Attitudes About Evidence-Based Practice Impacted by School Mental Health Provider and School Characteristics

Background Implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in schools is a key mechanism for increasing access to care. As school mental health providers (SMHP)’s attitudes predict usage of interventions, understanding influences on attitudes can boost implementation.Objective The current study assessed the role of both provider-level and school-level demographic characteristics in predicting SMHP’s attitudes toward EBP broadly and toward a specific intervention.Method SMHPs recruited online were presented with information about the Resilience Builder Program® (RBP), a transdiagnostic, strengths-based group cognitive behavioral intervention. Participants reported their attitude toward EBP (Evidence-Based Practice Attitudes Scale – School Version), perceptions of the RBP’s acceptability/efficacy (Implementation Potential Scale), and demographic information. The final sample included 183 participants who were mostly White (74.86%) and female (79.78%), with a mean age of 38.78 years. The role of demographic characteristics was examined using one-way ANOVAs and bivariate correlations.Results SMHPs with a bachelor’s degree indicated more positive perceptions of the RBP than those with a master’s or doctoral degree, F(4,168) = 4.16, p = .003. There were several other findings which were no longer significant after modified Bonferroni correction: women reported slightly more positive attitudes than men toward EBP broadly, F(2,180) = 3.16, p = .045. Those identifying with a multicultural theoretical orientation, F(1,176) = 3.93, p = .049, and those who described their school as located in an urban area, F(2,173) = 3.31, p = .039, reported slightly more positive acceptability/efficacy beliefs about the RBP than those who did not.Conclusions Most demographic characteristics were not related to attitudes toward EBP in general or the RBP specifically, other than type of degree. This study adds to the mixed literature regarding demographic characteristics, suggesting that demographic characteristics relate to provider attitudes in ways specific to local contexts.