Adoption of an evidence-based practice approach in the child and family care system in Europe: A comparative survey study

The European policy is placing a strong emphasis on adopting an evidence-based practice (EBP) approach. However, this process has not been sufficiently described and comparatively explored between countries with different family policies, delivery systems, target populations and professional cultures of evaluation and intervention. This study proposed a multicomponent model of implementation strategies to empirically examine the degree of adoption of EBP at national, agency, and practitioner levels in a sample of 20 member countries of the European family support network: A bottom-up, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach (EurofamNet), with a great geographical distribution and different political status: 12 EU members, 6 EU candidate members and 2 non-EU members. Consensual responses to the survey (17 questions) were provided by members of EurofamNet national networks made up of entities at the national, regional, and local levels across sectors. Three clusters of responses were identified, Cluster 1 Initial Level (30%, mainly EU candidates), Cluster 2 Medium Level (40%, EU and non-EU members) and Cluster 3 Advance level (30%, EU and non-EU members). Countries at the Initial Level showed a lack of / or less degree of achievement in the implementation strategies. Countries at the Medium and Advance levels showed progressive steps towards EBP adoption through the implementation of collaborative leadership, translational efforts on agreed EBP guidelines, official recognition of services and professional teams applying EBP guidelines, multi-agency and intersectoral EBP adoption, professional training on EBP guidelines, and dissemination strategies. Our findings highlight the complexity of the transformation process and the multiple determinants involved in bringing the quality standards into the practice environment. Lines of improvement are suggested to help countries reinforce the culture of quality assurance in the child and family services.