Background: The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in Brazil is an important initiative to promote the use of scientific evidence in psychology research and practice. The American Psychological Association, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and several international associations emphasize the importance of EBP as a major initiative to contribute to reducing the global burden of mental disorders, a leading cause of disability worldwide.
Objectives: To provide an overview of the implementation of EBP in Brazil and evaluate the effectiveness of the program through a literature review and analysis of data from the first course on EBP in Brazil.
Methods: A literature review and analysis of data from the first course on EBP in Brazil and the implementation program at the University of São Paulo and Federal University of Sao Paulo were conducted to evaluate the program’s effectiveness.
Results: Over the past decade, the implementation of EBP in Brazil has made significant progress, including the publication of the first book on the topic—Evidence-Based Psychology: scientific proofs of efficacy of psychotherapy (Melnik and Atallah 2011)—and the development of the first course. The program has trained and supported numerous clinical psychologists and academics, with positive results. Among the outcomes, more than 65% of participants registered a systematic review protocol, approximately 50% completed a full systematic review, and 35% published primary studies.
Conclusions: The implementation of EBP in Brazil is a major challenge due to the gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice. The program developed at the University of São Paulo and Federal University of Sao Paulo has been successful in training and supporting clinicians and researchers in implementing evidence in their clinical practice. The impact of the program has been remarkable and has resulted in benefits for the development of relevant scientific projects and the improvement of clinical outcomes supported by scientific evidence. Further efforts are needed to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice in Brazil.
Patient, public and/or healthcare consumer involvement: The impact of the program has been remarkable and has resulted in benefits for the development of relevant scientific projects and the improvement of clinical outcomes supported by scientific evidence.