Practice-Based Research

Abstract

Practice-based evaluation integrates research skills and techniques into the clinical process in order to correlate clinical interventions with treatment outcomes. Although most clinicians recognize the importance of some form of practice evaluation, barriers including lack of time, resources, expertise, and organizational support may deter such evaluation efforts. However, there are numerous advantages for clinicians and agencies to develop a culture that values and integrates practice evaluation into its daily work-life; these include opportunities for teamwork, collaboration, mentoring, and innovation. This paper defines practice evaluation research, identifies strategies for its implementation, and describes a framework for creating a "research friendly" culture. It further describes the implementation of such an innovative program in both a hospital and a mental health agency setting.

Toward Mentoring in Palliative Social Work: A Narrative Review of Mentoring Programs in Social Work

“…Serial staff shortages, rapid staff turnover, poor recruitment, staff burnout and compassion fatigue, poor career satisfaction, and progression continue to plague medical social work. 2,4,20 Data suggest that a lack of personal, career, academic, clinical, and research support lie at the heart of these problems. 2,4,20 Several authors have also posited that mentoring could help address these issues.…”

“…2,4,20 Data suggest that a lack of personal, career, academic, clinical, and research support lie at the heart of these problems. 2,4,20 Several authors have also posited that mentoring could help address these issues. 5,20,21,22…”

Positioning Social Work Researchers for Engaged Scholarship to Promote Public Impact

“…For engaged scholarship to take place, the contexts in which research is conducted must be amenable to the scientific process. Thus, organizations, agencies, and practice settings should strive to foster a "researchfriendly" culture (Wade & Neuman, 2007), though that may be easier said than done in some cases. Moreover, social work researchers should diligently attend to any distrust among community stakeholders, and sincere effort should be taken to develop strong, genuine, long-lasting relationships within the community.…”