Care Services Research Articles

Needs and expectations of healthcare professionals regarding the topic of alcohology: Results of a survey conducted in France in 2022

ContextAlcohol-related health problems represent a significant public health concern, and it is imperative for the healthcare team to accurately perceive and detect these issues to provide appropriate care. The objective of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge, practices, and educational background of healthcare professionals in the field of alcohol-related health concerns, aiming to identify their information requirements. MethodsThis study employs a cross-sectional descriptive survey methodology, in which data were gathered through a digital questionnaire designed for healthcare professionals (including those in medical, paramedical, and medico-social professions) working in addictology services as well as other relevant services across France and its overseas departments. ResultsA total of 611 questionnaires were deemed usable for analysis. A considerable percentage of participants reported their knowledge and skills to be insufficient or very insufficient, with rates of 33 % and 36 %, respectively. Moreover, a significant proportion of respondents (≈ 28 %) stated that they had received no education in addictology. Our results highlight differences in levels of knowledge and competence among the various healthcare settings, notably with lower reported levels of satisfaction in hospital settings (public and private), private practice, and in Harm Reduction Centers. Furthermore, certain professions reported unsatisfactory levels of skills and knowledge in alcohol-related issues, particularly support staff, pharmacists, expert patients, administrative staff, and social workers. These findings suggest the need to enhance knowledge and skills by tailoring interventions according to the specific healthcare settings and professions. Additionally, the priority themes and channels for disseminating information varied depending on age, region, and professional category. ConclusionThis survey reveals a low level of knowledge, practice, and education in addictology, emphasizing the critical need for training. The importance of training extends not only to the priority topics addressed but also to the channels used for dissemination, all while customizing them to suit the age, professional category, structure, and region of healthcare professionals.

Evolution of Nuvoton Microcontroller-based Education Board

Background:: The novel coronavirus pandemic has not only affected people's health. The pandemic has also affected their social life and work. For all the reasons mentioned, international trade has suffered and is still in the process of recovery. Objective:: Especially in the semiconductor industry, many manufacturers postponed their deliveries to future periods and this triggered the chip crisis. Many hightech industries, including the automotive industry, were deeply affected by the consequences of the crisis, with factories halting or slowing down production. Despite the shortage of chip stocks, Nuvoton has a large amount of Microcontroller Units (MCUs), but due to the shortage of resources, education and libraries, software developers have not been able to integrate their products in a limited time. Methods:: In this paper, the Nuvoton Education Board has presented 20 common examples for embedded software developers and beginners. Results:: The PCB is designed considering all modules connected to separate General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) pins to make multiple module examples without changing the peripherals and pin configuration of the MCU. Clock configuration has been simplified and unnecessary details have been meticulously removed to make the examples easily understandable. Nuvoton NuMaker M263KI V1.3 was added on the designed PCB. Conclusion: The PCB contains almost all the necessary electronics to learn embedded software and use Nuvoton MCUs in industrial projects. The board is supported with user interfaces and printed documentation. The codes are explained with command lines to teach users even small details. A patent application has been filed for the proposed education board.

Evaluating associations between social risks and health care utilization in patients with chronic low back pain.

Care and outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) are influenced by the social risk factors that they experience. Social risk factors such as food insecurity and housing instability have detrimental effects on patient health and wellness, healthcare outcomes, and health disparities. This retrospective cross-sectional study examined how social risk factors identified in unstructured and structured electronic health record (EHR) data for 1,295 patients with cLBP were associated with health care utilization. We also studied the impact of social risk factors, controlling for back pain-related disability on health care utilization. Included patients who received outpatient spine and/or physical therapy services at an urban academic medical center between 2018 and 2020. Five identified social risks were financial insecurity, housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers, and social isolation. Outcomes included 4 categories of health care utilization: emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalizations, imaging, outpatient specialty visits related to spine care, and physical therapy (PT) visits. Poisson regression models tested associations between the presence of identified social risks and each outcome measure. Identified social risks in 12.8% of the study population (N = 166/1,295). In multivariate models, social isolation was positively associated with imaging, specialty visits, and PT visits; housing instability was positively associated with ED visits/hospitalizations and imaging; food insecurity was positively associated with ED visits/hospitalizations and specialty visits but negatively associated with PT visits; and financial strain was positively associated with PT visits but negatively associated with ED visits/hospitalization. These associations were seen above and beyond other factors used as markers of socioeconomic marginalization, including neighborhood-level social determinants of health, race/ethnicity, and insurance type. Identifying and intervening on social risk factors that patients with cLBP experience may improve outcomes and be cost-saving.

Social work students’ perception towards online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

Social work students’ perception towards online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

Exploring health and social care providers’ perceptions of Roma women and their families in Greece: Mixed-method insights from the REACH project

Introduction: Despite being Greek citizens, Roma people encounter challenges and discrimination in education, employment, accommodation and health. Roma women, in particular, experience heightened discrimination and social exclusion, impacting their sexual and reproductive health. This study, part of the REACH (Roma women's Empowerment and fighting discrimination in ACcess to Health) programme, aims to explore health and social care providers' perceptions and attitudes towards Roma people, especially women, in Greece. Methods: The mixed-methodology utilised both quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews/focus groups with healthcare and other professionals serving Roma communities in various regions of Greece. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of West Attica. Results: Quantitative findings revealed high reported confidence in serving Roma women, yet qualitative insights uncovered deep-seated stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes among professionals. The study highlighted challenges such as official registration issues, communication gaps and gender-specific dynamics within the Roma population. Conclusion: The study identified significant barriers to health and social inclusion of Roma women in Greece. Strategic interventions, guided by the study's insights, are crucial to combat discrimination and establish trust. The knowledge generated served as a foundation for the REACH project, aiming to create a more inclusive healthcare environment and contribute to the broader goal of fostering equality and well-being for the Roma population in Greece.

ПРОФЕСІЙНА ПІДГОТОВКА МАЙБУТНІХ СОЦІАЛЬНИХ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ В УМОВАХ СУЧАСНИХ ВИКЛИКІВ

The article examines transformation of social work under conditions of contemporary challenges in Ukraine and changes in training of social workers under these conditions. It was determined that difficult circumstances of wartime affect the course of education process, education format is changing, there is a transition to its distance forms, and there emerges a need to create a safe environment for the subjects of educational services provision. The purpose of the publication is to determine characteristic features of training of future social work specialists under conditions of martial law, to study transformation of social work caused by contemporary challenges. The research methodology is a combination of philosophical ideas about the course of social processes unders conditions of crises and challenges with theories of social work based on the socio-pedagogical paradigm of scientific knowledge. It has been proven that models of social work are flexibly transformed in accordance with contemporary legislation, unification of different regions of the country is being actualized, and the guidelines of social development in the post-war era, in which modern specialists should orient themselves, are gradually being updated. It was substantiated that additional attention must to be paid to changes in the content of social work to overcome stressful situations, develop resilience, form social cohesion of the population. A model of distance training of social workers in the educational online space was proposed, which includes a step-by-step algorithm of actions to ensure inteconnection of learning and extracurricular activities of students, which is an effective means and environment for implementation of educational activities in the process of theoretical and practical training of future social workers. The practical significance of the research lies in creation of a favorable distance educational environment, in which necessary competences of specialists are formed and their social creativity, which contributes to performance of professional activities, develops. Types and forms of educational work, which can be integrated into training and education process of higher education students, are being implemented with transformation according to requirements of specific educational programs and components for training of future social workers. Key words: social workers training, educational and professional program, transformations of social work in Ukraine, distance education, safe environment.

Triple-loop learning as a framework for advancing health systems science in medical education: a transformational change approach

Purpose The American Medical Association has recently adopted health systems science (HSS) as the third pillar of medical education to provide comprehensive and holistic patient care. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel organizational learning perspective in considering how medical schools can facilitate a transformational HSS curriculum change. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper seeking to present triple-loop learning as a potential approach to HSS curriculum change. Findings Due to its potential for structural accountability and sustainability stemming from the inclusion of diverse voices, the authors argue that HSS curriculum change, guided by the principles of triple-loop learning, is likely to lead to the development of medical curricula that are more adaptive and responsive to the constantly changing health-care landscape. The authors advocate for the deliberate inclusion of stakeholders who have historically been excluded or marginalized in the HSS curriculum change process, such as patients and those in sentinel roles (e.g. nurses, social workers). The authors also suggest an integrated, multilevel transformation that involves collaboration among medical schools, accreditation organizations, licensing boards and health-care systems. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper represents the first attempt to apply the theory of triple-loop learning in the context of HSS curriculum change. It highlights how this critical systemic learning approach uniquely contributes to HSS curriculum change, and subsequently to the necessary, larger cultural changes demanded in medical education as a whole.

Challenging charitable oppression: Social working in supportive housing

Abstract This article provides an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences of administrating and supporting transitional housing programs in Canada. Using anti-colonial, critical race feminist, critical disability studies, and mad studies framings, the article aims to highlight the sharp contrast between social work values and social care practice in housing work. I direct my gaze as a researcher toward myself as a social worker, exploring my experience social working in practice. A creative non-fiction approach to storytelling is used based directly on my experiences social working in supportive housing. These creative non-fiction pieces were analysed to draw out relevant themes. Themes include the discourse of dangerousness, challenging charitable oppression, and reproducing colonial carceral structures. The narratives are followed by analyses which demonstrate harms perpetuated in the neoliberalist social care landscape in Canada. My analysis is based on anti-colonial, critical race feminist, critical disability studies, and mad studies framings. Challenges discussed include interdisciplinary social care practice with those experiencing significant barriers to housing and the ethical implications of working under a charitable organization, along with suggestions for countering dominant ableist, sanist, and Eurocentric practice.

Effectiveness of the Support From Community Health Workers and Health Care Professionals on the Sustained Use of Wearable Monitoring Devices Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Background The wearable monitoring device (WMD) is emerging as a promising tool for community-dwelling older adults to monitor personal health, enhance awareness of their activities, and promote healthy behaviors. However, the sustained use of WMDs among this population remains a significant challenge. Objective This study aims to implement an interventional program that promotes and motivates the continued use of WMDs among older adults through a peer and professional support approach. This program will facilitate the integration of WMDs into their daily lives. Methods This feasibility trial examined the following: (1) the usability of the WMD from the users’ perspectives; (2) the feasibility of the Live With Wearable Monitoring Device program; and (3) the effectiveness of the Live With Wearable Monitoring Device program among community-dwelling older adults. The intervention, based on Self-Determination Theory, involved using the Live With Wearable Monitoring Device program over a 3-month period, with ongoing professional and peer support provided by community health workers, aided by a nurse and social workers. This support included 1 home visit and biweekly communication via WhatsApp. Data were collected at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months. Results A total of 39 participants were enrolled in the intervention group, while 37 participants were in the control group. The recruitment rate was high (76/89, 85%), and the attrition rate was low (8/76, 11%), indicating that the program is feasible for older adults. Participants in the intervention group exhibited higher self-efficacy, lower anxiety levels, and used the smartwatch more frequently, in terms of both days and hours, compared with the control group. A between-group difference was observed in self-efficacy between the intervention and control groups (β=3.31, 95% CI 0.36-6.25, P=.03), with statistically significant higher mean values recorded at all 4 time points. Conclusions It is clear that merely providing a WMD to older adults does not guarantee its usage, particularly for those unfamiliar with how to utilize its health-related functions in their daily routines. This study implemented a theory-based program aimed at enhancing the ongoing use of WMDs among older adults, suggesting that continuous professional and peer support may significantly influence WMD usage. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05269303; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05269303

Weathering the Storm

The provision of palliative care has been seen to have a significant impact on the interprofessional health care team. Being emotionally present to support patients and families at their most stressful points in life can result in compassion satisfaction or compassion fatigue. Providing palliative care through the COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of complexity to this professional caregiving experience. Although efforts have been made by employers to support health care providers in the practices of self-care and mindfulness, the true experience of care providers was not known. This study was conducted from June 2020 to October 2020 to better understand the experiences of physicians, nurses, social workers, and spiritual care providers who were providing palliative care during the first wave of the pandemic. Twenty-five participants completed the Professional Quality of Life (The Concise ProQOL Manual: The Concise Manual for the Professional Quality of Life Scale) measure and open-ended questions to evaluate their experiences as health care providers. The findings resulted in an overarching theme of “Weathering the Storm” with 6 themes describing the experiences of the interprofessional team.

Exploring the impact of physical exercise on mental health among female college students: the chain mediating role of coping styles and psychological resilience

BackgroundFemale college students are a high-risk group for psychological conflicts, and they are more likely to adopt negative coping styles under stress, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems, as well as pose hidden threats to the healthy development of school education and social work. Although physical exercise is an important means of effectively alleviating the psychological health of female college students, and there may be a close relationship between coping styles and psychological resilience with physical exercise and psychological health, specific ways to promote the psychological health of female college students by influencing their coping styles and enhancing their psychological resilience have yet to be explored.MethodsThe present study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate a sample of Chinese undergraduate female college students. A total of 659 participants were recruited during the second half of the 2023–2024 academic year, and they all completed assessments including the Physical Activity Rating Scale, College Mental Health Scale, Brief Coping Styles Questionnaire, and Psychological Resilience Scale. Subsequently, descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the obtained reliable data.Results and conclusionThe study revealed two significant correlations among female college students, namely the associations between physical exercise, coping styles, psychological flexibility, and mental health. Specifically, physical exercise exhibited a positive relationship with positive coping styles and psychological resilience while displaying a negative association with negative coping styles and mental health. Moreover, psychological resilience demonstrated a positive correlation with positive coping styles but displayed negative relationships with both negative coping styles and mental health. Additionally, there was a negative relationship observed between positive coping styles and mental health. Furthermore, it was found that physical exercise significantly impacted the mental health of female college students in a detrimental manner; meanwhile, coping styles and psychological resilience played crucial mediating roles in linking physical exercise to mental health outcomes. Ultimately, our mediation model sheds the underlying mechanisms through which physical exercise predicts mental health levels among female college students; these findings underscore the importance of promoting physical exercise as an effective means to enhance overall well-being.

Emancipatory Social Work: A Promising Practice to End Elder Abuse in Uganda

Emancipatory Social Work: A Promising Practice to End Elder Abuse in Uganda

Exploring what works well and less well in a community-based drop-in hub providing health and wellbeing services for people experiencing homelessness: a participatory action evaluation of service coordination

Abstract Background People experiencing homelessness often face obstacles accessing health and social care support. Challenges are further exacerbated when support provision for multiple unmet needs are not integrated or coordinated. To overcome these challenges, there has been growing attention on integrating and co-locating health and wellbeing services for people experiencing homelessness. In an urban area of North East England, a long-standing Hub or ‘drop-in centre’ offers a range of health and wellbeing support by bringing together the different health and care system agencies in one space. However, little is known about the perspectives of providers on what works well and less well in how the different services are coordinated. Methods Using a participatory action research approach, a qualitative service evaluation was undertaken between June and September 2023. Fourteen interviews were conducted with providers who work in a paid or voluntary capacity operating some of their service offerings or support in the Hub. Interview transcripts were analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were evident from the evaluation: 1) location and space matter, 2) co-location and relationships make a difference, and 3) service consistency and flexibility are paramount. Conclusion Co-locating support to cover the breadth of health and care needs has the potential to increase engagement and access for people experiencing homelessness, and to enhance trust with service users and between agencies. This model provides a unique example of co-location and integration of support, particularly with it being operated by a community housing organisation.

School Social Workers' Responses to Racial Injustice During COVID-19: A Need for Anti-Racist Practice in K-12 Schools

ABSTRACT This qualitative study examines how school social workers (SSWers) responded to the U.S. racial injustices highlighted by the media during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. SSWers were interviewed during what some scholars dubbed a “moment of reckoning and crisis” following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide demonstrations for justice that aimed to challenge racialized police violence (Villarreal Sosa 2022, p. 67). Seventeen SSWers in K–12 public schools from various school districts across three states (Minnesota, Colorado, and Nevada) completed two key informant interviews related to their experiences during the spring and fall semesters of 2020. A constructivist grounded theory approach, including three coding cycles, was used to analyze participant narratives. A substantive theory for understanding SSWers’ responses (or lack of responses) to racial injustices during this period emerged. The findings provide an initial understanding of how SSWers’ responded to racial injustice during this moment of crisis and some of the factors that impacted their responses. The most common responses to racial injustice during this moment of crisis included: 1) engaging in conversations about race and racism and 2) participating in learning opportunities about race, racism, and racial justice. Our theory highlights how (lack of) structural support influenced SSWers’ responses. Implications for school social work (SSW) practice, curriculum, and research are discussed.

Will the Intervention Benefit My Client? Helping Social Workers to Answer the Question Using Indicators of Clinically Meaningful Change

AbstractSocial workers strive to provide the best support to each client, making it crucial to consider not just group-level effects of interventions but also individual outcomes. While empirical evidence often stems from group-based analyses, these offer limited insights into individual change, which is key for tailoring interventions. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of individual-level analyses, an underexplored area in social work, using four indicators of “clinically meaningful change” (CMC). We compare these analyses with group-level analyses using a dataset of 146 Swedish families undergoing Functional Family Therapy (FFT), an intervention with strong empirical support. While group-level analyses confirmed FFT’s general effectiveness in reducing adolescent psychosocial symptoms, individual-level analyses revealed a more nuanced picture, showing variations in outcomes—positive, negative, and neutral. The study thus demonstrates the value of CMC indicators for generating individual-level information that social workers can harness to find optimal solutions for their individual clients.

The Introduction of Social Robots into the Social Work Practice with Older Adults: a Challenge for the Education of University Students in the Field of Gerontechnology

The Introduction of Social Robots into the Social Work Practice with Older Adults: a Challenge for the Education of University Students in the Field of Gerontechnology

Imposter Syndrome in Social Work Practice: Clinical Considerations and Implications

Imposter Syndrome in Social Work Practice: Clinical Considerations and Implications

Fashioning of the Homo Economicus (Economic Citizen): Reflections on Migration and Integration

ABSTRACT This article critically explores what is meant by integration and the expectations that come with it, and how the ‘right’ kind of economic citizen (homo economicus) gets produced through social work practice with immigrants. This article engages in critical reflection on a participant’s narrative that derives from a larger study that investigated structural and individualistic factors that describe how Ethiopian immigrants living in Toronto, Canada negotiate the decision-making process to returning to their homeland. At the macro-level, the study explored the role that broader processes of social, political and economic transformation (globalization) play whilst at the micro-level exploring the aspirations, capabilities and individual agency to migrate out and how their experiences of settlement shape the return-thinking process. The participant accounting analyzed in this article probes the expansion of immigrant selection in Canada (Author), the policy of multiculturalism as Canada’s most recognized policy as it pertains to integration, and how they coalesce and shape settlement work with immigrants. This article, through the participant accounting, engages the question of what is meant by integration – and whether integration is the new assimilation – and concludes with a discussion on how to begin to address concerns that surround social work practice with immigrants.

Progress of rehabilitation in assisted living for mentally ill according to STAX-SA taxonomy.

The transition from institutional psychiatric care to community-based mental health services has resulted in the rapid development of assisted living services (AL) for mentally ill. Focus of the current study is to add internationally comparable evidence-based knowledge on the rehabilitation of AL residents by examining progression and mortality in relation to the level of service provided in AL units. This study utilized data gathered from a longitudinal study conducted in Finland during the years 2020 to 2022. A total of 340 health- and social care records of residents in AL services were examined over a 3-year study period. Progression (changes in AL service level) and mortality of AL residents were explored through the level of service provided in AL units, by applying the Simple Taxonomy for Supported Accommodation (STAX-SA). Progression was grouped into (1) progressed, (2) stable, and (3) regressed. During the 3-year study period progression was examined for 95.3% (n = 324) of the AL residents of which 18.8% progressed into less supported AL, 79.3% remained stable and 1.9% regressed into more supported AL. In the entire population (n = 340) mortality was 4.7%. AL residents progressed into less supported AL services rarely although they had similarities in clinical characteristics. This might indicate that the development of AL services has evolved into a more custodial type rather than rehabilitation. Progress of rehabilitation in AL services should be investigated further by examining AL resident characteristics in relation to the level of service and level of support provided in AL services.

Consequences of forced conjunction: Social work’s struggles for independence from sociology in mainland China

This article critically reviews the relationship between social work and sociology in mainland China, focusing on the reconstruction period from 1988 to the present. The forced conjunction of social work and sociology, initiated by governments and sociologists, has created significant barriers for social work education, research, and practice. Given the proliferation of the field of social work in mainland China, and sociology’s substantial influence on social work, this article emphasizes the crucialness of discipline autonomy of social work and sheds lights on potential solutions including strengthening social work practices at multiple levels and making efforts in promoting social work science.