Department of Social Work

1
Overview of Evidence-Based Practice

• Department of Social Work
• Roberts Wesleyan College

2
What is the EBP Process?

• EBP process involves 5 steps
• Converting the need for information into an
  answerable question
• Locating the best available evidence with which
  to answer that question
• Critically appraising that evidence for its
  validity, impact, and applicability
• Integrating the critical appraisal with
  professional expertise, and with the clients
  values and preferences
• Evaluating effectiveness and efficiency in
  executing Steps 1 to 4 (Schlonsky Gibbs, 2004)

3
Step 1 Answerable COPES Questions

• Client-
• Oriented
• Practical
• Evidence-
• Search

• The COPES question is one that contains these
  characteristics
• Among adult criminal offenders on probation,
  will a group cognitive intervention program
  compared to no such program result in a lower
  recidivism (reoffense) rate?

4
Step 2 Locating the Best Evidence

• EBP searching locates the best evidence in
  electronic databases.
• The essence of searching involves learning how
  to clarify terms in a well-built COPES question
  that will effectively mark documents in an
  electronic database (p. 91).
• Search terms are systematically developed from
  the COPES question.
• The choice of MOLES (methodology-oriented
  locators for an evidence search) helps refine the
  search and find only the most relevant evidence.
  Examples of MOLES include the terms random,
  controlled clinical trial, control group,
  survey, and systematic review.

(Gibbs, 2003)
5
Step 3 Evaluation of Research Evidence

• Research evidence may include
• Individual outcome studies, program evaluations,
  meta-analyses, systematic reviews, case
  studies.and not all evidence is created equal.
• This step involves making decisions about the
  quality of the evidence uncovered in the search.
  
• There are different tools that are available to
  help guide the process of reading and judging the
  quality of research evidence. Some include
• Quality Study Rating Form (QSRF)
• Client Assessment and Risk (CARE) Form
• Multiple Evaluations for Treatment Assessment
  Form (META)

(Columbia University, 2005)
6
Step 4 Integrating Research With Practice

• Integration or applying the research to the
  practice situation is the next step.
• In concrete terms, the practitioner must
• Identify implementation information about the
  intervention
• Assess the fit between intervention and the
  client system (values, preferences, expectations,
  and challenges)
• Assess the fit between intervention and the
  professionals experience and skill (practice
  experience)
• Communicate with the client system and key
  stakeholders
• Collaboratively choose a path
• Plan how to address key implementation factors
• Evaluate the process and outcomes

7
Step 5 Evaluation in EBP

• The evaluation of practice decision-making is an
  essential component to evidence-based practice in
  social work.
• Traditional research methods/designs are applied
  in this step to evaluate the effectiveness of the
  EBP interventions.
• Thorough program evaluation can be conducted
  through a single system design or evaluation
  approaches that can systematically evaluate
  interventions implemented with more than one
  client by one or more practitioners.

8
References

• Columbia University. (2005). BEST Training,
  Module 7 Evaluating the Evidence. Retrieved from
  http//www.columbia.edu/cu/musher/
  Website/Website/EBP_OnlineTraining_Mod7.htm
• Danya International. (2008). Research and
  empirical applications for curriculum
  enhancements in social work. Silver Spring, MD
  Author.
• Gibbs. L. (2003). Evidence-based practice for the
  helping professions A practical guide with
  integrated multimedia. Pacific Grove, CA
  Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning.
• Shlonsky, A., Gibbs, L. (2004). Will the real
  evidence-based practice please stand up? Teaching
  the process of evidence-based practice to the
  helping professions. Brief Treatment and Crisis
  Intervention, 4, 137-153.