Gaps between Supply and Utilization of Social Work Evidence in Mainland of China

Abstract

Purpose: The comparison research involving two studies aimed to explore the gap between social work evidence production and utilization in Mainland of China. Methods: Study 1 was a scoping review to screen qualified publications in the Web of Science Core Collection. Study 2 conducted correlation analysis and an analysis of variance using the data from the China Social Work Longitudinal Study 2019. Results: In Study 1, 745 publications from 35 main social work journals represented the overall improving volume and quality of evidence in Mainland of China. Study 2 showed a low intention to use evidence among the Chinese Mainland social work practitioners, which could be influenced by working region, years of work, educational level, work position, professional level, awareness of evidence-based practice (EBP), and willingness to learn EBP. Conclusions: An education gap, an intention gap, a regional development gap, and a time lag were identified between social work evidence supply and utilization in Mainland of China. Well-established education and training, as well as practice-research networks may be the solutions to bridge these gaps.