1 – Most social work interventions are not well-supported by research. This situation is not likely to change. Although guided by good intentions this may result in poor or even harmful services.
2 – A strategy of how practitioners can use theory and research to assess the relevance of social work interventions.
3 – The presentation is anchored in evidence-based practice and particularly in the concept of best available evidence and the accompanying relative certainty of effects as well as risk of causing harm.
Knut Sundell is an Associate Professor in psychology and Senior Advisor for Social Affairs at the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services. Previous position has been as a research director at Stockholm and director at the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. His research focus has been on evidence-based social work practice and dissemination.