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Clinical social workers' involvement in and adoption of managed mental health care technology

Angelotta, John Walton
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057687689

Abstract Details

1994, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Social Welfare.
Contemporary clinical social work practice has been in the process of being radically altered by the proliferation of what has become known as managed mental health care technology (MMHC). To date there is not an empirical basis for determining the extent to which clinical social workers have been involved with or have adopted MMHC. The present study investigated the degree to which clinical social workers have adopted MMHC, and attempted to identify reasons why that technology has been accepted or rejected. Adoption patterns were conceptualized in terms of Rogers' (1962; 1971; 1976; 1986) Diffusion of Innovations theory. Thus, the major question of this study was: Does clinical social workers' perceived involvement with ("adoption of") MMHC have a differential relationship with the diffusion of innovations adoption characteristics "perceived relative advantage", "perceived compatibility", and "perceived complexity"? To assess adoption of MMHC, this research asked subjects to respond to a mailed survey. Participants were selected randomly from the 1990 Register of Clinical Social Workers. Subjects selected the degree to which they perceived themselves to be involved with MMHC. Their responses served to place them in one of four groups ranging from no t involved to very involved. A one-way analysis of variance (with four levels of the variable, "involvement") was performed for each of the three measures of the perceived adoption characteristics. Forty-four percent (N = 950) of the total sample (N = 2139) returned usable questionnaires. Slightly more than 80% (N = 763) of the sample had some degree of involvement in MMHC. Eighteen percent (N = 169) of the sample indicated that they were very involved with MMHC. Likewise, 18% (N = 169) of the respondents indicated that they were not at all involved with MMHC. The results of the ANOVAs affirmed each of the hypotheses advanced. As expected, the perceived diffusion of innovations characteristics "relative advantage" and "compatibility" were significantly positively correlated with "degree of involvement". Likewise, "complexity" was significantly negatively correlated with degree of involvement. The fundamental findings of this research are that a significant number of clinical social workers have indeed adopted MMHC, and those who have tend to view MMHC as providing them with a greater relative advantage and compatibility, and less complexity. The present study has implications for practice, policy and organizations.
Richard Edwards (Advisor)
164 p.
social workers' involvement; managed mental health care; technology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Angelotta, J. W. (1994). Clinical social workers' involvement in and adoption of managed mental health care technology [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057687689

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Angelotta, John. Clinical social workers' involvement in and adoption of managed mental health care technology. 1994. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057687689.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Angelotta, John. "Clinical social workers' involvement in and adoption of managed mental health care technology." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 1994. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1057687689

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1057687689
641
© 1994, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12