Promoting the internationalization of evidence-based practice: Benchmarking as a strategy to evaluate culturally transported psychological treatments

Abstract

In addition to the growing evidence-based practice movement in psychology, psychological treatments are undergoing increasing adaptation and transportation to other countries and cultures around the world, prompting the need to evaluate treatments in these diverse settings. This article proposes the “benchmarking” strategy as a valuable approach to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally adapted and/or transported treatments and to promote the internationalization of evidence-based practice. We first describe the benchmarking concept in clinical research, followed by considerations for the cultural adaptation and transportation of psychological treatments. We then explain how the benchmarking strategy may be used to validate culturally transported and adapted psychological treatments. The article concludes with a discussion of considerations, limitations, and challenges for conducting cross-cultural benchmarking research.