Abstract

JIMENEZ-PEREZ, Ana Lucía; VARGAS-CONTRERAS, Eunice; ESTRADA-VERGARA, Norma Yadira  and  ARREOLA-SANCHEZ, Ilse Abigail. Evidence-Based Practice in Addictions Area: Knowledge and Skills of Therapists from Northwestern Mexico. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2022, vol.12, n.1, pp.76-87.  Epub Apr 24, 2023. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2022.1.430.

Introduction. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a process which starts with the knowledge of available evidence and concludes with the evaluation and selection of the best intervention for the implementation in clinical settings, this process impact the efficacy of the interventions. The variables which can impact on the EBP could be: personal and institutional variables and therapist skills and variables of the interventions. However, to make decisions in the clinical context, it has prevailed a position based on the risks and needs of the clients, which would justify using any treatment, regardless of its effectiveness, which makes the professional psychologist a passive subject who is dedicated only to implementing interventions that institutions request. Therefore, EBP demands that the psychologist be critical of the research and this allows the identification of the best evidence available and also must have the skills to adapt that evidence to their particular context. The objective is to characterize the profile of therapists working in 17 outpatient treatment centers in Mexico, as well as the skills related to the use of EBP (sources of consultation and use of manuals, transfer of knowledge to the population and other therapists) and perception of their self-efficacy. Method. This is a cross-sectional research in which 102 therapists participated. Two stages were considered: quantitative, based on the application of a questionnaire, and the second was qualitative, seeking to contrast the responses. Results. Most of the participants had difficulties in explaining EBP, but reported high levels of self-efficacy to implement it. At the beginning of their work, they had no training in addictions or in the clinical area. Discussion. The need for training in EBP from undergraduate studies is addressed so that future therapists will find it more natural to implement it in clinical settings, through the analysis of scientific articles and, if possible, its application.

Keywords : Mixed research; Evidence-based psychological practice; Implementation; Clinical experience; Addictions outpatient-treatment.