Practitioners' attitudes concerning evidence-based guidelines in Belgian substance abuse treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Evidence-based guidelines for substance abuse treatment are available in many European countries. In Belgium, no such guidelines have been developed yet at a national level although their need has repeatedly been emphasized. This study aims to assess Belgian practitioners' attitudes concerning evidence-based guidelines for substance abuse treatment.


METHODS
A survey was conducted with clinical coordinators in a representative sample of 60 agencies dispensing specialized treatment to alcohol and drug abusers.


RESULTS
The study revealed that evidence-based guidelines are rarely used in substance abuse treatment in Belgium, but that many agencies use self-developed guidelines. The attitude concerning evidence-based guidelines is mainly positive. Practitioners' concerns mostly relate to the risk of disregarding their clients' needs and the constraining character of using evidence-based guidelines. The study also reveals some barriers concerning the implementation of evidence-based guidelines and suggests some strategies to overcome them.


CONCLUSIONS
Practitioners appear to be prepared to work with evidence-based guidelines. When developing, adapting and implementing evidence-based guidelines for substance abuse treatment, it is important for policy makers to take into account the state of the art in clinical practice as well as practitioners' needs and requirements.
Autrique
Mieke
M
Association for Alcohol and Other Drug Use (VAD), Brussels, Belgium. mieke.autrique@vad.be
Vanderplasschen
Wouter
W
Broekaert
Eric
E
Sabbe
Bernard
B
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*