Evidence-based Social Work Practice

by

Edward J. Mullen

Introduction

This entry identifies evidence-based practice (EBP) resources with specific reference to social work’s adaptation of evidence-based practice. Whereas the identified references are focused on social work applications, relevant ones dealing with evidence-based medicine (EBM) and evidence-based practice in other health professions (EBP or EBH) are listed. Evidence-based social work practice (EBSWP) may be defined as a professional decision-making process in which social workers and their clients systematically make intervention choices using practitioner expertise to identify (1) client conditions, needs, circumstances, preferences and values; (2) best evidence about intervention options, including potential risk and benefit likelihoods; and (3) contextual resources and constraints bearing on intervention options. Intervention choices refer to action options about how to assess client conditions and circumstances, how to provide services, and how to evaluate the process and outcomes of services. Clients can be individuals, families, groups, communities, or large populations. Best evidence includes findings from scientific studies as well as from other reliable sources considered to be of highest quality, strength, and relevance.

Introductory Works

Excellent references provide introductory descriptions of evidence-based social work practice. Foremost among these is Gibbs 2003, a widely accepted practical text detailing the evidence-based practice process for human services, including social work. The Gibbs text would be the best choice for faculty looking for a detailed evidence-based social work practice text to use in undergraduate as well as graduate practice courses. The Mullen, et al. 2007 chapter is a good reference for undergraduate as well as graduate students wanting a brief description of evidence-based social work practice with examples. Students and practitioners wanting a succinct description of the steps required to carry out evidence-based social work practice should read the Thyer 2004 article. Faculty, students, and practitioners should read the McNeece and Thyer 2004 article for a succinct introduction to applications across the range of social work practice.

• Gibbs, Leonard E. 2003. Evidence-based practice for the helping professions: A practical guide with integrated multimedia. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning.

  E-mail Citation »

  The most popular and straightforward evidence-based practice text written for students in the helping professions. The text adapts the evidence-based medicine process for use in the helping professions. An accompanying CD-ROM contains videos of enactments of evidence-based practice.

• McNeece, C. A., and Bruce A. Thyer. 2004. Evidence-based practice and social work. Journal of Evidence-based Social Work 1, no. 1: 7–25.

  DOI: 10.1300/J394v01n01_02E-mail Citation »

  The essentials of evidence-based social work practice are outlined with reference to micro through macro practice. McNeece and Thyer present a strong argument for why social work should adopt evidence-based social work practice in its education and service programs, seeing such adoption as a professional and ethical imperative necessary for the profession’s survival.

• Mullen, E. J., J. L. Bellamy, and S. E. Bledsoe. 2007. Evidence-based practice. In Social work research and evaluation: Foundations of evidence-based practice, 8th ed. Edited by Richard M. Grinnell Jr. and Yvonne A. Unrau, pp. 507–524. New York: Oxford University Press.

  E-mail Citation »

  This is a basic introduction to evidence-based social work practice written for social work students. This chapter describes evidence-based social work practice with examples, discussing the differences between evidence-based social work practice and other forms of social work practice; examines the fit with social work values and specifies benefits; and discusses the use of systematic reviews and identifies current issues.

• Thyer, Bruce A. 2004. What is evidence-based practice? Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention: A Journal of Evidence-based Practice 4, no. 2: 167–176.

  E-mail Citation »

  Thyer provides a clear description of evidence-based practice, seeing it as a new, comprehensive model of health care that provides guidance for social work and other human services. Thyer notes that evidence-based practice is subject to considerable misinterpretation as those invested in the status quo attempt to distort this new and growing movement.