MASTER SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS' ORIENTATION TOWARD THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROCESS: A COMPARISON WITH SOCIAL WORKERS

Background: In the Netherlands, social workers are now increasingly being urged by policymakers to engage in EBP (Evidence-based Practice). However, we found that Dutch social workers have a relatively low acceptance of and... [ view full abstract ]

Background: In the Netherlands, social workers are now increasingly being urged by policymakers to engage in EBP (Evidence-based Practice). However, we found that Dutch social workers have a relatively low acceptance of and engagement in the EBP process (Van der Zwet, Beneken genaamd Kolmer, & Schalk, 2014). In 2009, a new Master Social Work (MSW)-program was initiated, to create new professionals who focus on the effectiveness of interventions. Until then, we only had Intermediate Vocational Education and Higher Vocational Education. Aim: Recognizing that the EBP process can only be successfully implemented if social workers believe it is both important and feasible, the current study assesses whether MSW students are more oriented to the EBP process and are more engaged in the EBP process than social workers. Methods: Data were collected from 341 Dutch social workers and from 32 MSW students. The survey included several background / demographic ques-tions and Dutch translation of the original EBP Process Assessment Scale (EBPPAS) (Rubin & Parrish, 2011), which includes five separate subscale constructs: (1) familiarity/self-efficacy with the EBP process, (2) attitudes toward the EBP process, (3) perceived feasibility to engage in the EBP process, (4) intentions to engage in the EBP process, and (5) actual self-reported EBP behaviors. Results: MSW students are more strongly oriented toward the EBP process than social workers, they have more positive attitudes toward EBP, they are more familiar with it and have more intentions to engage in it. However, MSW students are less positive about the feasibility of implementing EBP in practice than social workers. Although MSW students are more engaged in the EBP process, there is a need for improvement. Con-clusion: We recommend policymakers to consider focusing on MSW level social workers when developing future initiatives to improve the implementation of the EBP process in practice.