From ethnography to randomized controlled trial: an innovative approach to developing complex social interventions.

Area of Science:

• Social Work Research
• Mental Health Interventions
• Psychosis Recovery

Background:

• The evidence base for mental health social work is underdeveloped compared to medicine and psychology.
• Lack of randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence limits social work interventions in UK clinical guidelines and multidisciplinary teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss an innovative approach for developing a social intervention for mental health.
• To ensure the intervention is amenable to evaluation using randomized controlled trials.
• To improve social work intervention effectiveness and integration into routine practice.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing ethnography to capture practice wisdom from social workers and service users.
• Grounding the intervention in social capital theory.
• Developing a social intervention focused on social connection for individuals recovering from psychosis.

Main Results:

• The proposed method facilitates the development of a social intervention grounded in lived experience.
• The intervention is designed to be amenable to rigorous evaluation through randomized controlled trials.
• The approach aims to enhance the implementation and effectiveness of social work interventions in routine mental health care.

Conclusions:

• An innovative, evidence-based approach can strengthen mental health social work interventions.
• Integrating practice wisdom and theory is key to developing effective, evaluable interventions.
• This methodology supports the development of social interventions that improve outcomes for individuals recovering from psychosis.