Contemporary Perceptions of Evidence-Based Practices in Rehabilitation Counseling
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Rehabilitation
Volume
84
Issue
4
Publisher
National Rehabilitation Association
Publication Date
10-1-2018
First Page
3
Last Page
11
Abstract
The perceived effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation services often differs from substantiated evidence-based practice (EBP). Using a general inductive approach to qualitative analysis, the perceived effectiveness of evidence-based and promising practices in vocational rehabilitation service delivery that may facilitate employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities were explored. Some of the identified practices are highly promising in terms of staff and management perspectives, but they generally lack empirical support at the level needed to refer to them definitively as evidence-based practices. Results indicated differences in opinion among the rehabilitation counseling subject matter experts (SMEs) regarding the description of EBP. SMEs perception also differed on the actual existence of EBP practices in VR service delivery. The lack of uniformity regarding what constitutes EBP and which services are evidence-based creates difficulties for service providers. Challenges for the field wide implementation of identified EBP include the atheoretical nature of rehabilitation counseling practice, levels of evidence, and reliance on functional outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Sherman, S., Landon, T. J., Del Valle, R., Leahy, M. J., and Chan, F. (2018). Contemporary perceptions of evidence-based practices in rehabilitation counseling. Journal of Rehabilitation, 84(4), 3-11.