Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics

<br><b>Introduction.</b> Environmental scanning, as a component of absorptive capacity, has been shown to be associated with increased use of innovative treatment techniques at substance abuse treatment programmes. As the transfer of innovative, evidence-based treatment techniques...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alison L. Koch, Cynthia L. Arfken, Marcus W. Dickson, Elizabeth Agius, & Jacqueline K. Mitchelson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Borås 2005-01-01
Series:Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://informationr.net/ir/11-1/paper244.html
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832569935539208192
author Alison L. Koch
Cynthia L. Arfken
Marcus W. Dickson
Elizabeth Agius
& Jacqueline K. Mitchelson
author_facet Alison L. Koch
Cynthia L. Arfken
Marcus W. Dickson
Elizabeth Agius
& Jacqueline K. Mitchelson
author_sort Alison L. Koch
collection DOAJ
description <br><b>Introduction.</b> Environmental scanning, as a component of absorptive capacity, has been shown to be associated with increased use of innovative treatment techniques at substance abuse treatment programmes. As the transfer of innovative, evidence-based treatment techniques from research to practice is gaining attention, we aimed to identify variables associated with higher levels of environmental scanning among substance abuse treatment clinicians. <br><b>Method.</b> A cross-sectional survey was administered to 162 clinicians at 15 substance abuse treatment clinics in Michigan. Measures: Environmental scanning was measured by frequency of use of the Internet, journals, seminars or conferences, and people at other treatment clinics for new substance abuse treatment information. Clinicians were asked for their perceptions of their clinic&#8217;s openness to new treatment techniques and support for acquiring new information, access to and satisfaction with information sources at work, as well as if they feel it is their job to keep up to date with current treatment research. Additional measures included whether they intended to quit their jobs and whether they were emotionally drained from work. Findings: We found positive associations between environmental scanning and perceived clinic support for acquiring new information, perceived clinic openness to new treatment techniques, access to e-mail and Internet at work, and satisfaction with resources. Turnover intention and being emotionally drained were negatively associated with environmental scanning. <br><b>Conclusion.</b> : Individual and organizational level variables were found to be associated with higher levels of environmental scanning activity. Although the causal directions of these associations are not known, the findings suggest ways to increase environmental scanning among clinicians.
format Article
id doaj-art-7c6aee058af847a99a09880e86d93d9c
institution Kabale University
issn 1368-1613
language English
publishDate 2005-01-01
publisher University of Borås
record_format Article
series Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
spelling doaj-art-7c6aee058af847a99a09880e86d93d9c2025-02-02T18:45:32ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132005-01-01111244Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinicsAlison L. KochCynthia L. ArfkenMarcus W. DicksonElizabeth Agius& Jacqueline K. Mitchelson<br><b>Introduction.</b> Environmental scanning, as a component of absorptive capacity, has been shown to be associated with increased use of innovative treatment techniques at substance abuse treatment programmes. As the transfer of innovative, evidence-based treatment techniques from research to practice is gaining attention, we aimed to identify variables associated with higher levels of environmental scanning among substance abuse treatment clinicians. <br><b>Method.</b> A cross-sectional survey was administered to 162 clinicians at 15 substance abuse treatment clinics in Michigan. Measures: Environmental scanning was measured by frequency of use of the Internet, journals, seminars or conferences, and people at other treatment clinics for new substance abuse treatment information. Clinicians were asked for their perceptions of their clinic&#8217;s openness to new treatment techniques and support for acquiring new information, access to and satisfaction with information sources at work, as well as if they feel it is their job to keep up to date with current treatment research. Additional measures included whether they intended to quit their jobs and whether they were emotionally drained from work. Findings: We found positive associations between environmental scanning and perceived clinic support for acquiring new information, perceived clinic openness to new treatment techniques, access to e-mail and Internet at work, and satisfaction with resources. Turnover intention and being emotionally drained were negatively associated with environmental scanning. <br><b>Conclusion.</b> : Individual and organizational level variables were found to be associated with higher levels of environmental scanning activity. Although the causal directions of these associations are not known, the findings suggest ways to increase environmental scanning among clinicians.http://informationr.net/ir/11-1/paper244.htmlThe environmental scanning activities of substance abuse treatment clinicians.
spellingShingle Alison L. Koch
Cynthia L. Arfken
Marcus W. Dickson
Elizabeth Agius
& Jacqueline K. Mitchelson
Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics
Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
The environmental scanning activities of substance abuse treatment clinicians.
title Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics
title_full Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics
title_fullStr Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics
title_full_unstemmed Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics
title_short Variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics
title_sort variables associated with environmental scanning among clinicians at substance abuse treatment clinics
topic The environmental scanning activities of substance abuse treatment clinicians.
url http://informationr.net/ir/11-1/paper244.html
work_keys_str_mv AT alisonlkoch variablesassociatedwithenvironmentalscanningamongcliniciansatsubstanceabusetreatmentclinics
AT cynthialarfken variablesassociatedwithenvironmentalscanningamongcliniciansatsubstanceabusetreatmentclinics
AT marcuswdickson variablesassociatedwithenvironmentalscanningamongcliniciansatsubstanceabusetreatmentclinics
AT elizabethagius variablesassociatedwithenvironmentalscanningamongcliniciansatsubstanceabusetreatmentclinics
AT jacquelinekmitchelson variablesassociatedwithenvironmentalscanningamongcliniciansatsubstanceabusetreatmentclinics