Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence-based Practice in the Social Services: A UK Survey

Abstract

A cross sectional UK-wide survey assessed current levels of dissemination and implementation of Evidence-Based Practice in social care and social work agencies. A structured questionnaire was e-mailed to 357 agencies of which 155 (43.4%) completed and returned it. Although the results show that Evidence-Based Practice in this area is still in its early stages, most respondents reported a good knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice as well as the view that professional decisions should be informed by—but not only—research evidence. The lack of time, resources, information, and training are identified as the main barriers to be overcome for an effective implementation of Evidence-Based Practice in the social services.

KEYWORDS:

• Evidence-based practice
• social work
• social care
• dissemination
• implementation

Notes

The author declares that he has no competing interests.