Is Openness to Using Empirically Supported Treatments Related to Organizational Culture and Climate?

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study is to investigate workers’ openness towards implementing a new empirically supported treatment (EST) and whether the workers’ openness scores relate to their workplace culture and climate scores. Participants in this study (N=1273) worked in a total of 55 different programs in a large child and family services organization and completed a survey measuring their attitudes toward ESTs. Results indicate that work groups that measure themselves as being more open to using ESTs rated their organizational cultures as being significantly more proficient and significantly less resistant to change. With ESTs becoming the gold standard for professional social work practices, it is important to have accessible pathways to EST implementation.

Use of evidence-based interventions in child welfare: Do attitudes matter?

“…Findings suggest that openness might have an association with use of evidence-based interventions (Nelson et al, 2012; Patterson Silver Wolf et al, 2013). Openness might also facilitate greater participation in implementation support following training (Nelson et al, 2012).…”

“…Because the ability to correctly identify EBPs was linked to training and use of EBPs, the authors suggested that there might be an indirect relationship between openness to EBPs and use through increased knowledge of such practices. Openness to EBPs was also found to relate to use of evidence-based practices in a cross-sectional study that included 1273 frontline workers from 55 programs at a child and family serving agency providing services in across several areas, including child welfare (Patterson Silver Wolf, Dulmus, & Maguin, 2013). At the program level, openness scores were associated with number of empirically supported treatments used in different programs.…”

What Are the Ideal Characteristics of Empirically Supported Treatment Adopters?

“…In a small sample using the EBPAS, Patterson et al (2013) found that the individuals best suited for adopting ESTs were females and workers who held a degree in something other than education, psychology, or nursing. In a larger study with over 1,200 participants, Patterson and colleagues (2013) indicated that one of the most important factors for adopting ESTs is the workers’ openness to change their practice. Conditions that foster an open attitude toward changes in clinical practice among workers are essential for EST adoption.…”

“…A quick measure of workers’ attitudes toward adopting ESTs was developed, and attitudes were investigated in relation to a set of individual differences (Aarons, 2004; Aarons & Sawitzky, 2006; Garland, Kruse, & Aarons, 2003; Pignotti & Thyer, 2009; Stahmer & Aarons, 2009). According to Aarons (2004) and Patterson, Dulmus, & Maguin, (2013), worker’s attitudes toward ESTs can be reliably measured and vary in relation to individual differences. These attitudes have the potential to improve the process and effectiveness of implementation efforts (Aarons, 2004).…”

“…Aarons (2004) and Patterson et al (2012, 2013) have carried out empirical research directed toward investigating the various characteristics of workers who are likely to adopt ESTs. Aarons’s EBPAS measures worker’s attitudes toward adopting EBPs.…”