Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS)

Contains fulltext : 149113.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Background: The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) was developed in the United States to assess attitudes of mental health and welfare professionals toward evidence-based interventions. Although the EBPAS has been translated in different languages and is being used in several countries, all research on the psychometric properties of the EBPAS within youth care has been carried out in the United States. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the EBPAS. Methods: After translation into Dutch, the Dutch version of the EBPAS was examined in a diverse sample of 270 youth care professionals working in five institutions in the Netherlands. We examined the factor structure with both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and the internal consistency reliability. We also conducted multiple linear regression analyses to examine the association of EBPAS scores with professionals' characteristics. It was hypothesized that responses to the EBPAS items could be explained by one general factor plus four specific factors, good to excellent internal consistency reliability would be found, and EBPAS scores would vary by age, sex, and educational level. Results: The exploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor solution according to the hypothesized dimensions: Requirements, Appeal, Openness, and Divergence. Cronbach's alphas ranged from 0.67 to 0.89, and the overall scale alpha was 0.72. The confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the factor structure and suggested that the lower order EBPAS factors are indicators of a higher order construct. However, Divergence was not significantly correlated with any of the subscales or the total score. The confirmatory bifactor analysis endorsed that variance was explained both by a general attitude towards evidence-based interventions and by four specific factors. The regression analyses showed an association between EBPAS scores and youth care professionals' age, sex, and educational level. Conclusions: The present study provides strong support for a structure with a general factor plus four specific factors and internal consistency reliability of the Dutch version of the EBPAS in a diverse sample of youth care professionals. Hence, the factor structure and reliability of the original version of the EBPAS seem generalizable to the Dutch version of the EBPAS.12 p

Fostering international collaboration in implementation science and research: A concept mapping exploratory study

Objective: International collaboration in science has received increasing attention given emphases on relevance, generalizability, and impact of research. Implementation science (IS) is a growing discipline that aims to translate clinical research findings into health services. Research is needed to identify efficient and effective ways to foster international collaboration in IS. Concept-mapping (CM) was utilized with a targeted sample for preliminary exploration of fostering international collaboration. Concept-mapping is a mixed-method approach (qualitative/quantitative) particularly suited for identifying essential themes and action items to facilitate planning among diverse stakeholders. We sought to identify key factors likely to facilitate productive and rewarding international collaborations in implementation research. Results: We identified eleven dimensions: Strategic Planning; Practicality; Define Common Principles; Technological Tools for Collaboration; Funding; Disseminate Importance of Fostering International Collaboration in IS; Knowledge Sharing; Innovative & Adaptive Research; Training IS Researchers; Networking & Shared Identity; Facilitate Meetings. Strategic Planning and Funding were highest rated for importance and Strategic Planning and Networking and Shared Identity were rated most feasible to institute. Fostering international collaboration in IS can accelerate the efficiency, relevance, and generalizability of implementation research. Strategies should be developed and tested to improve international collaborations and engage junior and experienced investigators in collaborations advancing implementation science and practice

Adaptation of the Texas Christian University Organisational Readiness for Change Short Form (TCU-ORC-SF) for use in primary health facilities in South Africa

Objectives The Texas Christian University Organisational Readiness for Change Scale (TCU-ORC) assesses factors influencing adoption of evidence-based practices. It has not been validated in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study assessed its psychometric properties in a South African setting with the aim of adapting it into a shorter measure. Methods This study was conducted in 24 South African primary healthcare clinics in the Western Cape Province. The TCU-ORC and two other measures, the Organisational Readiness to Change Assessment (ORCA) and the Checklist for Assessing Readiness for Implementation (CARI) were administered. The questionnaire was readministered after 2 weeks to obtain data on test-retest reliability. Three hundred and ninety-five surveys were completed: 281 participants completed the first survey, and 118 recompleted the assessments. Results We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify latent dimensions represented in the data. Cronbach's alpha for each subscale was assessed and we examined the extent to which the subscales and total scale scores for the first and retest surveys correlated. Convergent validity was assessed by the correlation coefficient between the TCU-ORC, ORCA and CARI total scale scores. EFA resulted in a three-factor solution. The three subscales proposed are Clinic Organisational Climate (8 items), Motivational Readiness for Change (13 items) and Individual Change Efficacy (5 items) (26 items total). Cronbach's alpha for each subscale was >0.80. The overall shortened scale had a test-retest correlation of r=0.80, p<0.01, acceptable convergent validity with the ORCA scale (r=0.56, p<0.05), moderate convergence with the CARI (r=39, p<0.05) and strong correlation with the original scale (r=0.79, p<0.05). Conclusions This study presents the first psychometric data on the TCU-ORC from an LMIC. The proposed shortened tool may be more feasible for use in LMICs. Trial registration number Results stage. Project MIND trial. Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry. PACTR201610001825405