Cited by 1,272Health Policy Implementation ScienceHealth Sciences Research and EducationPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Mental Health Provider Attitudes Toward Adoption of Evidence-Based Practice: The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS)

Aarons, Gregory A.·2004·Mental Health Services Research

Abstract

Unlabelled Mental health provider attitudes toward organizational change have not been well studied. Dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) into real-world settings represent organizational change that may be limited or facilitated by provider attitudes toward adoption of new treatments, interventions, and practices. A brief measure of mental health provider attitudes toward adoption of EBPs was developed and attitudes were examined in relation to a set of provider individual difference and organizational characteristics.Methods Participants were 322 public sector clinical service workers from 51 programs providing mental health services to children and adolescents and their families.Results Four dimensions of attitudes toward adoption of EBPs were identified: (1) intuitive Appeal of EBP, (2) likelihood of adopting EBP given Requirements to do so, (3) Openness to new practices, and (4) perceived Divergence of usual practice with research-based/academically developed interventions. Provider attitudes varied by education level, level of experience, and organizational context.Conclusions Attitudes toward adoption of EBPs can be reliably measured and vary in relation to individual differences and service context. EBP implementation plans should include consideration of mental health service provider attitudes as a potential aid to improve the process and effectiveness of dissemination efforts.

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Crossref · 10.1023/b:mhsr.0000024351.12294.65

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  • Level of education, level of professional experience, primary discipline, and race/ethnicity are associated with openness toward adopting EBPs.

    “Level of education, level of professional experience, primary discipline, and race/ethnicity are associated with openness toward adopting EBPs (Aarons 2004, 2005; Aarons et al. 2010).”
  • Other approaches to assessing readiness have focused on organizational culture, climate, and work attitudes, and on providers' attitudes towards evidence-based practices.

    “Other approaches to assessing readiness have focused on organizational culture, climate, and work attitudes [73], and on providers’ attitudes towards evidence-based practices [21,22,74].”
  • Few providers adopt evidence-based treatments.

    “Investigators can also document that few providers adopt evidence-based treatments [21,22], that evidence-based treatments or programs have limited reach [23], or that penetration [24] into a system of care can be addressed by the implementation study.”

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Authors
Aarons, G. A.
Affiliations
University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
Aarons, Gregory A.
Venue
Mental Health Services Research
Published
2004-06
Volume
6
Issue
2
Pages
61-74
ISSN
  • 1522-3434 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6636
OpenAlex
W2132091551
Cited by
1,272
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 61 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 117 · 2020: 102 · 2019: 82 · 2018: 76 · 2017: 64 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 82 · 2014: 72 · 2013: 63 · 2012: 49
FWCI
33.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Mental Health Services Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH01695, K01MH001695)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
evidence-based practice, mental health professionals, provider attitudes, attitude measurement, organizational change, dissemination and implementation, child and adolescent mental health services, individual differences, organizational context
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attitude of Health Personnel, California, Data Collection, Diffusion of Innovation, Health Personnel, Health Services Research, Humans, Mental Health Services, Organizational Innovation, Evidence-Based Medicine

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