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Journal of Evidence-based Social Work... Apr 2023This study identified the nature of social work practice in primary health care and described the reported patient outcomes, benefits, challenges, and enablers of social...
PURPOSE
This study identified the nature of social work practice in primary health care and described the reported patient outcomes, benefits, challenges, and enablers of social work in general practice [GP] settings.
METHOD
A systematic literature review applying the Prisma framework was conducted.
RESULTS
A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. Social work practice in GP assists in delivering positive health outcomes for patients, improved patient care, offers value for money, and supports interdisciplinary teams. Identified challenges include funding impediments, organizational barriers, and a lack of understanding of and undervaluing the social work role.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
The review outlined the benefits of social work practice in GP practices; however, these must be further evidenced. Funding for social workers in primary health care was identified as a challenge when it was lacking, and as an enabler when it was available. Further research to evidence the patient outcomes and overall benefits, the fiscal value of social work and funding pathways in primary health care is recommended.
PubMed: 37264677
DOI: 10.1080/26408066.2023.2202665 -
Journal of Evidence-based Social Work... 2021: Suicide among African Americans has increased significantly in the past 15 years, yet it remains a neglected topic in social work research. This systematic review...
: Suicide among African Americans has increased significantly in the past 15 years, yet it remains a neglected topic in social work research. This systematic review examines social work's contribution to suicide research while focusing on the social context in which African Americans live. Using a critical race theory, we examine protective factors specific to African Americans that may mitigate suicide risks. Results reveal that the social work profession has produced 20 suicide-related studies between 1980 and 2018. Identify three types of protective factors against suicide among African Americans. These are: micro-level factors (private regard / strong African American identity and impulsive response to discrimination), mezzo-level factors (family support and the role of women), and macro-level factors (social support, poverty and lack of awareness, religion, access to care, and internal response to community violence). Finding demonstrate evidence of the relationship between protective factors and suicide among African Americans. Implications for the use of Critical Race Theory in Social Work research and practice are provided along with implications to advance suicide training in social work education programs.
Topics: Black or African American; Female; Humans; Protective Factors; Social Support; Social Work; Suicide Prevention
PubMed: 33622190
DOI: 10.1080/26408066.2020.1857317 -
Journal of the American Geriatrics... Jun 2015This article is based on the lecture for the 2014 American Geriatrics Society Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award. Elder abuse is a... (Review)
Review
This article is based on the lecture for the 2014 American Geriatrics Society Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award. Elder abuse is a global public health and human rights problem. Evidence suggests that elder abuse is prevalent, predictable, costly, and sometimes fatal. This review will highlight the global epidemiology of elder abuse in terms of its prevalence, risk factors, and consequences in community populations. The global literature in PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, BIOSIS, Science Direct, and Cochrane Central was searched. Search terms included elder abuse, elder mistreatment, elder maltreatment, prevalence, incidence, risk factors, protective factors, outcomes, and consequences. Studies that existed only as abstracts, case series, or case reports or recruited individuals younger than 60; qualitative studies; and non-English publications were excluded. Tables and figures were created to highlight the findings: the most-detailed analyses to date of the prevalence of elder abuse according to continent, risk and protective factors, graphic presentation of odds ratios and confidence intervals for major risk factors, consequences, and practical suggestions for health professionals in addressing elder abuse. Elder abuse is common in community-dwelling older adults, especially minority older adults. This review identifies important knowledge gaps, such as a lack of consistency in definitions of elder abuse; insufficient research with regard to screening; and etiological, intervention, and prevention research. Concerted efforts from researchers, community organizations, healthcare and legal professionals, social service providers, and policy-makers should be promoted to address the global problem of elder abuse.
Topics: Aged; Elder Abuse; Female; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Social Work; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 26096395
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13454 -
American Journal of Public Health Dec 2017Efforts to reduce expensive health service utilization, contain costs, improve health outcomes, and address the social determinants of health require research that... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Efforts to reduce expensive health service utilization, contain costs, improve health outcomes, and address the social determinants of health require research that demonstrates the economic value of health services in population health across a variety of settings. Social workers are an integral part of the US health care system, yet the specific contributions of social work to health and cost-containment outcomes are unknown. The social work profession's person-in-environment framework and unique skillset, particularly around addressing social determinants of health, hold promise for improving health and cost outcomes.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review international studies of the effect of social work-involved health services on health and economic outcomes.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched 4 databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Social Science Citation Index) by using "social work" AND "cost" and "health" for trials published from 1990 to 2017.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Abstract review was followed by full-text review of all studies meeting inclusion criteria (social work services, physical health, and cost outcomes).
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Of the 831 abstracts found, 51 (6.1%) met criteria. Full text review yielded 16 studies involving more than 16 000 participants, including pregnant and pediatric patients, vulnerable low-income adults, and geriatric patients. We examined study quality, health and utilization outcomes, and cost outcomes.
MAIN RESULTS
Average study quality was fair. Studies of 7 social work-led services scored higher on quality ratings than 9 studies of social workers as team members. Most studies showed positive effects on health and service utilization; cost-savings were consistent across nearly all studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite positive overall effects on outcomes, variability in study methods, health problems, and cost analyses render generalizations difficult. Controlled hypothesis-driven trials are needed to examine the health and cost effects of specific services delivered by social workers independently and through interprofessional team-based care. Public Health Implications. The economic and health benefits reported in these studies suggest that the broad health perspective taken by the social work profession for patient, personal, and environmental needs may be particularly valuable for achieving goals of cost containment, prevention, and population health. Novel approaches that move beyond cost savings to articulate the specific value-added of social work are much needed. As health service delivery focuses increasingly on interprofessional training, practice, and integrated care, more research testing the impact of social work prevention and intervention efforts on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations while also measuring societal costs and benefits is essential.
Topics: Community Health Centers; Cooperative Behavior; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Health Promotion; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Social Work; Social Workers; United States
PubMed: 29236534
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304004 -
Primary Health Care Research &... Jan 2019AimTo appraise and synthesize empirical literature on implementation of evidence within community nursing. To explore the use of implementation theory and identify the...
UNLABELLED
AimTo appraise and synthesize empirical literature on implementation of evidence within community nursing. To explore the use of implementation theory and identify the strategies required for, and the barriers and facilitators to, successful implementation within this context.
BACKGROUND
There is an international consensus that evidence-based practice can improve outcomes for people using health and social care services. However, these practices are not always translated into care delivery. Community nursing is a relatively understudied area; little is known about how innovations in practice are implemented within this setting.
METHODS
Systematic mixed-studies review, synthesizing quantitative and qualitative research. The electronic databases AMED, PsycINFO, Ovid Medline, CINAHL Plus, ASSIA, British Nursing Index and EMBASE were used. Two grey literature databases were also searched: OpenGrey and EThOS. English language, peer-reviewed papers published between January 2010 and July 2017 were considered. Criteria included implementation of an innovation and change to practice within adult community nursing. An approach called Critical Interpretive Synthesis was used to integrate the evidence from across the studies into a comprehensible theoretical framework.
RESULTS
In total, 22 papers were reviewed. Few studies discussed the use of theory when planning, guiding and evaluating the implementation of the innovation (n=6). A number of implementation strategies, facilitators and barriers were identified across the included studies, highlighting the interplay of both service context and individual factors in successful implementation.
CONCLUSION
Implementation is an expanding area of research; yet is challenged by a lack of consistency in terminology and limited use of theory. Implementation within community nursing is a complex process, requiring both individual and organizational adoption, and managerial support. Successful adoption of evidence-based practice however, is only possible if community nurses themselves deem it useful and there is evidence that it could have a positive impact on the patient and/or their primary carer.
Topics: Community Health Services; Evidence-Based Practice; Health Plan Implementation; Humans; Nursing; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 30068402
DOI: 10.1017/S1463423618000488 -
International Journal of Nursing Studies Mar 2024Peripheral intravenous catheters are the most frequently used invasive device in nursing practice, yet are commonly associated with complications. We performed a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Peripheral intravenous catheters are the most frequently used invasive device in nursing practice, yet are commonly associated with complications. We performed a systematic review to determine the prevalence of peripheral intravenous catheter infection and all-cause failure.
METHODS
The Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE were searched for observational studies and randomised controlled trials that reported peripheral intravenous catheter related infections or failure. The review was limited to English language and articles published from the year 2000. Pooled estimates were calculated with random-effects models. Meta-analysis of observation studies in epidemiology guidelines and the Cochrane process for randomised controlled trials were used to guide the review. Prospero registration number: CRD42022349956.
FINDINGS
Our search retrieved 34,725 studies. Of these, 41 observational studies and 28 randomised controlled trials (478,586 peripheral intravenous catheters) met inclusion criteria. The pooled proportion of catheter-associated bloodstream infections was 0.028 % (95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.009-0.081; 38 studies), or 4.40 catheter-associated bloodstream infections per 100,000 catheter-days (20 studies, 95 % CI: 3.47-5.58). Local infection was reported in 0.150 % of peripheral intravenous catheters (95 % CI: 0.047-0.479, 30 studies) with an incidence rate of 65.1 per 100,000 catheter-days (16 studies; 95 % CI: 49.2-86.2). All cause peripheral intravenous catheter failure before treatment completion occurred in 36.4 % of catheters (95 % CI: 31.7-41.3, 53 studies) with an overall incidence rate of 4.42 per 100 catheter days (78,891 catheter days; 19 studies; 95 % CI: 4.27-4.57).
INTERPRETATION
Peripheral intravenous catheter failure is a significant worldwide problem, affecting one in three catheters. Per peripheral intravenous catheter, infection occurrence was low, however, with over two billion catheters used globally each year, the absolute number of infections and associated burden remains high. Substantial and systemwide efforts are needed to address peripheral intravenous catheter infection and failure and the sequelae of treatment disruption, increased health costs and poor patient outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Phlebitis; Catheter-Related Infections; Catheters; Catheterization, Peripheral; Sepsis
PubMed: 38142634
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104673 -
PloS One 2024As theoretical models suggest, work addiction has several adverse correlates and consequences, such as unfavorable personality traits, physical and psychological... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
As theoretical models suggest, work addiction has several adverse correlates and consequences, such as unfavorable personality traits, physical and psychological symptoms, and social conflicts. Both early and recent concepts emphasize that individuals with work addiction have more problematic social life due to obsessive overwork. This includes negative impacts on family, workplace, and other relationships. The present study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze all the empirical studies that examined the association between work addiction and any dimension of social life, as such an analysis has never been conducted before. Studies published from 1995 to 2022 were identified through a systematic search. 102 eligible studies were included in the review, with 75 studies contributing to five different meta-analyses. The results indicated significant associations between work addiction and: (1) lower work-life balance, (2) reduced social functioning, and increased difficulties in (3) family relationships, (4) intimate relationships, and (5) relationships with the community, friends, and colleagues. The associations were found to be independent of gender and age. The meta-analytic study highlights research gaps in the field and suggests future directions, including exploring attachment styles and early social relationships in work addiction, investigating the association between social and emotional competencies and work addiction, examining the role of escape motivation, and exploring the characteristics of the partners (spouses) of workaholics. Since the quality of social relationships and social support are crucial factors in physical and mental health, the prevention and intervention of work addiction should be prioritized in organizational and clinical settings.
Topics: Humans; Behavior, Addictive; Interpersonal Relations; Work-Life Balance; Social Support; Workplace
PubMed: 38833505
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303563 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2023The social work profession has been exploring nonpharmacological interventions for patients with cognitive impairment, but there are few evidence-based research outputs.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The social work profession has been exploring nonpharmacological interventions for patients with cognitive impairment, but there are few evidence-based research outputs. Systematically evaluating the effectiveness of social work interventions for people with cognitive impairment can shed light on the matter to further improve similar interventions. Randomized controlled trials of nonpharmacological interventions for patients with cognitive impairment were selected from key literature databases in both English and Chinese from 2010 to 2021. A systematic review and meta-analysis with Revman 5.4 were performed. Seven trials were included, involving 851 patients with cognitive impairment. The meta-analysis showed that, in terms of overall cognitive function, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (MD = 1.64, 95% CI [0.97, 2.30], < 0.001) of the intervention group was superior to the control group, but there was no significant difference in the Mini-Mental State Examination score between the two groups (MD = 0.33, 95% CI [-0.16, 0.82], = 0.18). Compared with the control group, nonpharmacological intervention can effectively improve the neuropsychiatric condition of patients (SMD = -0.42, 95% CI [-0.64, -0.20], = 0.0002). In summary, the current evidence shows that nonpharmacological social work interventions had a positive effect on the cognitive function and neuropsychiatric status of patients with cognitive impairment. Suggestions for future nonpharmacological intervention practice are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Cognitive Dysfunction; Cognition; Social Work
PubMed: 36767272
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031906 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2022Research has established the family as the predominant context for child labor practices. Decisions to involve children in child labor within the family or by a family... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Research has established the family as the predominant context for child labor practices. Decisions to involve children in child labor within the family or by a family member (herein family child labor) is strongly motivated by cultural beliefs that normalize child labor. This systematic review sought to synthesize evidence on the social norms that support child labor practices, and the normative interpretation of international child labor legislation/standards.
METHODS
We followed the PRISMA procedure for systematic review by reviewing empirical articles published between 2000 to 2021 and contained within the four key databases: Scopus, ISI Web of Sciences, PubMed and Embase. Findings from 13 articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed thematically.
RESULTS
The review included studies from three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. Gender norms, informal apprenticeship norm, norms on succession and sustenance as well as obedience, were key social norms that influenced child labor practices in the family. Parents' decision to involve children in child labor was strongly influenced by the collective acceptance of some occupations (e.g., cocoa farming and fishing) as family occupations, which need to be preserved, undertaken and passed on to children. Child rights and the UNCRC principle of children's participation were considered foreign to most non-western countries and interpreted as contravention to the cherished social norm of obedience. The findings underlie the link between social norms and the common social values of resilience, hard work, and respect.
CONCLUSION
The results provide foundations and target to develop normative change intervention programs to re-orient the negative interpretations of common social values and provide alternative pathways that prevent child labor within the social context.
Topics: Child; Child Labor; Family; Humans; Social Environment; Social Norms; Social Values
PubMed: 35409766
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074082 -
Journal of Gerontological Social Work Jul 2022Physical/cognitive limitations associated with the aging process place older adults at disproportionate risk of negative consequences during disasters. Guided by the...
Physical/cognitive limitations associated with the aging process place older adults at disproportionate risk of negative consequences during disasters. Guided by the profession's commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, gerontological social workers have long been on the frontlines supporting older adults during disasters. Yet, disaster social work practice remains an undeveloped and under-researched area. Thus, we asked "what is the current role of gerontological social workers in disaster preparedness with older adults in the United States, and potential areas for improvement?" This paper systematically reviews the literature discussing social work and disaster preparedness/response with older adults in the U.S., to identify needs and inform future directions. PRISMA guidelines were followed to conduct a systematic search across relevant databases for peer-reviewed-publications between January 1, 2009-June 12, 2020. Eleven articles met inclusion criteria. This body of literature is small and covers two broad areas: (1) charging the social work profession to engage in this work, and (2) describing current efforts and unique challenges of older adults during disasters. Only three empirical studies were identified. Future educational efforts should formalize training to prepare social workers for this practice area. Research should detail the roles of social workers in disaster preparedness/response, and factors that predict involvement.
Topics: Aged; Disaster Planning; Disasters; Floods; Geriatrics; Humans; Social Work; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 34689703
DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2021.1986764