Factors associated with provider self-efficacy in delivery of evidence-based programs for children, youth, and families

摘要

Investments in training real-world behavioral health providers in evidence-based programs (EBPs) can be costly; thus, it is important to understand which providers may be more or less likely to implement such approaches after training. Provider self-efficacy is associated with implementation of EBPs, but research on factors associated with provider self-efficacy is less common. An exploratory, cross-sectional, quantitative survey examined factors associated with provider self-efficacy among 150 real-world service providers who reported delivering EBPs to children, youth, or families in one U.S. state. Factors found to be associated with higher self-efficacy included profession, workplace support, and extent of training received; difficulty engaging families was associated with lower self-efficacy. Self-efficacy was found to be associated with program use but not fidelity. Several organization-level variables were identified as both facilitators and barriers to implementation of EBPs. Implications for research and practice are discussed.