Provider self-efficacy in delivering evidence-based psychosocial interventions: A scoping review

Abstract

Background:

Among the many variables that affect implementation of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings, self-efficacy is one of the most important factors at the provider level of the social ecology. Yet, research on the construct of provider self-efficacy remains limited.

Objectives:

This scoping review was conducted to enhance understanding of the construct of provider self-efficacy and to examine how the construct is defined and measured in the context of implementation of evidence-based mental health interventions.

Design:

Online databases were used to identify 190 papers published from 1999 to June of 2018 that included search terms for providers, evidence-based, and self-efficacy. To be eligible for the scoping review, papers needed to focus on the self-efficacy of mental health providers to deliver evidence-based psychosocial interventions. A total of 15 publications were included in the review.

Results:

The construct of provider self-efficacy is not clearly defined but is typically described as confidence to deliver a specific intervention or practice. A range of measures are used to assess provider self-efficacy across both provider and intervention types.

Conclusions:

Standardized definition and measurement of provider self-efficacy is needed to advance practice and implementation research.