adaptations designed in co-production with clinicians, researchers and parents of autistic children to ensure suitability and cultural appropriateness. 10 The Helping your Anxious Child programme Helping your Anxious Child was developed through collaborations via the North East England South Asia Mental health Alliance (NEESAMA; www.NEESAMA.org). NEESAMA seeks to bring together international partners in the UK and South East Asia to improve research, training and clinical service delivery within mental health services.…”

“…HAC is designed to suit the needs of parents in South Asia, with adaptations designed in co-production with clinicians, researchers and parents of autistic children to ensure suitability and cultural appropriateness. 10 …”