An Evaluation of the Competences and Attitudes of the Providers of an Evidence-Based Family Prevention Program

Abstract

Evidence-based family prevention programs have become more prevalent in recent years due to their effectiveness. However, they also pose a number of challenges, such as controlling for possible biases associated with the profile of the program provider. This study assesses whether the professionals in charge of implementing the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) have adequate competences, and whether significant groupings can be identified according to their competences and attitudes to evidence-based practice. It analyses what training and occupational factors might influence their competence levels and attitudes. Through a cross-sectional study, an evaluation was made of the professionals in charge of giving the SFP (n = 177; 84.2% females; mean age: 38 years). They were found to have sufficient levels of suitable competences, particularly in terms of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environment-related skills. From a K-means cluster analysis, significant groupings were identified, based on the professionals’ competences and attitudes to evidence-based practice. When the professionals in Cluster 2 (a higher level of competences and receptive attitudes) were compared with the other clusters, significant differences in two variables were found: (a) the receipt of prior training in the SFP and (b) specialization in family interventions. This finding is important because once the competences had been evaluated to control for possible biases, higher competence levels were shown to influence the program’s effectiveness. For this reason, it is important to identify possible factors that might foster better proficiency in the said skills. This could serve as a guideline for public health services, social agents, and institutions, offering them guidance on the type of competences and level of skills required by the professionals in charge of giving the program.