Health Care Social Workers Research Articles

What are the Clinical-Epidemiological Differences between Initial Infection and Reinfection Covid-19 with Fourth Dose of Bivalent mRNA Vaccine? A Study in the Period from October 2022 to October 2023, In a General Medicine Office (Toledo, Spain)

Background: The clinical-epidemiological differences between primary infections versus reinfections of covid-19 with the 4th dose of bivalent mRNA vaccine are not known. Objective: Compare primary infections versus reinfections of covid-19 with 4th dose of bivalent mRNA vaccine. Methodology: An observational, longitudinal and prospective case series study of adult patients with covid-19 infections in vaccinated people with 4th dose in general medicine from October 1, 2022 to October 1, 2023. Descriptive epidemiological analysis considered a set of selected demographic and clinical features. Results: 16 people with fourth dose and with covid-19 infections and 5 people with fourth dose and with covid-19 reinfections from October 2022 to October 2023 were included. Reinfection versus primary infections were more frequent in women, socialhealth care workers, complex family, moderate-severe severity of infection, chronic diseases of the Neoplasms, Endocrine, Musculo-skeletal and Genitourinary groups, and presented more ENT and neurological symptoms. But, the only variable with statistically significant differences was the presence of Neoplasms (13% versus 0%; Fisher exact test = 0.0483). Conclusion: In the context of a general medicine consultation in Toledo (Spain) from October 2022 October 2023, in people with the fourth dose of bivalent mRNA vaccine against covid-19, covid-19 reinfections did not differ in their clinicalepidemiological characteristics except for being more frequent in presumably immunosuppressed patients (patients with Neoplasms) compared to covid-19 primary infections. In any case, our results, although consistent with the existing literature, should be taken with caution due to the small number of covid-19 cases included.

Multi-professional perspectives to reduce moral distress: A qualitative investigation.

Encounters of moral distress have long-term consequences on healthcare workers' physical and mental health, leading to job dissatisfaction, reduced patient care, and high levels of burnout, exhaustion, and intentions to quit. Yet, research on approaches to ameliorate moral distress across the health workforce is limited. The aim of our study was to qualitatively explore multi-professional perspectives of healthcare social workers, chaplains, and patient liaisons on ways to reduce moral distress and heighten well-being at a southern U.S. academic medical center. Purposive sampling and chain-referral methods assisted with recruitment through hospital listservs, staff meetings, and newsletters. Interested participants contacted the principal investigator and all interviews were conducted in-person. Consent was attained prior to interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Directed content analysis was used to deductively organize codes and to develop themes in conjunction with the National Academy of Medicine's National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being. Rigor was attained through peer-debriefing, data triangulation methods, and frequent research team meetings. Ethics approval was obtained from the university and medical center institutional review boards. Themes demonstrate that rather than offering interventions in the aftermath of moral distress, multilevel daily practices ought to be considered that pre-emptively identify and reduce morally distressing encounters through (1) the care team, (2) management and leadership, and (3) the health care industry. Strategies include interdisciplinary decision-making, trusting managerial relationships, and organizational policies and practices that explicitly invest in mental health promotion and diverse leadership opportunities. Moral distress interventions ought to target short-term stress reactions while also addressing the long-term impacts of moral residue. Health systems must financially commit to an ethical workplace culture that explicitly values mental health and well-being.

Healthcare Social Workers' Scope of Practice during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the U.S. healthcare system to its limits, resulting in the need for flexibility in care delivery. This study aimed to describe healthcare social workers' scope of practice since the start of the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews for this qualitative study were conducted using the Zoom platform between July and August 2020. This study used a basic qualitative content analysis with integrated deductive and inductive coding to explore participant perspectives. Their scope was assessed based on healthcare social work practice standards. Four practice standards and eight themes that emerged from the data were knowledge and skills (care planning and intervention and social worker-patient relationship), workload sustainability (workload expansion and workload facilitators), interdisciplinary collaboration (collaborating beyond the scope of responsibilities and collaboration challenges), and cultural competency (institutional and societal). The findings add a deeper understanding of the roles social workers perform, how they think about these roles, how they want to be understood, and how they are best utilized in ways consistent with their training and expertise. Moving forward, healthcare systems may consider well-delineated roles and responsibilities for everyday practice and during pandemics.

The Crucial Need for Child Assessments and Interventions Training in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, children face significant challenges that impede their well-being and development, including poverty, violence, abuse, and limited access to healthcare and education. These adversities profoundly impact their physical, mental, and emotional health. Over 70% of the population lives in poverty, depriving children of essential resources such as nutritious food, clean water, and proper sanitation (World Bank, 2022). High incidences of violence and abuse further jeopardise children’s development, with approximately one in three girls and one in five boys experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18 (UNICEF Zimbabwe, 2019). The healthcare system is strained by a shortage of professionals and insufficient training in child-specific needs, failing to provide adequate care (Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care, 2021). The education sector also struggles, particularly in rural areas, where children face inadequate facilities and untrained teachers (Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, 2020). To address these challenges, robust training programs in child assessments and interventions are crucial. Such training would equip healthcare providers, educators, and social workers with the skills to identify developmental disorders and other issues early, allowing for timely and appropriate interventions. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for children with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020). Investing in child assessments and intervention training would enhance professionals’ abilities to support children who have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect. This investment would also address the impacts of poverty and violence by enabling targeted support such as counselling, nutritional assistance, and educational programs. Effective community-based interventions, supported by well-trained professionals, can mitigate the adverse effects of socio-economic challenges (Cluver et al., 2018). Moreover, comprehensive training programs for educators can enhance educational outcomes for children with special needs. Early identification of learning disabilities through thorough child assessments allows for the development of individualised education plans (IEPs), providing customized support to meet each child’s unique needs (Shaywitz, 2003). Improving access to healthcare through mobile clinics and telehealth services, alongside training healthcare providers in child assessments, can bridge the gap in healthcare services for children, especially in rural areas. Developing a supportive infrastructure, including standardized assessment tools, training programs, and a robust referral system, is essential for effective implementation (van der Linde et al., 2018). By prioritizing child assessments and intervention training, Zimbabwe can create a supportive environment for children’s development, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. This coordinated effort will pave the way for a brighter future for Zimbabwe’s youth, fostering their growth and development amidst challenging circumstances.

The Latest Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia.

Dementia is a debilitating neurological condition that is characterized by persistent cognitive decline. It is a global health challenge, with a rapidly increasing prevalence due to an increasing aging population. Although definitive diagnosis of various conditions of dementia is only possible by autopsy, clinical diagnosis can be performed by a specialist. The diagnostic process has evolved with recent breakthroughs in diagnostic tools, such as advanced imaging techniques and biomarkers. These tools facilitate early and accurate identification of the condition. Early diagnosis is vital, as it enables timely interventions to improve the quality of life for affected individuals. Treatment strategies for dementia encompass both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Non-pharmacological treatments include cognitive training and lifestyle modifications. Among pharmacological treatments, acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitors including donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine can be used in various doses based on the severity of the disease. Apart from these, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists such as memantine can also be used. Furthermore, personalized treatments have also gained significant attention in dementia treatment. Interdisciplinary care, involving healthcare professionals, social workers, and support networks, is crucial for comprehensive and holistic dementia management.

Communication is key: at-risk families’ perspectives on follow-up in New Jersey’s early hearing detection and intervention program

ABSTRACT Babies whose families possess multiple marginalized identities are at-risk for being late or lost to follow-up although there is a universal effort to screen and treat hearing loss in babies as part of state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs. Lack of timely follow-up puts young children at risk for delays in language acquisition, social skills, cognitive development, and school success. This qualitative study explored barriers to follow-up audiological care in at-risk families in New Jersey. Using thematic analysis, this research uncovered two major findings: 1) communication normalizes failed screenings, and 2) parents need clearer and more in-depth information. Health care social workers are well-suited to address these challenges due to their training in integrated social work practice, which can help them understand the complex interplay between individuals and their environments. In doing so social workers can improve access to needed services and promote health equity.

"Pouring From an Empty Cup": Manifestations, Drivers, and Protective Factors of Occupational Stress Among Healthcare Providers of Trauma-Informed Care.

In the United States alone, 10 million people are affected by family and domestic violence (DV). DV survivors experience many forms of victimization, including physical, psychological, and sexual abuse resulting in trauma. The DV workforce, including healthcare providers, social workers, advocates, and other providers, utilize trauma-informed care in a variety of settings to help DV survivors heal and recover from their traumatic experiences. Given the intensity of DV work and occupational stressors associated with navigating complex survivor cases and systems of care, health and mental health professionals can experience burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how professionals in the DV workforce, including healthcare and mental health professionals, experience and mitigate occupational stress. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with DV professionals, who worked in medical settings like urban hospitals as well as DV shelters and rape crisis centers in Boston, MA. A semistructured interview guide was developed, and pilot tested and addressed the following topics including experiences of occupational stress, and mitigators of occupational stress. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Codes were organized into themes and subthemes, which were reviewed and refined during research team discussions. Risk factors of occupational stress included caseload quantity and intensity, workplace isolation, and length of time in the field. Protective factors spanned individual, interpersonal, and organizational level factors. Participants described various strategies for mitigating occupational stress, including training, supervision, and self-care. Findings from this study have the potential to inform policies and practices among healthcare organizations that support professionals in the DV workforce who work with DV survivors.

Negotiating Dementia care in networks of care: The effects of compounded disasters on social networks of care in rural Puerto Rico

AbstractBackgroundAlready living through public health infrastructure cuts and austerity measures, Puerto Rico has experienced a multifaceted series of compounded disasters: hurricanes, earthquakes, and the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. These events have further exacerbated and disrupted the protocols and procedures employed by health and government officials in the care and support of caregivers and family members living with dementia. In the mountainous interior of the island, this has further been pronounced, where the roles and resources of healthcare professionals have been pressed and stretched. This study aims to explore the disruption to the social networks of health care professionals and social workers in the aftermath of these events.MethodNarrative interviews were carried out with 16 health care professionals and social workers who served as brokers—a link between groups, information and/or resources—to the citizens of various towns in the interior of the island of Puerto Rico. Grounded theory methodology was employed to explore changes within the network.ResultGaps in the networks of public health officials were identified, resulting in the emergence of multiple structural holes. These gaps were bridged by the local communities of health care and social workers, who were responsible for providing resources and support beyond those typically provided to the community. The bridging of these gaps—although at times limited—was crucial in order to ensure the provision of resources and support to caregivers of family members with dementia.ConclusionThe results reveal the diverse roles assumed by health care and social work professionals as intermediaries in the aftermath of compounded disasters. These findings provide insight into the necessary connections within the health care and local community that must be established to mitigate the effects of natural and human‐caused catastrophes. The understanding of the roles performed and assumed by these professionals can aid in the development of mitigation strategies that could improve the provision of resources and support to vulnerable populations of elderly living with dementia in future disaster situations.

Meeting families in various social situations: reflections from healthcare staff working with an extended home-visiting program in Sweden

ObjectivesHealth inequalities exist among children in Sweden, and one effort that the Swedish government has focused on to promote health among small children and their parents is an extended home-visiting program during the child’s first 15 months. This study aimed to illuminate healthcare professionals’ experiences of meeting parents in different social situations during the home visits within Grow safely.MethodsThe chosen method was qualitative, and 13 interviews were carried out with healthcare, social, and dental professionals working with the extended home-visiting program within the child healthcare in the south of Sweden.ResultsThe results revealed that the parents raised differing needs in the meetings with the healthcare professionals in the program. The needs included advice on children with special needs, support with problematic breastfeeding, and more psychosocial support. The professionals met different groups of parents, such as young parents or newly arrived migrant parents, that in different ways needed the team to reach out to them. The professionals also met families who came from better-off areas and who were not initially considered to really need the program. As the program progressed, these parents could see that diverse, unpredictable needs could be met by the intervention. For example, the program provided access to and advice from social workers, which in turn created contacts that lasted longer than the program itself.ConclusionsThe professionals encountered various family situations and needs within the extended home-visiting program. This highlights the need for a close collaboration between child healthcare nurses and social workers, in order to be able to support the families and work towards the aim of reaching equal health among all children in Sweden.

The Perceptions of General Population About Mental Health Services in Baghdad, Iraq: A Qualitative Study

Background: Access to mental health services remains a challenge in many countries including Iraq, where mental illness is often stigmatized and marginalized. This can lead to negative outcomes such as decreased quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality.
 Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the perceptions of general population in Iraq towards mental health services and identify the challenges facing patient access to these services. Methods: This qualitative study included face-to-face semi-structured interviews with general population in primary health care centers and private pharmacies in Baghdad between (December 2022 through February 2023). Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes and sub-themes. Results: Thirty participants were recruited in this study. The study found that the general population in Iraq have negative perceptions towards mental health services. The repeated themes were "public social stigma," "lack of privacy in public healthcare settings," and "lack of psychotherapy sessions in mental health services." The social stigma" was further divided into sub-themes including stigma from family, friends, or co-workers. Lack of privacy indicated there are too many interruptions in the environment of public healthcare settings. Lack of non-pharmacological therapy in mental health services, was expressed as a feeling that only medication therapy was offered, while psychotherapy was not available. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a cultural awareness is needed to reduce the social stigma associated with mental illness and to increase trust in the public mental health services. The results also highlighted the need for improved privacy and culturally-sensitive mental health services. To improve access to mental health services, it is crucial that healthcare providers, social workers, and society work together to promote and destigmatize mental illness.

Access to health care for migrants in French Guiana in 2022: a qualitative study of health care system actors.

Access to health care is a major public health issue. The social determinants of health have a role in accessing health care and in meeting the health needs of populations. With 281 million international migrants around the world, population movements are another major issue. Migrants are particularly exposed to precariousness during their migratory journey and after their settlement. These vulnerabilities may have deleterious effects on their health status and on their social conditions. In French Guiana, 36% of the population is of foreign origin. The objective of this study is to explore the barriers and the facilitators to accessing health care for migrants in French Guiana in 2022, from the perspective of health care professionals, social workers and local NGO actors. This research is an exploratory qualitative study based on the experiential knowledge of health care professionals, social workers and local NGO actors in French Guiana. 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with these professionals and actors between April and June 2022, using an interview guide to explore their practices, representations and beliefs of access to health care and accompaniment of migrants in their patient journey. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the thematic analysis method. A total of 25 health care professionals, social workers and local NGO actors were included in the study. Participants highlighted that migrants are exposed to many factors hindering their access to health care in French Guiana (administrative complexity, language barriers, financial barriers, mobility issues, etc.). With the situations of great precariousness and the inadequacies of the public authorities, associative support (social, health and legal accompaniment process provided by NGOs and associations) has an important role in providing close support to migrants. Moreover, health mediation supports migrants in their social and health care journey to lead them toward empowerment. Health mediators contribute to promote a better understanding between professionals and migrants. In French Guiana, associative support and health mediation promote access to health care and social accompaniment for migrants. This article highlights the issues surrounding access to health care, associative support and health mediation in the Guianese context, which is marked by significant socio-cultural diversity and precariousness. Considering the benefits of associative support and health mediation, as well as social inequalities in health, is essential for health care professionals, social workers, local NGO actors, associations, public health authorities and political decision-makers to initiate concrete and suitable actions in favor of access to health care and social support for migrants in French Guiana.

Factors in Immigrant Children's Use of Physician and Dentist Visits, Hospital Care, and Prescribed Medication in the United States.

Applying the behavioral model of health services utilization to data from the United States, this study examined immigrant children's use of physician and dentist visits, hospital care, and prescribed medication. We employed data describing 9759 immigrant parents and children who participated in 2021's National Survey of Children's Health. Logistic regression results negatively linked physician visits to child health, child age, Asian children, fathers, lower parent education, lower family income, uninsured children, and parent's U.S. residence under 5 years. Dentist visits were positively associated with child age, girls, Hispanic children, parent education, family income, public/private health insurance coverage, and U.S.-born children, but such use was associated negatively with Asian children. Hospital use was positively associated with poor child health, Black children, children of "other" race/ethnicity, younger parent age, enrolled in health insurance, and parent's U.S. residence under 5 years. The use of prescribed medication was negatively associated with Asian children, younger child age, lower parent education, uninsured child, and lack of English proficiency. The paper's conclusion suggests policymakers expand Medicaid and CHIP eligibility among immigrant children and suggests community education to foster awareness of children's physical and oral health needs and of Medicaid, CHIP, and prescription assistance programs. The conclusion calls for healthcare providers and social workers to accommodate and respect immigrants' traditional health-related beliefs, showing cultural competence.

Who cares for carers? Responsibilization and the discourse of self-care in health and social care literature during the COVID-19 pandemic. A critical review

COVID-19 outbreak produced an unprecedented crisis in care sectors. Nursing home workers, healthcare, social care, and clinical social workers (HSCW) often took the burden of managing the crisis in their facilities, risking increased stress, trauma, and burnout. As a response to this issue, increased interest in self-care in health and social work literature could be observed. Yet, the concept of self-care is problematic, as it focuses attention on the individual responsibility to care for oneself, regardless of organisational and structural factors and obstacles. The article provides a critical literature review, focused on risk factors and psychological consequences of the pandemic in health and social care and clinical social work, and on the proposed response, namely, self-care. The aim of the article is to systematise knowledge about approaches to self-care in these sectors and to critically review those approaches. Critiques of self-care are considered, including those informed by Foucauldian perspective of governmentality and responsibilization. The concept of community care is introduced as an implication and an answer to these critiques.

Challenges and Solutions in Implementing eSource Technology for Real-World Studies in China: Qualitative Study Among Different Stakeholders.

eSources consist of data that were initially documented in an electronic structure. Typically, an eSource encompasses the direct acquisition, compilation, and retention of electronic information (such as electronic health records [EHRs] or wearable devices), which serves to streamline clinical research. eSources have the potential to enhance the accuracy of data, promote patient safety, and minimize expenses associated with clinical trials. An opinion study published in September 2020 by TransCelerate outlined a road map for the future application of eSource technology and identified 5 key areas of challenges. The background of this study concerns the use of eSource technology in clinical research. The aim of this study was to present challenges and possible solutions for the implementation of eSource technology in real-world studies by summarizing team experiences and lessons learned from an eSource record (ESR) project. After initially developing a simple prototype of the ESR software that can be demonstrated systematically, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews and interacted with different stakeholders to obtain guidance and suggestions. The researchers selected 5 different roles for interviewees: regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical company representatives, hospital information department employees, medical system providers, and clinicians. After screening all consultants, the researchers concluded that there were 25 representative consultants. The hospital information department needs to implement many demands from various stakeholders, which makes the existing EHR system unable to meet all the demands of eSources. The emergence of an ESR is intended to divert the burden of the hospital information department from the enormous functional requirements of the outdated EHR system. The entire research process emphasizes multidisciplinary and multibackground expert opinions and considers the complexity of the knowledge backgrounds of personnel involved in the chain of clinical source data collection, processing, quality control, and application in real-world scenarios. To increase the readability of the results, the researchers classified the main results in accordance with the paragraph titles in "Use of Electronic Health Record Data in Clinical Investigations," a guide released by the US Food and Drug Administration. This study introduces the requirement dependencies of different stakeholders and the challenges and recommendations for designing ESR software when implementing eSource technology in China. Experiences based on ESR projects will provide new insights into the disciplines that advance the eSource research field. Future studies should engage patients directly to understand their experiences, concerns, and preferences regarding the implementation of eSource technology. Moreover, involving additional stakeholders, including community health care providers and social workers, will provide valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions across various health care settings.

Globalization and social work practice: Consequences of sanctions in health care (case study of Iran)

Economic sanctions are a punishment mechanism to ensure that governments respect human rights. However, sanctions affect nations, and pose challenges social workers in health care practice. The present note discusses the connection between health care and economic sanctions, and the challenges that health care social workers face due to the sanctions.

Fatal Drug Overdose Risks of Health Care Workers in the United States : A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Despite an unprecedented increase in drug overdose deaths in the United States, the risks faced by U.S. health care workers, who often have access to controlled prescription drugs, are not known. To estimate risks for drug overdose death among health care workers relative to non-health care workers. Prospective cohort study. United States. Health care workers (n= 176 000) and non-health care workers (n= 1 662 000) aged 26 years or older surveyed in 2008 and followed for cause of death through 2019. Age- and sex-standardized drug overdose deaths were determined for 6 health care worker groups (physicians, registered nurses, other treating or diagnosing health care workers, health technicians, health care support workers, and social or behavioral health workers) and non-health care workers. Adjusted drug overdose death hazards (and 95% CIs) were also evaluated, with adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, urban or rural residence, and region. Approximately 0.07% of our study sample died of a drug overdose during follow-up. Among health care workers, annual standardized rates of drug overdose death per 100 000 persons ranged from 2.3 (95% CI, 0 to 4.8) for physicians to 15.5 (CI, 9.8 to 21.2) for social or behavioral health workers. Compared with those for non-health care workers, the adjusted hazards of total drug overdose death were significantly increased for social or behavioral health workers (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.55 [CI, 1.74 to 3.73]), registered nurses (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.22 [CI, 1.57 to 3.13]), and health care support workers (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.60 [CI, 1.19 to 2.16]), but not for physicians (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.61 [CI, 0.19 to 1.93]), other treating or diagnosing health care workers (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.93 [CI, 0.44 to 1.95]), or health technicians (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.13 [CI, 0.75 to 1.68]). Results were generally similar for opioid-related overdose deaths and unintentional overdose deaths. Unmeasured confounding, uncertain validity of cause of death, and one-time assessment of occupation. Registered nurses, social or behavioral health workers, and health care support workers were at increased risk for drug overdose death, suggesting the need to identify and intervene on those at high risk. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Health, social, and dental professionals’ experiences of working within an extended home-visit program in the child healthcare: a qualitative interview study in Sweden

BackgroundThe goal of the Swedish child healthcare system is to reach all children with health-promotive actions and to create equal health opportunities for all children. In that context, an extended home-visit program – called Grow Safely – for first-time parents, with an interprofessional collaboration between child healthcare nurses, midwives, social workers, and dental assistants, was initiated. The current study aims at illuminating and evaluating the health, social, and dental professionals’ experiences of working within this program and how such collaboration could benefit the professions.MethodsA qualitative method was chosen, and 13 interviews were carried out with professionals working within child healthcare centers that participated in an extended home-visit program in the southernmost part of Sweden. The interviews were analyzed via Burnard’s approach to content analysis.ResultsThe results showed that it was satisfying for the health, social, and dental professionals to work with the home-visit program and that they encountered positive feelings among the parents receiving it. The creation of deep conversations and parents opening up about feelings that could otherwise be shameful to express, was a positive aspect of the home visits. A negative aspect was the difficulty of handling the (sometimes necessary) interpretation over the phone during the visits, and another one was the fact that the visits were time-consuming and required logistical planning. Overall, the professionals were positive about the home-visit program in that they felt that they were able to give the families what they needed and to have discussions on sensitive issues. They also appreciated the fact that different professions collaborated in order to reach the same goal.ConclusionsThis study showed that the health, social, and dental professionals enjoyed working with the home-visit program and that they encountered positive feelings among the parents regarding the collaborative visits being conducted within the home, where the families felt safe and relaxed. The professionals expressed that the home visits, despite the extended time they required and the logistical challenges involved, created a deeper collaboration between the professionals.

Organisational contextual aspects among medical social workers.

Since the recognition of social work in health care, the number of social workers has dramatically increased. The proved association between psychosocial conditions and biophysical features encouraged in social work drove its professionalism and made social workers an essential part of the health care team in hospitals. Today, social workers are involved in medicine as specialised practitioners who share their knowledge and care along with other professionals to provide multi-disciplinary interventions and services to people in need. Using a self-administered questionnaires, this study aims to examine the relationship between two organisational-contextual aspects (i.e., organisational structural, and organisational resources) among social workers in health care in Saudi Arabia.

Hearing Aid Loan Program for Hearing Loss at the End of Life

This article describes a hearing aid loan program to provide free amplification devices for patients at the end of life to help them communicate more effectively at this critical time. It includes steps for establishing such a program, addressing challenges, and the role of the informal caregiver throughout the intervention. Healthcare professionals and social workers are encouraged to develop similar programs and use the information here as helpful suggestions to consider for their programs.

Effect of a web-based fertility preservation training program for medical professionals in Japan.

Our web-based training program called "Educating Medical Professionals about Reproductive Issues in Cancer Healthcare" aims to help healthcare professionals communicate promptly with patients and survivors who are adolescents and young adults, with information pertinent to reproductive health issues such as the risk of infertility and fertility preservation. The study participants were professional healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, genetic counselors, and dieticians. Pre- and post- and 3-month follow-up tests consisting of 41 questions were administered to measure changes in knowledge and confidence. The participants also received a follow-up survey that covered confidence, communication techniques, and practice habits. A total of 820 healthcare providers participated in this program. The mean total score from the pre-test to the post-test grew significantly (p < 0.01), and participants' self-confidence increased. In addition, there was a change in the behavior of healthcare providers, who began asking about patients' marital status and parity. Our web-based fertility preservation training program improved knowledge and self-confidence regarding fertility preservation issues among healthcare providers caring for adolescents and young adult cancer patients and survivors.