title: Evidence-based knowledge in the context of social practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social practitioners require evidence-based knowledge as a guide to the development of social policies and practices. This article aims to identify: (1) knowledge domains needed for the development and use of evidence-based knowledge in social practice; (2) promising research methods for such knowledge development; (3) a framework for linking evidence-based practice, systematic reviews, and practice guidelines, as well as standards for systematic reviews and guidelines; (4) issues influencing use of evidence-based knowledge in social practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  This analysis is based on examination of conceptualisations of social practice in a transdisciplinary, evidence-based practice context. Also examined are recent national level reports pertaining to comparative effectiveness research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review identifies key knowledge domains pertinent to a transdisciplinary systems conceptualisation of evidence-based practice and promising comparative effectiveness research methods pertaining to those domains. An integrative conceptualisation of evidence-based practice is proposed including linkages to systematic reviews and practice guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of evidence-based knowledge for social practice can benefit from the use of comparative effectiveness research strategies using a range of research methods tailored to specific questions and resource requirements, and which examine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. An integrating conceptualisation of evidence-based practice that includes a linked process including planned and targeted systematic reviews and guideline development for decision making is needed to facilitate knowledge development and use. Evidence-based research regarding social intervention outcomes can benefit by using conceptual models that view intervention effects as contingent on sets of interacting domains including environmental, organisational, intervener, client-system, technology, and technique variables.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mullen
mesh_terms: D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Comparative effectiveness research; evidence-based practice; social work; transdisciplinary practice