Guiding Caregivers to Evidence-Based Practice

 

Evidence-based practice is often used by medical practitioners, especially when discussing healthcare provision. Most clinicians use this phrase when selecting an intervention to tackle disability and disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. However, not many people may understand the true meaning behind evidence-based practice (EBP).

What is Evidence-Based Practice?

Evidence-based practice may have taken root in modern-day medicine but has roots back in the 1800s. This process was initiated by Florence Nightingale to develop better and more effective ways to improve patient care and outcomes. Over the years, this process has had several definitions, with the American Psychological Association (2006) terming it as a balance between the best available research with clinical expertise based on the patient's culture, characteristics, and preferences.

For a clinician to employ EBP, they must use the best and most recent research, utilize their clinical expertise, and account for the patient's individual preferences. With this three-phased approach, they are able to improve patient outcomes and elevate the quality of care.

How to know if your Child's Clinician is using Evidence-Based Practice

Benner (1984) terms clinical expertise as a total of one's theoretical and practical knowledge. It can also refer to the clinician's educational background, certificates, licensure and firsthand working experience. Clinicians use these aspects of their practice to gain a sense of their clinical expertise or the ability to make informed decisions as to the best interest of the patients, especially those dealing with disability and autism spectrum disorder.

Before formulating an intervention, the clinician needs to engage the client or caregiver. This way, they can gain insight into the client's interests and dislikes. Clinicians can also take advantage of this opportunity to observe and record the client's reaction to various stimuli while discussing options for intervention.

Clinicians dealing with autism spectrum disorder are required to assess specific interventions and categorize them as:

●Unsupported interventions
●Empirically supported treatments
●Emerging treatments

The American Psychological Association (2006) defines empirically supported treatments as specific interventions that have proven effective after several tests and studies, including random, controlled trials with positive outcomes.

In summary, clinicians should leverage their academic knowledge, experience, patient preferences, and empirically supported treatments to make clinical decisions regarding autism spectrum disorder and disability. This way, they can help realize client goals and formulate the best approach to achieving them. If the clinician can show evidence of the three-phased approach, they have employed EBP.

Authority Behind which interventions are Evidence-Based?

A review of the effectiveness of interventions, especially for clinicians dealing with disability and autism spectrum disorder, was initiated by the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP; 2020). Before that, clinicians referred to publications by the National Autism Centre and Wong et al. (2015) that provided categorization.

 

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