title: What clinicians want: findings from a psychotherapy practice research network survey.
abstract: Practice research networks may be one way of advancing knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) in psychotherapy. In this study, we document this process by first asking clinicians what they want from psychotherapy research. Eighty-two psychotherapists in 10 focus groups identified and discussed psychotherapy research topics relevant to their practices. An analysis of these discussions led to the development of 41 survey items. In an online survey, 1,019 participants, mostly practicing clinicians, rated the importance to their clinical work of these 41 psychotherapy research topics. Ratings were reduced using a principal components analysis in which 9 psychotherapy research themes emerged, accounting for 60.66% of the variance. Two postsurvey focus groups of clinicians (N = 22) aided in interpreting the findings. The ranking of research themes from most to least important were-Therapeutic Relationship/Mechanisms of Change, Therapist Factors, Training and Professional Development, Client Factors, Barriers and Stigma, Technology and Adjunctive Interventions, Progress Monitoring, Matching Clients to Therapist or Therapy, and Treatment Manuals. Few differences were noted in rankings based on participant age or primary therapeutic orientation. Postsurvey focus group participants were not surprised by the top-rated items, as they were considered most proximal and relevant to therapists and their work with clients during therapy sessions. Lower ranked items may be perceived as externally imposed agendas on the therapist and therapy. We discuss practice research networks as a means of creating new collaborations consistent with KTE goals. Findings of this study can help to direct practitioner-researcher collaborations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Giorgio A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sylvestre
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balfour
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chyurlia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fortin-Langelier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Royal Ottawa Hospital.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huehn
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunsley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta.
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koszycki
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Molyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leszcz
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lybanon-Daigle
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ogrodniczuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Presniak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Kerri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, The Ottawa Hospital.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires