Diffusion of Contingency Management and Attitudes Regarding Its Effectiveness and Acceptability

ABSTRACT

Substance abuse counselors are critical as the key arbiters of clients’ acceptance and use of innovative treatment techniques, with their potential support embedded in their knowledge of and attitudes towards particular innovations. In this analysis the authors examine the role of substance abuse counselors in the adoption of a psychosocial treatment innovation, contingency management (CM). Using data collected from 1140 counselors employed in a national sample of 318 public treatment centers, the authors examine theoretical predictors of counselors’ knowledge of CM, and their attitudes regarding CM's effectiveness and acceptability. Findings suggest that lack of exposure to CM through program use and innovation-specific training is the most salient barrier to CM adoption and diffusion. The study also highlights the importance of social networks in the diffusion and acceptance of treatment innovations.

KEYWORDS:

• Contingency management
• counselor attitudes
• diffusion
• evidence-based practice
• motivational incentives

Acknowledgments

The project described was supported by Award Numbers K01DA024718 and R01DA013110 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health.

Notes

*P < .05; **P < .01.

*P < .05; **P < .01.

*P < .05; **P < .01.