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Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Evidence-based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) in a Geographically Diverse Sample of Community Mental Health Providers

Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research volume 34, Article number: 465 (2007) Cite this article

Abstract

The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) assesses mental health service provider attitudes toward adopting evidence-based practices. The original scale development was done in one large California County using paper/pencil surveys. The present study examined the factor structure and internal consistency of the EBPAS in a sample of service providers from 17 states. Participants were mental health workers from agencies affiliated with communities funded under the federal Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the originally derived a priori factor structure of the EBPAS in this new more geographically diverse sample and with a different data collection method. Analyses also demonstrated better internal consistency than in the original psychometric analyses. This study supports the factor structure and reliability of the EBPAS.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by contract #280-99-8023 from the Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. This work was also supported in part by NIMH Grants No. MH01695 and MH072961 (PI: Aarons).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Gregory A. Aarons

  2. Child & Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital, 3020 Children’s Way, MC-5033, San Diego, CA, 92123-4282, USA

    Gregory A. Aarons & Elizabeth J. McDonald

  3. ORC Macro, 116 John Street, Suite 800, New York, NY, USA

    Angela K. Sheehan & Christine M. Walrath-Greene

Authors
  1. Gregory A. Aarons
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  2. Elizabeth J. McDonald
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  3. Angela K. Sheehan
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  4. Christine M. Walrath-Greene
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Correspondence to Gregory A. Aarons.

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Aarons, G.A., McDonald, E.J., Sheehan, A.K. et al. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Evidence-based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) in a Geographically Diverse Sample of Community Mental Health Providers. Adm Policy Ment Health 34, 465 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-007-0127-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-007-0127-x

Keywords

  • Evidence-based practice
  • Mental health services
  • Provider attitudes