Knowledge Of Community Services Research Articles

A national implementation of a community-based intervention for mothers experiencing violence in relationships.

Interpersonal violence is a significant concern for families; thus interventions to support vulnerable mothers and children experiencing violence are essential. The purpose of this study was to present preliminary evaluation results from the national dissemination of an interpersonal violence intervention for mothers delivered in community-based programs across Canada. In 18 communities, 184 mothers participated in the intervention. Mothers reported on measures related to the self, relationships, parenting, and knowledge of community services, both before and after the intervention. Mothers comprised a high-risk, vulnerable population. Results indicated feasibility and acceptability, based on a high proportion of intervention completers and high levels of satisfaction. Women reported improvements in self-esteem, self-efficacy, relationship capacity, parenting stress, knowledge of community services, and understanding of relevant concepts compared to before the intervention (with small to medium effects). Additional analyses supported some of these findings as particularly robust. We discuss the importance of community-based projects in reaching diverse families, sustaining engagement with high levels of satisfaction, and supporting mothers in making changes relating to themselves, their relationships, and their parenting. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Preferred place of care at the end of life for people in hospitals

Background: Achievement of a person’s preferences for end-of-life care is a moral and policy imperative. It is morally important, as it demonstrates respect for people’s end-of-life choices and a policy imperative because it is recognised that many people who die do not die in the place of their choice. Much has been written about the factors influencing preferred place of care (PPC) and where people die. Little attention has been paid to which interventions enhance achievement of PPC. Aim: This article reports the findings of an audit, the aim of which was to assess the impact of the interventions of hospital discharge team nurses (HDTNs) on the achievement of PPC. Methods: The audit was undertaken of a consecutive sample of 39 people referred at the end of life to the HDTNs, over a 3-month period, from May to July 2009. The data were analysed using Cohen’s Kappa statistic to test the degree to which PPC was achieved. Results: All but three people achieved their PPC. The audit demonstrated that coordination and support from HDTNs is an effective intervention in managing and achieving PPC. Conclusions: The results compare very favourably with studies assessing success in achieving preferred and actual place of end-of-life care. Key to the success of this intervention was the HDTNs’ knowledge of community services, imparted during conversations with patients and their families. Conflicts of interest: none

Attitudes and knowledge of the elderly home health client toward community resources in a rural setting

A study was conducted using a cross-sectional design to determine the attitudes and knowledge of elderly home health care clients toward community resources. The clients were asked to rank ser vices in degree of importance and to identify the services they were not familiar with. Two hypoth eses were tested: (1) the geriatric population would rank the direct personal care services higher than the indirect services and (2) the clients' needs were met by the existing community services. Statisti cally, the clients ranked direct personal care services similar in importance to indirect services. Cli ents' needs were met; however, issues such as transportation, lack of knowledge of community ser vices, and decreased access to health care were identified. Key words: rural elderly, community services, health care cost/quality, program development

Knowledge of Community Services Amongst The Aged

Knowledge of community services is clearly an important determinant of their use by the frail or disabled elderly. This paper describes the levels of knowledge amongst the aged in Sydney concerning such services, and explores the pathways by which information is disseminated. Awareness of community services was quite limited amongst the sample studied. The data suggest that many of the elderly may be inadequately informed of services which could serve as alternatives to institutional care.