Measuring provider attitudes toward evidence-based practice: Consideration of organizational context and individual differences

Mental health provider attitudes toward adoption of innovation in general and toward evidence-based practice (EBP) in particular are important in considering how best to disseminate and implement EBPs. This article explores the role of attitudes in acceptance of innovation and proposes a model of organizational and individual factors that may affect or be affected by attitudes toward adoption of EBP. A recently developed measure of mental health provider attitudes toward adoption of EBP is described along with a summary of preliminary reliability and validity findings. Attitudes toward adoption of EBP are discussed in regard to provider individual differences and the context of mental health services. Finally, potential applications of attitude research to adoption of EBP are discussed.