Social Work Practitioners’ Experiences with Evidence-Based Practice in Hospital Settings: A Qualitative Study

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of clinical social workers using evidence-based practice (EBP) in a hospital setting and to describe their use and perception of EBP. A qualitative study using a phenomenological approach was used, with decision making theory guiding this study. The 20 participants in this sample were recruited using purposeful, convenience sampling with inclusion criterion and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were conducted through a zoom video call and then verbatim texts were transcribed. The findings suggested that hospital social workers use parts of EBP in their clinical work and that EBP plays a central role in informing their direct work with clients, including assessment, intervention, and opportunities for continued learning. These research findings provide a foundation on which to expand research on hospital social workers engagement and view of EBP interventions