Healthcare workers benefit from remaining up-to-date on the latest research in addiction recovery and mental health treatment. Studies have shown that “[h]ealth professionals serve as the bridge between patients, the knowledge generated by scientific research, and the policies and practices to implement that knowledge.” Participating in continuing education and monitoring research outcomes allows healthcare workers to develop additional skills and gain insights into client care. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to remain current on the latest addiction recovery and mental health research. Staff members benefit from learning about research advances related to their areas of expertise.
How Does Staying Up-to-Date on the Latest Research Help Clinicians Provide Better Care?
Research is an essential step in creating new healthcare solutions and treatments. Implementing well-researched therapeutic techniques allows healthcare professionals to support clients and discover new treatment methods. Everyone in healthcare plays a role in developing innovative methods of addressing mental health and addiction recovery.
Staying updated on current research and treatment modalities helps clinicians and support staff provide better care by doing the following:
- Enhancing general knowledge and ensuring healthcare professionals remain informed of the latest advancements in client care
- Allowing healthcare professionals to implement more appropriate and effective treatments
- Ensuring clients receive access to safer and higher-quality care
- Enabling the care team to make educated decisions regarding client planning and care
Learning new ways of approaching common challenges in client care improves the overall treatment experience for clinicians, support staff, clients, and their families.
Where to Locate the Latest Research
Online libraries of free-to-read research articles and studies provide an excellent resource for individuals wanting to stay up-to-date on the latest scientific insights.
Some trusted sources of studies, reviews, and general healthcare information include:
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- MedlinePlus
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR)
- National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- National Library of Medicine (NLM)
- British Medical Journal (BMJ)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Network)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Helpful research articles can be found in journals published online or available at public libraries and stores. Many experts in mental health write books about cases they encounter, techniques they develop, and research they conduct. Physically published material may be based on older research, depending on how long the publishing process took and whether it was based on decades of research or recent advancements.
Online books from reputable sources offer excellent information healthcare workers can use to improve their skills and the services provided to clients. Staff must vet e-books to ensure the content creators are qualified to write on the subject. Often, writer information includes links to author bios where healthcare workers can check the author’s education and background.
How to Recognize a Reliable Source
Healthcare professionals should know how to identify whether a source is potentially reliable. Providing treatment based on untrustworthy sources increases the risk of staff members giving misinformation or disinformation to clients and their loved ones. Professionals are morally obligated to vet their sources and ensure they do not cause emotional or physical harm to the individuals in their care.
Reliable sources should have the following:
- Identifiable authors with qualifications that make them knowledgeable in that area of expertise
- Peer reviewed content
- Current information that reflects up-to-date scientific knowledge
- References and citations to support claims in the content
- Transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest
- Information about how the author gathered and analyzed their data
- An editorial board or other form of oversight to ensure content accuracy
Reliable domains for online information may include .gov, .edu, and .org sources. Regardless of the domain, healthcare workers should carefully assess every piece of information before incorporating it into client care. The information should be easily accessible and understood. Complex or convoluted sources may cause people to misunderstand the information, leading to potential misinformation or disinformation. Reliable sources are professional, verifiable, and created by individuals qualified to address those topics.
When to Incorporate New Techniques Into Client Care
Initial reports of new techniques and strategies for treating mental health disorders are not always a good indication of their efficacy. Professionals should rely on proven and verifiable facts, not anecdotal evidence, when deciding whether to implement new procedures, modalities, or techniques into client care. Research is a starting point for growth and innovation, not an endpoint. Healthcare professionals should not rely solely on their own judgment to determine if they should incorporate something into a client’s treatment plan. Everyone has unconscious biases that may impact how they approach certain subjects.
How Does Driftwood Recovery Ensure Staff Remain Updated on the Latest Research?
Healthcare professionals benefit when the management team provides them with the resources and tools to easily access additional training and educational materials. Driftwood Recovery prioritizes staff training and education to ensure clients receive the best care and support. Continuing training improves services and ensures staff can address client concerns with the most relevant and up-to-date treatments, techniques, and services. Each team member is held to a high standard and taught best practices to create an environment that values teamwork, education, and skill development.
Being aware of breakthroughs in research surrounding mental health and addiction recovery allows healthcare workers to provide better client care. Every year, new studies and papers showcase updated information about how the mind and body interact. Staying informed about the treatment options and potential connections between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors ensures clinicians and support staff offer clients relevant, effective, and appropriate care. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to monitor research breakthroughs and stay updated on new trends, treatment options, and resources. Clients and treatment programs benefit when professionals stay informed of the latest information within medical and nonmedical fields. To learn more about how we help clients heal, call us today at (512) 759-8330.