Pilot study of implementing Managing and Adapting Practice in a German psychotherapy master’s program

TL;DR

This pilot study tested the feasibility of integrating the Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP) model into a German psychotherapy master’s program to improve evidence-based practice training.

Contribution

The study introduces a pilot implementation of the MAP system in a reformed German psychotherapy curriculum.

Findings

Students found MAP manageable to learn and showed improved knowledge and confidence in using evidence-based practices.

Feasibility of integrating MAP into the curriculum was supported, though results are limited by small and homogeneous samples.

The study highlights the need for further investigations with larger and more diverse samples.

Abstract

Despite a significant accumulation of research, there has been little systemic implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP) in youth mental health care. The fragmentation of the evidence base complicates implementation efforts. In light of this challenge, we sought to pilot a system that consolidates and coordinates the entire evidence base in a single direct service model (i.e., Managing and Adapting Practice; MAP) in the context of a legal reform of psychotherapy training in Germany. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of MAP into the curriculum of the reformed German master's program. Eligible participants were students in the master’s program at Philipps-University Marburg during the winter-term 2022/2023. Students first learned about MAP through introductions and role plays (seminar 1), followed by actively planning and conducting interventions using MAP resources for patients in a case seminar under supervision (seminar 2). A repeated-measures survey was conducted to investigate students’ knowledge gains, perception of MAP and changes in their self-rated confidence to use EBP. Results indicated that students perceive MAP to be manageable to learn. Positive progress was achieved with regard to their knowledge and self-reported confidence to use EBP, although interpretation and generalization of the results are limited by small and homogeneous samples, lack of statistical power and missing comparison groups. The feasibility of the implementation and suitability of measures are discussed. Important implications could be drawn with regard to future investigations.

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