ERIC Number: EJ1432862
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-May
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0894-587X
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3289
Available Date: N/A
Implementation-as-Usual in Community-Based Organizations Providing Specialized Services to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Mixed Methods Study
Amy Drahota; Rosemary D. Meza; Tatiana E. Bustos; Aksheya Sridhar; Jonathan I. Martinez; Brigitte Brikho; Aubyn C. Stahmer; Gregory A. Aarons
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, v48 n3 p482-498 2021
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. ASD community-based organizations (ASD-CBOs) underutilize or inconsistently utilize evidence-based practices (ASD-EBPs) despite numerous available EBPs to treat ASD. Nonetheless, ASD-CBOs implement changes to practices regularly. Understanding ASD-CBO's implementation-as-usual (IAU) processes may assist to develop strategies to facilitate ASD-EBP adoption, implementation and sustainment. A convergent mixed methods (quan + QUAL) design was utilized. Twenty ASD-CBO agency leaders (ALs) and 26 direct providers (DPs), from 21 ASD-CBOs, completed the Autism Model of Implementation Survey Battery, including demographic and agency IAU process questions. Surveys were analyzed through descriptive and content analyses. A subset of 10 ALs provided qualitative interview data that were analyzed using coding, consensus and comparison methods to allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the IAU process within their ASD-CBOs. Quantitative analyses and qualitative coding were merged utilizing a joint display and compared. Results suggest that the IAU process follows some phases identified in the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework but were conducted in an informal manner--lacking specificity, structure and consistency across and within ASD-CBOs. Moreover, data suggest adding a specific "adoption decision phase" to the framework. Nonetheless, most ALs felt previous implementation efforts were successful. IAU processes were explored to determine whether the implementation process may be an area for intervention to increase ASD-EBP utilization in ASD-CBOs. Developing a systematized implementation process may facilitate broader utilization of high quality ASD-EBPs within usual care settings, and ultimately improve the quality of life for individuals with ASD and their families.
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Community Organizations, Adoption (Ideas), Program Implementation, Strategic Planning, Sustainability, Agencies, Extension Agents, Reliability
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH); US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: K01MH093477; R25MH080916
Author Affiliations: N/A