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  Link to the Social Work Library, University of Michigan Evidence-based Practice in Social Work Link to the Social Work Library Link to the University Library Gateway Link to the University of Michigan Gateway
Introduction Key Concepts Library Databases Case Study References Review
 

Overview of Key Concepts

Definition of EBSW

Aging Knowledge Domains

"When and Why" of Using an EBP Approach

Steps in Searching and Evaluating the Literature

Selected EBP Terms from PubMed

Hierarchy of Evidence

When the research is Category III

 

 
Evidence-based Social Work: Overview of Key Concepts
From Evidence-based Medicine to Evidence-Based Social Work  

The first appearance of the term evidence-based medicine occurred in a document describing the residency program at Canada’s McMaster University the fall of 1990.

The goal of evidence-based practice is to be aware of

  • the evidence on which one’s practice is based,
  • the soundness of the evidence,
  • the strength of inference the evidence permits.

The strategy employed requires

  • a clear delineation of the relevant question(s);
  • a thorough search of the literature relating to the questions;
  • a critical appraisal of the evidence,and its applicability to the clinical situation;
  • a balanced application of the conclusions to the clinical problem.

    [Source: Guyatt, G. and Drummond Rennie. 2002. User’s Guides to the Medical Literature: A Manual for Evidence-Based Practice. Chicago: American Medical Association, p. xiv.]

As a body of literature began to emerge, it was soon recognized that evidence-based medicine approaches could be applied to other fields, including social work.

The chart below describes some of the differences between the disciplines of medicine and social work.

 
Social Work
Medicine
Primary Focus
Individuals, Families, Communities
Individuals
Emphasis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Treatment
Treatment
Individuals, Families, Communities
Whole Patient
Paradigm
Interventions aimed at Environment, Human Behavior and Lifestyle, and Medical Care
Medical Care

[Adapted from : Fineberg, Harvey, MD, PhD, Dean, Harvard University School of Public Health, 1990. Distinctions Between Public Health and Medicine. On the web site of the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston: Community-Based Public Health Program.

Since social work research and practice is aimed at the broader community, an evidence-based approach is challenging:

  • Researchers lack knowledge about the conditions of practice in community settings
  • There’s a lack of ongoing communication between practitioners and researchers
  • There aren’t sufficient funds or resources
  • There’s practitioner burnout

[Source: Franklin, C. and Hopson, L.M. (2007). Facilitating the use of evidence-based practice in community organizations. Journal of Social Work Education, 43(3), 377-404.

Role of Librarians and Information Professionals in Evidence-Based Social Work

Librarians and information professionals are trained in the skills and procedures needed for applying evidence-based principles, including information retrieval and evaluation of search strategies and results. Librarians and information professionals provide training and instruction on evidence-based social work concepts, develop web-based resources and guides to evidence-based sources, consult on search strategies and techniques for identifying the evidence-based literature, and apply criteria for assessing and evaluating the reliability and validity of search results.

Link to the Mirlyn Catalog Social Work Library Navigation Bar Link to the Mirlyn Catalog Link to Databases Link to Search Site Link to the University Library Gateway Link to the School of Social Work

Suggestions for improving this tutorial are encouraged. Please share your suggestions with Sally Haines. Last updated 30 October 2007.
 
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