Clinicians' knowledge of, training in, and utilization of evidence-based treatments for child maltreatment and barriers to training and utilization

Despite the momentum towards using EBTs in clinical practice, there are still significant barriers to implementing EBTs for children who have experienced maltreatment. Research has examined predictors of EBT utilization, such as clinician factors and attitudes toward EBTs, and the results are inconsistent. There is also no qualitative research on clinicians’ training in and utilization of EBTs and barriers to training in and utilization of EBTs. The present study used a mixed-methods approach to examine clinicians’ knowledge, training, and utilization of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for child maltreatment in a national sample of 157 clinicians who provide psychotherapy to children and adolescents who have experienced maltreatment. Quantitative methods found that clinician factors (i.e., graduate training in EBTs, educational background, and theoretical orientation) did not predict EBT utilization. In addition, clinicians’ attitudes toward EBTs did not moderate the relationship between training in and utilization of EBTs. However, the number of EBTs clinicians received training in significantly predicted EBT utilization, even when statistically controlling for variability in attitudes toward EBTs. Qualitative methods examined clinicians’ barriers to training in and utilization of EBTs, as well as the solutions to the implementation of EBTs. The qualitative results suggest that a comprehensive response from agencies is needed to provide more opportunities for training in EBTs, as well as ongoing supervision and consultation. Specific solutions to the implementation of EBTs were also discussed