Knowledge and use of intervention practices by community-based early intervention service providers

Abstract

This study investigated staff attitudes, knowledge and use of evidence-based practices (EBP) and links to organisational culture in a community-based autism early intervention service. An EBP questionnaire was completed by 99 metropolitan and regionally-based professional and paraprofessional staff. Participants reported greater knowledge and use of EBPs compared to emerging and unsupported practices. Knowledge and use of EBPs were linked to each other independent of significant correlations with organisational culture and attitudes. Knowledge and use of EBPs was greater in metropolitan than regional locations and paraprofessionals reported greater use of unsupported practices and lower levels of knowledge and use of EBPs than professionals. The implications of these findings for the facilitation of knowledge transfer are discussed.