Role and Scope of the Evidence Database

SWLI coordinates the Evidence Database of related, published studies and articles that illuminate and advance policy discussions regarding aging care and the role of social workers.

The database is intended to serve an internal function for the Social Work Leadership Institute, and affiliated partners. That function is to provide easy access to empirical studies of social work intervention effectiveness and cost-effectiveness with older adults. This data provides an empirical foundation for policy advocacy undertaken by the Social Work Leadership Institute. In addition the database is designed to be a resource for potential users outside of NYAM also engaged in policy advocacy for social work and for other related types of psychosocial interventions for older adults and aging care workforce development.

The database is intended to provide in-depth coverage of a number of high-priority policy topics. These policy topics will be identified by an Advisory Committee from time to time. To date the general effectiveness of social work intervention has been identified as a topic to be included. The database currently includes studies examining this topic. Also identified for future inclusion are the topics of care coordination, long-term care and workforce development for social work practice with older adults. These policy topics are currently being searched and studies will soon appear in the database pertaining to each.

The database is restricted to published articles reporting the results of empirical research studies. Preference for inclusion is given to articles published in peer review journals thus assuring a minimal level of quality.

Since the database is designed to provide empirical support for policy development which seeks to promote effective and cost-effective programs and services for older adults the database includes primarily intervention studies addressing problem reduction or amelioration and prevention studies which seek to prevent a problem from occurring or to prevent further negative outcomes when problems have already emerged.

Articles included in the database are catalogued along a number of dimensions so as to provide users with sufficient information to make informed assessments of the relevance, quality and outcomes of the interventions reported. Articles that do not meet minimum standards of relevance and quality are excluded from the database.

The following process was used to review the results of the search and add an article to the database:

• A literature search was performed on a topic selected by the advisory committee. (see topics)
• An initial assessment for relevancy of each citation retrieved was performed
• Two reviewers independently assessed the articles using pre-screening questions (see below) that directed the reviewers to a full review in either of the following categories:
  • Experimental and quasi-experimental design review
  • Non-experimental design review
  • Synthesis review
• A third reviewer examined the reviews for accuracy and determined whether to accept or reject the article for inclusion in the database

Three types of articles, derived from the outcomes of either single studies or a syntheses of multiple studies, have been reviewed for inclusion in the database. For articles reporting the outcomes of single studies using either an experimental or quasi-experimental design we used one review form and for those articles using any other type of design we used a second review form. A third review form was used to assess the reporting of syntheses articles, such as systematic reviews. Consequently, different information is provided for each article in the database depending on the type of study. Specific selection criteria for each topic are described in the Topic section of this website.