The gap between science and practice: how therapists make their clinical decisions

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Healthcare Research

Background:

• Many patients do not receive empirically supported treatments.
• Therapists often prioritize clinical experience over research findings.
• Cognitive behavioral (CB) practitioners tend to use research more than other orientations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate factors influencing therapists' theoretical orientation choice.
• Determine if theoretical orientation or workplace affects research use in clinical decision-making.
• Examine if CB practice or National Health Service (NHS) employment correlates with favorable research attitudes.

Main Methods:

• Online survey distributed to 4,144 psychological therapists in England.
• 736 therapists responded (18.5% response rate).
• Analysis of factors influencing theoretical orientation, research use, and attitudes toward research.

Main Results:

• Research had minimal influence on therapists' orientation choice and clinical decisions compared to experience and supervision.
• CB practitioners and NHS therapists were significantly more prone to using research.
• CB practitioners and NHS therapists reported more favorable attitudes toward research.

Conclusions:

• Clinical experience and supervision are more influential than research in therapists' orientation and practice.
• Working within the NHS and practicing CB therapy are associated with increased research utilization and positive attitudes.
• Findings highlight potential for workplace and orientation to foster research-informed practice in the UK.