Qualitative and quantitative feedback following workshop training in evidence-based practices: A dissemination study.

Abstract

It is often difficult for evidence-based practices (EBPs) to find their way into addiction treatment programs. One goal of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Clinical Trials Network (CTN) is to disseminate these EBPs into community treatment programs. The Southwest Node of CTN hosted a series of 13 local workshops in EBPs led by experts in the topic areas. Participants (N ϭ 327) were asked to complete an online evaluation of the training with a follow-up rate of 75.8%. Respondents reported that the trainings had been applied in their workplace. Qualitative analysis revealed themes of gratitude and a need for additional training opportunities. Participant enthusiasm for training was indicated by the willingness to travel up to a thousand miles and independently pay for travel expenses. Frontline providers are aware of EBPs and eager for further trainings. Future studies should include formal assessments of training needs and measures of skill acquisition.

A consumer’s eye view of family-involved alcohol treatment

“…Although national surveys suggest that 80% of SUD treatment programs provide some type of family involvement in treatment (Forcehimes et al, 2010), very little of this treatment is evidence-based (Schonbrun et al, 2012). In fact, even after receiving specific training in an empirically-supported family treatment, ABCT, a minority of clinicians (22.2%) reported using the treatment 14 months later (Houck, Forcehimes, Davis, & Bogenschutz, 2016). It has been suggested that empirically-supported alcohol treatments generally have not been adopted by community treatment providers because researchers have focused on efficacy trials that test treatments under controlled conditions with select populations, and have not focused on dissemination.…”

“…It has been suggested that empirically-supported alcohol treatments generally have not been adopted by community treatment providers because researchers have focused on efficacy trials that test treatments under controlled conditions with select populations, and have not focused on dissemination. Specific barriers to the use of evidence-based, family-involved alcohol treatment appear to include: (a) the length and complexity of empirically-supported family therapies (Haug, Shopshire, Tajima, Gruber, & Guydish, 2008); (b) patient and family factors such as patient reluctance to have their families involved, family concerns about feeling blamed or responsible for the patient’s treatment, and pragmatic issues related to scheduling (McCrady, Epstein, Cook, Jensen, & Ladd, 2011); (c) clinician barriers such as disagreements with the models underlying evidence-based approaches, viewing the findings from controlled trials as having limited applicability to their on-going clinical work (Houck et al, 2016), lack of appropriate training, and the perceived complexity of couple and family therapies (e.g., Haug et al, 2008); and (d) institutional barriers such as difficulties with third-party reimbursement for family treatment sessions. Efforts to disseminate empirically-supported family treatments for AUD, adapt these treatments to focus on core active ingredients of the treatments, or develop models that can easily be integrated into on-going AUD treatment have been very limited.…”

A randomized pilot trial of brief family-involved treatment for alcohol use disorder: Treatment engagement and outcomes.

“…One reason is that researchers have typically focused on conducting efficacy trials that test treatments under controlled conditions with select populations but have not conducted studies focused on the dissemination of these treatments (McCrady, Tonigan, et al, 2019). Relatedly, clinicians may disagree with the models underlying evidence-based approaches, and believe that findings from controlled trials have limited applicability to their ongoing clinical work (Houck et al, 2016; Schonbrun et al, 2012). In addition, there are reasons specific to the interventions themselves.…”