Evidence-based practice in Chinese social work: overcoming language and developmental barriers

ABSTRACT

This scoping review followed Cochrane guidelines to comprehensively assess the use and understanding of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Chinese social science literature. We conducted a research across three electronic databases and three major social science journals for the studies published between 2004 and 2016. Chinese social work literature demonstrates a precise understanding of EBP defined as a process, but it lacks comprehensive discussions about EBP that extend beyond basic principles and process definitions. We identified language barriers and developmental issues for social work in China that contribute to these incomplete discussions. We examined the importance of broadening and enriching the discussions around EBP, especially for Chinese educators, researchers, and clinicians involved with empirically supported treatments. We also consider the implications of our findings for the development of social work in China.

这篇文献回顾采用了Cochrane指导标准系统评估了中文社会科学文献对于循证实践（EBP）的理解和运用状况。本研究检索了在从2004到2016年三个电子数据库，三本主流社会科学期刊所发表的研究论文。研究发现，中文社会科学文献中西方循证实践被界定为一个过程，但缺乏对于超越基本准则和过程性界定的更充分讨论。本文指出导致中国社会工作专业这一问题的语言及发展的阻碍。论文也进一步考察了扩大、加深对于循证实践（EBP）讨论的重要性，尤其是对于参与到经验干预实践的中国社会工作教育工作者、研究者以及临床工作者而言。本文最后探讨了研究发现对于中国社会工作发展的启示。

KEYWORDS:

• Evidence-based practice
• Chinese social work
• scoping review
• barriers
• implications

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.