Qualitative Study Of Professionals Research Articles

"It doesn't matter if we're the most amazing professionals in the world…" A qualitative study of professionals' perspectives on parent-child interaction assessment with deaf infants.

Parent child interaction (PCI) is positively associated with deaf children's language development. However, there are no known, deaf-specific tools to observe how a parent interacts with their deaf child aged 0-3 years. Without a framework for professionals to use with families, it is unknown how professionals assess PCI, what they assess, why they assess, and how the assessment results relate to case management. Eighteen hearing and deaf professionals, who work with deaf and hard of hearing infants aged 0-3 years and their families, attended online focus groups. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the professional assessment of PCI. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes were generated from the dataset. Professionals discussed how central parents were in the support offered to families in the home, the importance of knowing and understanding the individual family, and accounting for and supporting parental wellbeing. Descriptions on how to administer a best practice PCI assessment included which parent behaviors to assess and how to make adaptations for different populations. Professionals shared how the assessment and review process could be used to inform and upskill parents through video reflection and goal setting. This study provides insight into the mechanisms and motivations for professionals assessing the interactive behaviors of parents who have deaf children aged 0-3. Professionals acknowledged that family life is multi-faceted, and that support is most meaningful to families when professionals worked with these differences and incorporated them into assessment, goal setting, and intervention plans.

Perceptions of the Role of Living Alone in Providing Services to Patients With Cognitive Impairment

The potential role of living alone in either facilitating or hampering access to and use of services for older adults with cognitive impairment is largely unknown. Specifically, it is critical to understand directly from health care and social services professionals how living alone creates barriers to the access and use of supportive health care and social services for racially and ethnically diverse patients with cognitive impairment. To identify the potential role of living alone in the access and use of health care and social services for diverse patients with cognitive impairment by investigating professionals' perceptions of caring for such patients who live alone in comparison with counterparts living with others. This qualitative study of 76 clinicians, social workers, and other professionals used semistructured interviews conducted between February 8, 2021, and June 8, 2022, with purposively sampled professionals providing services to diverse patients with cognitive impairment in Michigan, California, and Texas. Clinicians, social workers, and other professionals compared serving patients with cognitive impairment and living alone vs counterparts living with others. An inductive content analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. A total of 76 professionals were interviewed (mean [SD] age, 49.3 [12.7] years); 59 were female (77.6%), 8 were Black or African American (11%), and 35 were White (46%). Participants included physicians, nurses, social workers, and home-care aides, for a total of 20 professions. Participants elucidated specific factors that made serving older adults living alone with cognitive impairment more challenging than serving counterparts living with others (eg, lacking an advocate, incomplete medical history, requiring difficult interventions), as well as factors associated with increased concerns when caring for older adults living alone with cognitive impairment, such as isolation and a crisis-dominated health care system. Participants also identified reasons for systematic unmet needs of older adults living alone with cognitive impairment for essential health care and social services, including policies limiting access and use to public home-care aides. In this qualitative study of professionals' perspectives, findings suggest that living alone is a social determinant of health among patients with cognitive impairment owing to substantial barriers in access to services. Results raised considerable concerns about safety because the US health care system is not well equipped to address the unique needs of older adults living alone with cognitive impairment.

A qualitative study of professionals’ perspectives on the ethics of medically-delivered safer injection education for people who inject drugs

BackgroundIn this qualitative analysis we aimed to explore addiction physicians’ perspectives on safer injection education for people who inject drugs, especially: (1) on possible means of introducing safer injection education in the medical environment, (2) on the compatibility of safer injection education with each physician’s core values and goals, and (3) on possible reasons for the ethical dilemma in safer injection education.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with eleven physicians practicing addiction medicine in France in clinical and harm reduction settings.ResultsAll participants were in favor of educational interventions for people who inject drugs. Nonetheless, these interventions varied from simple advice to injection supervision and they were seen as less acceptable when they concerned the practical and material aspects of injection. Some participants found that physicians practicing in clinical settings, where patients consult mostly to stop their drug use, should not practice safer injection education. On the contrary, other participants claimed that safer injection education was essential in all settings and was not a choice but rather a duty for addiction physicians. The ethical dilemma of such intervention when delivered by medical staff was viewed as a complex phenomenon, related to the representations of intravenous drug use and to societal expectations from physicians.ConclusionPhysicians’ views on safer injection education for people who inject drugs reveal an emotionally charged subject related to the structural organization of addiction management in France. Such education is marked by an arduous history of harm reduction policies in France.IRB registration:#00011928.

A Qualitative Study of Professionals’ Experiences and Challenges in the Early Identification of Psychosocial Concerns in Children

Aim. Early intervention and detecting early signs are often cited as a goal by professionals working with children, but detecting and describing early signs is not well explored. Thus, the study’s aim was to explore professionals’ experiences and challenges in the early identification of psychosocial concerns in children aged 0–16. Materials and Methods. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 26 professionals (e.g., nurses, psychologists, social workers, teachers, principals, and managers) working with children. The participants engaged in a pilot cooperation model between preschools, schools, social services, and healthcare to reach out early to children in need of support. The interviews were analyzed using thematic network analysis. Results. Four organizing themes were created as follows: “The idea of promoting and preventing is the key to success,” “Identifying the children who need support and intervention,” “Identifying observable early signs,” and “Occupied with children needing immediate support.” The organizing themes were interpreted into one global theme as follows: “All want an early intervention but putting it into practice is challenging.” Conclusion. The study shows that it is difficult to identify children in need of psychosocial support at an early stage because the early signs are difficult to detect. Thus, our results suggest that both preventive interventions targeting all children and specific interventions for those in need of support are needed to promote health and wellbeing.

Implementing advance care planning in Swedish healthcare settings – a qualitative study of professionals’ experiences

Background Advance care planning (ACP) is a process involving conversations about values and preferences regarding future care at the end-of-life. ACP has led to positive outcomes, both in relation to quality of life and with increased use of palliative care, less life-sustaining treatment and fewer hospital admissions. Sweden has yet to embrace the practice systematically, but scattered initiatives exist. Aim To study implementation of a routine for ACP in NH settings in Sweden by exploring healthcare professionals’ experiences of engaging in ACP following this implementation. Methods The study followed a qualitative inductive design with convenience and snowball sampling. Semi-structured group and individual interviews with registered healthcare professionals were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings Organisational support for sustainable ACP implementation was found to be essential. This included sufficient training, facilitation, collaboration and uniform work routines across providers and professionals. Engaging in ACP conversations following the implemented routine was found to be a process of preparing, being, talking, deciding and sharing. Conclusions Successful implementation of ACP in NHs requires a carefully planned implementation strategy. ACP in NHs tend to be medically focused at the expense of residents’ psychosocial care-planning needs. Widespread uptake of ACP in Sweden could be useful in the national effort to adopt more person-centred care in Swedish healthcare. KEY POINTS While advance care planning has been implemented in many other countries, Sweden lacks a national strategy on advance care planning and Swedish healthcare settings have yet to systematically implement this practice. • This study is the first to report on professionals’ experiences of engaging in sustainable advance care planning, following top-down implementation of the practice in one Swedish region. • Successful implementation of advance care planning in nursing homes requires a system-level approach, and shortcomings of the implementation process are highlighted.

'I think we're getting a bit clinical here': A qualitative study of professionals' experiences of providing mental healthcare to young people within an Australian rural service.

This paper contributes to scholarship on the medicalisation of mental health support for young people through a case study of a multidisciplinary mental health service in rural Australia. All staff (n=13) working at the service participated in semi-structured, individual interviews. Transcripts of interview data were read and selectively coded and interpreted in relation to the overarching question of how participants view and experience mental health care provision to a diverse range of young people. Following analytical reflection, codes pertaining to engagement, accessibility and care provision were re-examined using the concept of medicalisation to understand the biomedical underpinning of mental healthcare and how this plays out in the experiences and perceived challenges participants talked about in responding to the mental health concerns of diverse young people. The resulting analysis is presented under five theme headings: (a) privileging clinical expertise and priorities within service provision, which was an important source of conflict for some participants; (b) 'multidisciplinary' teams-a 'difficult kind of culture at times'; (c) articulations of where cultural barriers lie; (d) the tracks along which young people are directed to 'engage' with 'mental health'; and (e) a clinical 'feel' to space. We suggest that service and system investment needs to be given to alternative ways of thinking about and approaching mental health and care provision that are cognisant of, and engage with, the inherent connections between individual circumstance and social, place, cultural, economic and political contexts. This is particularly relevant to the provision of care in rural contexts because of limited service options and the complexities of access and providing care to a diverse range of young people living in isolated environments. Interdisciplinary frameworks need to be enacted and services must acknowledge their own cultural positions for alternative ways of working to become possibilities.

Responding to the health needs of trafficked people: A qualitative study of professionals in England and Scotland.

Trafficked people require timely and ongoing access to healthcare services. Yet, many encounter difficulties accessing and utilising healthcare services, both while in situations of exploitation and after their escape. This research investigated barriers that hinder healthcare providers from identifying, providing care and making necessary referrals for trafficked people in the United Kingdom(UK). Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with healthcare (n=23) and non-health (n=27) professionals with relevant policy or practical experience related to human trafficking in the UK. Topic guides covered identifying, referring and providing care to trafficked people. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Four interconnected themes emerged: trafficked persons' entitlements to healthcare, availability of healthcare resources, providers' knowledge about trafficking, and the particular needs of trafficked individuals. Providers explained that policies limiting entitlements to healthcare created significant obstacles to care, as did the inadequate resourcing of interpreter services, trafficking support services, and specialist mental health services. Few healthcare professionals reported having received training on responses to trafficked people and most were unaware of support options and referral routes. Healthcare professionals will be better equipped to serve trafficked individuals if they are provided training to identify and respond to human trafficking, guidance on referral and support options and entitlements to care. Simultaneously, improving trafficked people's healthcare access and use will also require government interventions to ensure they are not unjustifiably denied healthcare.

Implementation of change in health care in Sweden: a qualitative study of professionals\u2019 change responses

BackgroundImplementation of evidence-based practices in health care implies change. Understanding health care professionals’ change responses may be critical for facilitating implementation to achieve an evidence-based practice in the rapidly changing health care environment. The aim of this study was to investigate health care professionals’ responses to organizational and workplace changes that have affected their work.MethodsWe conducted interviews with 30 health care professionals (physicians, registered nurses and assistant nurses) employed in the Swedish health care system. An inductive approach was applied, using a semi-structured interview guide developed by the authors. We used an analytical framework first published in 1999 to analyze the informants’ change responses in which change responses are perceived as a continuum ranging from a strong acceptance of change to strong resistance to change, describing seven forms of change responses along this continuum. Change response is conceptualized as a tridimensional attitude composed of three components: cognitive, affective and intentional/behavioral.ResultsAnalysis of the data yielded 10 types of change responses, which could be mapped onto 5 of the 7 change response categories in the framework. Participants did not report change responses that corresponded with the two most extreme forms of responses in the framework, i.e., commitment and aggressive resistance. Most of the change responses were classified as either indifference or passive resistance to changes. Involvement in or support for changes occurred when the health care professionals initiated the changes themselves or when the changes featured their active input and when changes were seen as well founded and well communicated. We did not identify any change responses that could not be fitted into the framework.ConclusionsWe found the framework to be useful for a nuanced understanding of how people respond to changes. This knowledge of change responses is useful for the management of changes and for efforts to achieve more successful implementation of evidence-based practices in health care.

Working Together to Understand Why Infants Die: A Qualitative Study of Professionals' Experiences of Joint Agency Investigation of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy

A comprehensive Child Death Review programme commenced in England in 2008; police, healthcare and social care professionals now work together, using a joint agency approach (JAA) to investigate unexpected child deaths. The aim of this paper is to explore professionals' experiences of the JAA investigation of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). This was part of a mixed‐methods study evaluating the JAA investigation of SUDI. Professionals participated in qualitative interviews and case notes were scrutinised. Data were analysed using a framework approach. A total of 23 of a possible 113 eligible SUDI cases were recruited. Twenty‐six professionals involved in investigating 12 of the 23 SUDI cases were interviewed giving theoretical saturation of data. The overarching theme was the conflict between the need to investigate deaths while remaining sensitive to families. Other themes were working together, supporting parents, and the benefits and difficulties of joint working practices. All professionals were positive about the JAA, especially joint police and paediatric interviews and home visits. The difficulties included non‐engagement by social care and poor liaison with coroners. The JAA seems to be a thorough investigative process but could be improved by closer joint agency working and information sharing, and more support and training for professionals. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Key Practitioner Messages Joint agency investigation of unexpected infant deaths enables a detailed understanding of the causes of death and the provision of support to families. Joint home visits by police and paediatricians following unexpected infant deaths provide more detailed information and can be more sensitive to families than police death scene examination alone. Prompt information sharing across all agencies is a key part of effective investigation of unexpected infant deaths. ‘Explore[s] professionals' experiences of the joint agency approach investigation of sudden unexpected death in infancy’

Music therapy within an integrated project for families exposed to domestic violence: A qualitative study of professionals’ perspectives

This article focuses on a collaborative project that took place from 2012 to 2015 between an NHS Music Therapy Service for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and the charity Housing for Women. Music therapy interventions for children and young people took place alongside therapeutic family interventions. The families involved had all experienced exposure to domestic abuse. A qualitative study of professionals’ perceptions of the project took place after the project had ended, using a methodology of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Interviews with non-music therapy professionals were transcribed and analysed, providing data about perceived benefits for children and families, the evolving perspectives of the professionals involved and the degree to which processes in music therapy were communicated and understood.

Mental health service responses to human trafficking: a qualitative study of professionals' experiences of providing care.

BackgroundHuman trafficking is a global crime and human rights violation. Although research has demonstrated a high prevalence of mental disorder among trafficked people and that trafficked people are in contact with mental health services, little is known about mental health professionals’ experiences of identifying and providing care for trafficked people. This study aimed to understand how people are identified as trafficked within mental health services and the challenges professionals experience in responding to trafficked people’s mental health needs.MethodQualitative study of electronic health records of trafficked people in contact with secondary mental health services in South East London, England. Comprehensive clinical electronic health records for over 200,000 patients in contact with secondary mental health services in South London were searched and retrieved to identify trafficked patients. Content analysis was used to establish how people were identified as trafficked, and thematic analysis was used to explore the challenges experienced in responding to mental health needs.ResultsThe sample included 130 trafficked patients, 95 adults and 35 children. In 43 % (41/95) of adult cases and 63 % (22/35) child cases, mental health professionals were informed that their patient was a potential victim of trafficking by another service involved in their patient’s care. Cases were also identified through patients disclosing their experiences of exploitation and abuse. Key challenges faced by staff included social and legal instability, difficulties ascertaining history, patients’ lack of engagement, availability of services, and inter-agency working.ConclusionsTraining to increase awareness, encourage helpful responses, and inform staff about the available support options would help to ensure the mental health needs of trafficked people are met. Further research is needed to establish if these challenges are similar in other health settings.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0679-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Economic crisis, immigrant women and changing availability of intimate partner violence services: a qualitative study of professionals´ perceptions in Spain

IntroductionSince 2008, Spain has been in the throes of an economic crisis. This recession particularly affects the living conditions of vulnerable populations, and has also led to a reversal in social policies and a reduction in resources. In this context, the aim of this study was to explore intimate partner violence (IPV) service providers’ perceptions of the impact of the current economic crisis on these resources in Spain and on their capacity to respond to immigrant women’s needs experiencing IPV.MethodsA qualitative study was performed based on 43 semi-structured in-depth interviews to social workers, psychologists, intercultural mediators, judges, lawyers, police officers and health professionals from different services dealing with IPV (both, public and NGO’s) and cities in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Alicante) in 2011. Transcripts were imported into qualitative analysis software (Atlas.ti), and analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsWe identified four categories related to the perceived impact of the current economic crisis: a) “Immigrant women have it harder now”, b) “IPV and immigration resources are the first in line for cuts”, c) “ Fewer staff means a less effective service” and d) “Equality and IPV policies are no longer a government priority”. A cross-cutting theme emerged from these categories: immigrant women are triply affected; by IPV, by the crisis, and by structural violence.ConclusionThe professionals interviewed felt that present resources in Spain are insufficient to meet the needs of immigrant women, and that the situation might worsen in the future.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12939-014-0079-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Economic crisis, immigrant women and changing availability of intimate partner violence services: a qualitative study of professionals¿ perceptions in Spain

Economic crisis, immigrant women and changing availability of intimate partner violence services: a qualitative study of professionals¿ perceptions in Spain

Barriers to the provision of high-quality palliative care for people with dementia in England: a qualitative study of professionals' experiences

Approaches to palliative care that were originally developed for people with cancer are now being adopted for people with dementia, as a response to many reports of poor-quality care for people with dementia at the end of life. This study explored perceived barriers to the delivery of high-quality palliative care for people with dementia using semi-structured interviews. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis with an inductive approach and a coding strategy. To improve the trustworthiness of the analysis, independent reading and coding of the transcripts were undertaken, followed by discussions among the four researchers to reach agreement and consensus of the themes. Two group interviews (n = 7 and n = 6), 16 individual interviews and five interviews of pairs of professionals were conducted in 2011/2012 with participants from backgrounds in palliative care, dementia services, palliative care research and policy making. Four themes were identified as barriers to providing high-quality palliative care for people with dementia: (i) ambivalence towards the systematisation of palliative care; (ii) disconnection between services; (iii) different assumptions about training needs; and (iv) negotiation of risk. Understanding these barriers to providing high-quality palliative care for people with dementia could help in the development of a dementia-specific palliative care pathway.

Summary of: Antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry: part I. A qualitative study of professionals' views on the NICE guideline

Background The NICE guideline for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental treatment has made a substantive change and fundamental departure from previous practice that affects long-standing beliefs and practice patterns. There is potential difficulty for healthcare professionals explaining the new guidance to patients who have long believed that they must receive antibiotics before their dental treatment. Aim To explore clinicians' attitudes towards the NICE guidance on antibiotic prophylaxis, their use of the guideline in clinical practice, barriers to the implementation of the guideline, and how best to overcome any perceived barriers. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with seven dental care professionals, two cardiologists and a cardiac care nurse. The data were analysed using the framework method to extract central themes and opinions. Results Clinicians generally perceived that initially patients would be reluctant to follow the NICE guidance. This was felt to be particularly true of the patient cohort that had previously been prescribed prophylactic antibiotics. They found it difficult to explain the new guidance to patients who have had infective endocarditis and have long believed that they must receive antibiotics before their dental treatment. Concerns were also raised about the legal position of a clinician who did not follow the guidance. Clinicians generally suggested that the provision of accurate information in the form of leaflets and valid websites would be the best way to advise patients about the new guidance. Conclusions Clinicians anticipated difficulties in explaining to patients the change in clinical practice necessitated by adherence to the NICE guidance, most notably for patients with a history of infective endocarditis or where the patient's cardiologist did not agree with the NICE guidance. They placed particular emphasis on the provision of accurate information in order to reassure patients.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry: part I. A qualitative study of professionals' views on the NICE guideline

The NICE guideline for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental treatment has made a substantive change and fundamental departure from previous practice that affects long-standing beliefs and practice patterns. There is potential difficulty for healthcare professionals explaining the new guidance to patients who have long believed that they must receive antibiotics before their dental treatment. To explore clinicians' attitudes towards the NICE guidance on antibiotic prophylaxis, their use of the guideline in clinical practice, barriers to the implementation of the guideline, and how best to overcome any perceived barriers. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven dental care professionals, two cardiologists and a cardiac care nurse. The data were analysed using the framework method to extract central themes and opinions. Clinicians generally perceived that initially patients would be reluctant to follow the NICE guidance. This was felt to be particularly true of the patient cohort that had previously been prescribed prophylactic antibiotics. They found it difficult to explain the new guidance to patients who have had infective endocarditis and have long believed that they must receive antibiotics before their dental treatment. Concerns were also raised about the legal position of a clinician who did not follow the guidance. Clinicians generally suggested that the provision of accurate information in the form of leaflets and valid websites would be the best way to advise patients about the new guidance. Clinicians anticipated difficulties in explaining to patients the change in clinical practice necessitated by adherence to the NICE guidance, most notably for patients with a history of infective endocarditis or where the patient's cardiologist did not agree with the NICE guidance. They placed particular emphasis on the provision of accurate information in order to reassure patients.

Community mental health centres: A qualitative study of professionals' experiences

This article presents findings from a qualitative study of mental health work in community mental health centres with a multiprofessional workforce and aims of active user participation in the service. User participation implies collaborative relationships and different roles than that of expert professionals and dependent patients. How do professionals working in these services experience their work and professional role? This question was explored in order to highlight important aspects of community mental health work. A group of six experienced professionals from three community mental health centres in a Norwegian city were interviewed twice. The informants highlighted the complexity of community mental health work and the need to be flexible when working to support people with mental health problems in their everyday life situation. To see the service users as people and to facilitate social interaction was important. Their work was described as 'liberating' compared to working in institutions. However, although in their experience they found that professional knowledge and skills were important in their work situation, all had experienced that this was not always acknowledged by professionals in other services.

Perceptions of Gender Differences in the Expression of Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities

Abstract Few resources identify specific needs and interventions for girls with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD). This qualitative analysis asks fifteen teacher and counselor professionals about their perceptions of girls with EBD through semi-structured interviews. Six emergent themes from the analysis are discussed. The results demonstrate that further research is needed in the areas of understanding the hidden nature of girls' issues, girls' minority status in special education, girls' physical behaviors, and girls' unique peer issues. Additionally, issues of the language used to describe girls with EBD and professionals' perceptions of the difficulty of working with troubled girls are considered. ********** In working with teachers and administrators in the field of emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD), the comment is often heard, "I really think girls are somehow more difficult to work with than boys." While not universal, this sentiment is echoed in the writings of Baines and Alder (1999), Chesney-Lind and Okamoto (2000), and internationally in the field of juvenile justice (see Artz, 2005 for a discussion). How does this perception influence teachers' understanding of the needs of girls with EBD? The present exploratory qualitative study of professionals' perceptions of working with girls with EBD provides an in-depth portrait from a 15-person sample. Through examining the perceptions of a small group of teachers and counselors, this study begins to identify teacher education issues and provides suggestions for future interventions studies for girls with EBD. Unique Needs of Girls Many researchers have discussed the unique needs of girls in our society. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) (1992, 1998) has published reports discussing the inherent bias in schools against girls. Published literature from the field of education highlights the learning differences between girls and boys (Gurian & Ballew, 2003) as well as the differing relationships teachers have with each gender (Sadker & Sadker, 1994). In the field of psychology, researchers have investigated: (1) girls' unique developmental needs especially during adolescence (Gilligan, 1993; Orenstein, 1994); (2) social/relational aggression (Crick & Zahn-Waxler; Underwood, 2003); and (3) unique manifestations of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Mood Disorders (see Bell, Foster, & Mash, 2005 for a discussion). In the field of juvenile justice, researchers cite the need for gender responsive programming as the number of females in the corrections systems grows (Bloom, Owen, Deschenes, & Rosenbaum, 2002). In popular literature, girls in groups are being analyzed for the undetected aggression of "mean" or "queen" girls (Simmons, 2002). Few resources, however, whether conceptual or research based, deal directly with girls and behavior in education or girls identified as having an emotional or behavioral disability. Girls with EBD Research pertaining to special education programming for girls with EBD is considerably rare (Cullinan, Osborne, & Epstein, 2004; Kann & Hanna, 2000; Vardill & Calvert, 2000). Girls with emotional disturbance make up 15% to 25% of all identified children and adolescents with disabilities (Cullinan et al., 2004). Though national data compiled in the Annual Report to Congress on special education is not classified by gender, state data reveals large variation in the numbers of girls identified with emotional and behavioral disorders (Oswald, 2005). Interestingly, the rate of identification for girls begins to increase during adolescence and reflects that of boys during adolescence (Callahan, 1994; Oswald, Best, Coutinho, & Nagle, 2003). A myriad of factors contribute to the underidentification of girls for EBD services. Kann and Hanna (2000) posit that the existing processes and tools used in schools to identify girls with EBD may not accurately detect girls' internalizing expressions of disabilities. …

Mother blaming: a covert practice in therapeutic intervention

In this article I will discuss the continuing discursive support for idealised motherhood, describe some ways mother blaming is practiced within therapeutic intervention and discuss the implications of this for social work practice. The article is based on a qualitative study of professionals who provide therapeutic intervention for sexually violent children and their families. The case examples discussed come from this study and describe the roles attributed to mothers in causing and maintaining their children's sexual violence.