What Are the Ideal Characteristics of Empirically Supported Treatment Adopters?

Abstract

There has been a clear and consistent shift in social work practice from offering treatment as usual to implementing empirically supported treatments (ESTs). As social work researchers and practitioners continue to evaluate the effectiveness of ESTs, their impact on clinical outcomes, and the various obstacles to their adoption, a developing literature could offer some guidance on characteristics of EST adopters. This article provides a beginning discussion of the ideal characteristics of EST adopters both at the organizational and individual levels. While this is a developing area of study, there are some important findings that could better serve community-based organizations, their work force, and the communities they serve.

Are therapists likely to use a new empirically supported treatment if required?

“…We also find an association between race/ethnicity (AA versus non-AA) and the likelihood of being a reluctant EST user. This study aligns with previous investigations showing that individuals with more years of clinical work experience value practice over research (Patterson, 2014). Such findings show that therapists with higher levels of experience both at the community and agency levels (10 or more years) may benefit from enhanced ''technology transfer'' which highlights the importance of system-wide approaches to incorporating ESTs into organizations (Amodeo, Storti, & Larson, 2010).…”

Factors Influencing the Implementation of a Brief Alcohol Screening and Educational Intervention in Social Settings not Specializing in Addiction Services

“…Because the gold standard of quality care is providing clients with ESTs, much has been written about the need to implement these evidence-informed practices in clinical health services (Patterson, 2014). For instance, several national reports petition researchers and community mental health providers to focus their attention on implementing ESTs rather than adding new treatments to the list of underused evidence-based practices (Institute of Medicine, 2000, 2001, 2006; National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2009, 2012; U.S.…”

Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Perceptions of Complementary and Alternative Interventions

“…Even though more than half of the sample in this study did integrate CAI in their practice with clients, several LCSWs (36.9%) did not. This may be due to the significant push and expectation for social workers to provide empirically supported treatments (EST; Wolf, 2014), as CAI has been criticized for interventions that are intrinsically unscientific and lack empirical evidence (Hughes, 2008). Although the implementation of EST has been linked to improved health outcomes among clients (Schneider et al, 2020), it is expected that social workers follow evidence-based practices (EBP).…”