-
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jul 2024Human trafficking leaves victims with long-term social, psychological, and health effects. Research in this area is still nascent, and there are limited studies that... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Human trafficking leaves victims with long-term social, psychological, and health effects. Research in this area is still nascent, and there are limited studies that show the effectiveness of existing services for survivors. This study fills the gaps in knowledge of the effectiveness of existing programs through a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Inclusion and exclusion criteria retained 15 studies using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method, containing 16 populations. Included studies examined programs and/or interventions providing direct services to human trafficking survivors using quantitative pre- and post-intervention measurements published from January 2010 to June 2022. Outcomes among survivors were grouped into five categories: (a) mental health, (b) physical health, (c) social support or social behavior, (d) personal development, and (e) other. Roughly half ( = 31, 51.66%) of the outcomes across the 15 studies were statistically significant. Most measured constructs showed a moderate effect size (E.S.; = 31, 51.67%). In all, 21 constructs (27.91%) met high E.S. levels, and eight (13.33%) met the criteria for a low-level effect. Analyzing different intervention types, physical-based interventions represented the smallest subset and the largest mean effect size ( = 5, = 1.632, 95% CI [0.608, 2.655]) followed by standardized therapy ( = 23, = 1.111, 95% CI [0.624, 1.599]), wrap-around services ( = 14, = 0.594, 95% CI [0.241, 0.947]), and peer and support group modalities ( = 18, = 0.440, 95% CI [0.310, 0.571]). A meta-regression showed that non-U.S.-based interventions were significantly more effective than U.S.-based interventions ( = -2.25, = 0.025). While only 15 studies contributed to this analysis, the current study ushered in new avenues regarding future research, policies, and practice in services for survivors of human trafficking.
Topics: Humans; Human Trafficking; Survivors; Social Work; Social Support; Crime Victims; Female; Male
PubMed: 37897353
DOI: 10.1177/15248380231204885 -
British Journal of Community Nursing Feb 2016In spite of ongoing UK Government recommendations for integrated health and social care, the implementation has been slow. While there are pockets of integration... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
In spite of ongoing UK Government recommendations for integrated health and social care, the implementation has been slow. While there are pockets of integration happening across England, many services remain isolated and fragmented.
AIM
This review aims to critically review existing evidence to identify if there are any factors enabling successful implementation of integrated health and social care for people with long-term conditions in the community.
METHOD
A review was conducted following the principles of a systematic review. Relevant data was extracted from the identified papers and the papers were quality appraised.
RESULTS
A total of seven studies were included in the review. Data analysis and synthesis identified a number of themes in relation to enablers of integrated care, including co-location of teams, communication, integrated organisations, management and leadership, capacity and resources, and information technology.
CONCLUSION
There is a limited amount of evidence regarding integrated health and social care teams. Although there are some consistencies within the findings, further research is needed to enhance the validity of the body of evidence available.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cooperative Behavior; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; Female; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Long-Term Care; Male; Middle Aged; Social Work; State Medicine; United Kingdom; Young Adult
PubMed: 26844602
DOI: 10.12968/bjcn.2016.21.2.82 -
International Journal of Environmental... Mar 2023Anti-Indigenous racism is a widespread social problem in health and education systems in English-speaking colonized countries. Cultural safety training (CST) is often... (Review)
Review
Anti-Indigenous racism is a widespread social problem in health and education systems in English-speaking colonized countries. Cultural safety training (CST) is often promoted as a key strategy to address this problem, yet little evidence exists on how CST is operationalized and evaluated in health and education systems. This scoping review sought to broadly synthesize the academic literature on how CST programs are developed, implemented, and evaluated in the applied health, social work and education fields in Canada, United States, Australia, and New Zealand. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ERIC, and ASSIA were searched for articles published between 1996 and 2020. The Joanna Briggs Institute's three-step search strategy and PRISMA extension for scoping reviews were adopted, with 134 articles included. CST programs have grown significantly in the health, social work, and education fields in the last three decades, and they vary significantly in their objectives, modalities, timelines, and how they are evaluated. The involvement of Indigenous peoples in CST programs is common, but their roles are rarely specified. Indigenous groups must be intentionally and meaningfully engaged throughout the entire duration of research and practice. Cultural safety and various related concepts should be careful considered and applied for the relevant context.
Topics: Humans; United States; Clinical Competence; Education, Professional; Educational Status; Canada; Social Work
PubMed: 36982126
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065217 -
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric... Feb 2021The relationship between social networks and health and wellbeing is increasingly demonstrated in vulnerable adult populations. This relationship for vulnerable children... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The relationship between social networks and health and wellbeing is increasingly demonstrated in vulnerable adult populations. This relationship for vulnerable children and young people has not hitherto been systematically reviewed. This narrative synthesis aims to consolidate research to provide a foundational basis for future health-related social network research and interventions for children and young people.
METHODS
This mixed methods systematic review synthesises research investigating whole, egocentric social networks of 32 vulnerable child groups with a mean age below 18. There were no setting, language or date restrictions. The quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Of 6360 search results, 49 were included for narrative synthesis.
RESULTS
The majority of pertinent research originates from the USA; the most frequently investigated vulnerabilities were minority ethnic status, homelessness and the presence of special educational needs. Research aims and methodologies varied significantly between studies. Key findings included (i) vulnerable (excluding minority ethnic) children and young people have impoverished networks (ii) access to networks is a protective factor against negative outcomes (iii) social ties, primarily immediate family, provide access to personal resources and (iv) network ties are to a degree substitutable.
CONCLUSIONS
Networks are associated with wellbeing and vulnerable children and young people commonly have impoverished networks, excluding cases where vulnerability classification relates to minority ethnic status. Network embeddedness is associated with positive outcomes, particularly for homeless children. Family are typically primary providers of support, but ties are substitutable when networks are restricted. Egocentric social network research is currently limited for vulnerable child populations. Further research could inform interventions that harness networks to improve health, wellbeing and functional outcomes for these child groups.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Family; Homeless Youth; Humans; Minority Groups; Social Networking; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 33140120
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-020-01968-9 -
International Journal For Quality in... Feb 2010To perform a systematic review, supplemented by a targeted grey literature scan, for performance measurement and improvement frameworks within and across the health,... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To perform a systematic review, supplemented by a targeted grey literature scan, for performance measurement and improvement frameworks within and across the health, education and social service systems. The intended outcome was the creation of a foundation of evidence to inform the development of cross-sectoral quality improvement frameworks.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, EMBASE, Social Services Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts and Education Index Full Text were searched up to April/May 2007. In addition, 26 governmental and 27 organizational websites were searched.
STUDY SELECTION
English language material with a publication date of 1986 or more recent that described a health, education or social services multidimensional framework for performance measurement and improvement. Data extraction The framework name; administrative sector; level of application; setting; population of interest; categories of quality described within the framework; country of application; and citations to other performance measurement and improvement frameworks were extracted from each article.
RESULTS
In total, 111 frameworks were identified. Most frameworks (n = 97) were developed in or for the health sector. A concept sorting exercise identified 16 quality concepts applicable across many settings, sectors and levels of application.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review of quality domains will be relevant and useful to those who are developing and using performance measurement and improvement frameworks for adult and child populations within or across the health, social service or education sectors.
Topics: Benchmarking; Delivery of Health Care; Education; Humans; Internationality; Social Work
PubMed: 19951964
DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzp057 -
Health & Social Work Aug 2011Social workers provide services to a variety of clients and are challenged with finding interventions that meet the multifaceted needs of diverse populations. Acceptance... (Review)
Review
Social workers provide services to a variety of clients and are challenged with finding interventions that meet the multifaceted needs of diverse populations. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is becoming an increasingly popular therapy that offers flexibility and effectiveness in treating challenging cases. The purpose of this review is to provide social work researchers and practitioners with an explanation of the clinical application of ACT. The article provides a systematic review of the existing efficacy of ACT with various health illnesses. The authors gathered articles from multiple databases that investigated ACT as an intervention with psychological and physiological health illnesses and calculated corresponding effect sizes. Effect sizes indicated that ACT is a promising intervention for those with anxiety disorders, depression, psychosis, trichotillomania, epilepsy, chronic skin picking, and diabetes. The research on ACT and its promising applications to help clients with various health illnesses provide social workers with promising alternatives for approaching challenging illnesses. Although the empirical base continues to show promise for ACT, additional research using larger sample sizes and more rigorous designs is needed before more definitive claims can be made about the effectiveness of ACT.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Behavior Therapy; Chronic Disease; Humans; Quality of Life; Social Work
PubMed: 21936331
DOI: 10.1093/hsw/36.3.169 -
AJPM Focus Dec 2022The objective of this review was to conduct a systematic evaluation of the measurement and operationalization of the social determinants of health in research on... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The objective of this review was to conduct a systematic evaluation of the measurement and operationalization of the social determinants of health in research on long-acting reversible contraception use in the U.S. To contribute to the ongoing refinement of the quality of social determinants of health and long-acting reversible contraception use research, this systematic scoping review examines how social determinants of health are measured and operationalized in studies that examine long-acting reversible contraception initiation and usage at the patient level.
METHODS
A detailed search of 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) was conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 according to PRISMA guidelines. Determinants were assessed using the Dahlgren and Whitehead model. The protocol and data extraction template were developed a priori.
RESULTS
A total of 27 articles representing 26 studies were included in our study. A total of 12 studies were retrospective and cross-sectional in design; the remaining studies were a combination of designs. Healthcare services and health insurance were identified as the most frequently researched categories of determinants. There was wide variation in reported operationalization of race and ethnicity, limited engagement with sexuality, and uneven geographic representation across studies.
DISCUSSION
This systematic scoping review is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to focus on the measurement and operationalization of social determinants of health and on current long-acting reversible contraception use research. Future research on the impact of social determinants of health on long-acting reversible contraception use must explore the full range of factors shaping contraceptive decision making and use and focus on equity-informed data collection methods and reporting.
PubMed: 37791245
DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2022.100032 -
PloS One 2013Previous reviews show that reporting guidelines have improved the quality of trial reports in medicine, yet existing guidelines may not be fully suited for social and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Previous reviews show that reporting guidelines have improved the quality of trial reports in medicine, yet existing guidelines may not be fully suited for social and psychological intervention trials.
OBJECTIVE/DESIGN
We conducted a two-part study that reviewed (1) reporting guidelines for and (2) the reporting quality of social and psychological intervention trials.
DATA SOURCES
(1) To identify reporting guidelines, we systematically searched multiple electronic databases and reporting guideline registries. (2) To identify trials, we hand-searched 40 journals with the 10 highest impact factors in clinical psychology, criminology, education, and social work. ELIGIBILITY: (1) Reporting guidelines consisted of articles introducing a checklist of reporting standards relevant to social and psychological intervention trials. (2) Trials reported randomised experiments of complex interventions with psychological, social, or health outcomes.
RESULTS
(1) We identified 19 reporting guidelines that yielded 147 reporting standards relevant to social and psychological interventions. Social and behavioural science guidelines included 89 standards not found in CONSORT guidelines. However, CONSORT guidelines used more recommended techniques for development and dissemination compared to other guidelines. (2) Our review of trials (n = 239) revealed that many standards were poorly reported, such as identification as a randomised trial in titles (20% reported the information) and abstracts (55%); information about blinding (15%), sequence generation (23%), and allocation concealment (17%); and details about actual delivery of experimental (43%) and control interventions (34%), participant uptake (25%), and service environment (28%). Only 11 of 40 journals referenced reporting guidelines in "Instructions to Authors."
CONCLUSION
Existing reporting guidelines have important limitations in content, development, and/or dissemination. Important details are routinely missing from trial publications; most leading journals in social and behavioural sciences do not ask authors to follow reporting standards. Findings demonstrate a need to develop a CONSORT extension with updated standards for social and psychological intervention trials.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Information Dissemination; Mental Disorders; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Design; Research Report; Social Adjustment
PubMed: 23734256
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065442 -
Social Work Jul 2013Across the globe, social workers serve schools in a variety of capacities, providing services such as skills training; individual, group, and family counseling; crisis... (Review)
Review
Across the globe, social workers serve schools in a variety of capacities, providing services such as skills training; individual, group, and family counseling; crisis intervention; home visits; parent support and education; and advocacy for students, families, and school systems. To date, no synthesis of the literature exists examining tier 1 and tier 2 cross-national school-based social work interventions. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was twofold: (1) to identify tier 1 and tier 2 school-based interventions that involve social workers and (2) to examine the extent to which the interventions are efficacious with school-based youths. A computerized search with inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted using several databases. Eighteen studies were included for the final sample in this review. Effect sizes were calculated for all outcomes to determine magnitude of treatment effect. Results indicated that most of the studies were conducted in the United States (n = 14) and half (n = 9) of the included interventions were tier 1. Many positive effect sizes were found. Interventions aimed to treat a variety of outcomes such as sexual health, aggression, self-esteem, school attendance, identity, and depression. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of school-based social work worldwide.
Topics: Adolescent; Aggression; Child; Depression; Humans; Mental Health Services; Reproductive Health; School Health Services; Self Concept; Social Work
PubMed: 24032306
DOI: 10.1093/sw/swt022 -
Social Work in Health Care 2016The use of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) is well documented in the mental health, medical, and education literature. There is minimal research on the use of... (Review)
Review
The use of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) is well documented in the mental health, medical, and education literature. There is minimal research on the use of mindfulness with social workers. As demonstrated in other professional and helping fields, mindfulness may enhance clinical skills, reduce burnout, and increase job satisfaction among social workers. In the health care field mindfulness appears integral to patient and family relationships and personal resilience. The evolving and expanding role of hospital social workers may lead to increased work stress and greater demands from both the medical system and patients and families. Research with medical providers, such as physicians and nurses, suggests mindfulness may help in reducing stress, enhancing relationships, and fostering the self-reflection required to provide patient-centered care. We systematically reviewed the existing literature to begin understanding both mindfulness qualities and practices and the effectiveness of MBIs among social workers as well as the relationship of mindfulness to patient-centered care.
Topics: Burnout, Professional; Empathy; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Mental Health; Mindfulness; Patient-Centered Care; Quality of Health Care; Social Workers; Stress, Psychological; Students
PubMed: 26745592
DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2015.1094165