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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Psychiatric morbidity in clients of social workers: social outcome.

141 clients referred to social service department local social work teams (area workers) and general practice attachments were interviewed to assess their levels of psychiatric morbidity. 101 cases received clinical and social reassessment at twelve months. A substantial proportion (63%) had a positive social outcome according to the client and social worker, a finding confirmed by an independent social assessment. Family break up, more common in the area setting, was associated with a better clinical outcome. Attachment clients had significantly higher levels of psychiatric morbidity, and in clinical terms improved more frequently than area cases, but not significantly so. Clinically improved cases had a higher number of GP-social worker contacts. Both social and clinical variables contributed to the prediction of clinical outcome. By reducing the availability of attached workers, social services departments are removing a valuable source of help for people with psychiatric disorders.

Affective Symptoms↗

The relationship of job type to burnout in social workers at social welfare offices.

This study sought to determine the relationship of job type differences to burnout level, the details of job characteristics for each job type, and the association between burnout and job factors in 189 social workers at all social welfare offices in a prefecture in Japan. Among the three job types, 32.9% of social workers involved with public assistance, 29.0% of social workers involved with public assistance, the elderly, the disabled and single mothers, and 15.2% of social workers involved with the elderly, the disabled and single mothers were scored in the "high burnout" category (p<.05). Job type differed significantly with respect to the job characteristics of percentage of time spent on home visits per typical working day, job satisfaction, aversion to the job, and social support. The job type of public assistance work had a higher percentage of time spent on home visits per typical working day, aversion to the job, lower job satisfaction, and less social support than the job type involving no public assistance work. Multiple regression analyses showed the associations between job factors and burnout for each job type. Aversion to the job had a primary positive association with burnout for all social worker job types. Social support had a negative association with burnout in social workers whose clients included public assistance cases. The number of years in social work had a negative association with burnout, while percentage of time spent doing interviews per typical working day had a positive association with burnout in social workers who were involved with public assistance, the elderly, the disabled and single mothers. These results suggest that the job type of public assistance work may carry a higher risk of burnout than job types involving no public assistance work. To ameliorate this risk, it was thought to be important to improve aversion to the job as well as having a social support network for public assistance social workers.

Adult↗

E-health tools and social workers.

Social workers have been using telemedicine technologies since the late 1950's. The use of telemedicine has been most common in mental health practice. Psychotherapy using telephones, interactive video and more recently the Internet have gained in popularity with social workers in these settings. However, the use of e-health tools in medical social work is limited and worthy of further investigation. This paper will report promising projects with medical social workers and discuss the potential application of e-health tools for these practitioners. The purpose of the paper is to advocate for research measuring effectiveness of e-health interventions in social work practice.

Confidentiality↗

Anti-anxiety medications: a review for social workers.

Social workers in mental health settings frequently participate in the treatment of clients with incapacitating anxiety. Medication is often included among the interventions for these clients. Social workers, who specialize in psychosocial interventions, also have key roles in the assessment and monitoring of medication effects. The purpose of this article is to provide social workers with an overview of the pharmacological treatment of anxiety so that they can carry out their range of interventions more effectively. Included is information about types of medication and their dosages, positive and adverse effects, interactions of medication with other interventions, and special concerns with children and adolescents.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

Psychotherapy and the clinical social worker.

Social work's long and historical involvement in psychotherapy has resulted in many significant contributions to practice such as the use of time, family and group therapy, the development of innovative settings and practices, and skill in using action communication. In addition, social workers have developed expertise in working with many that others have considered unsuitable for psychotherapy. Differences between psychiatric social work and the present more commonly used term, clinical social work, are related to issues of identity and autonomy, and essential practices and values that differentiate the clinical social worker from other professionals. These are a preference for the term client rather than patient, an emphasis upon person-in-situation, and a valued belief in client self-determination. However, special educational preparation is needed for the practice of psychotherapy which is considered a specialty within social work.

Family Therapy↗

Alcoholism training for social workers.

Social workers are in an ideal position to identify, refer, and treat alcoholic patients. However, they need special training and specific work experience. The authors discuss the credentialing program for alcoholism counselors in New York State as well as effective treatment applications.

Alcoholism↗

Sources of strain between physicians and social workers: implications for social workers in health care settings.

This paper analyzes the sources of strain between the professions of medicine and social work. The two professions are compared in relation to (1) the organization and socialization process of professional training; (2) perspectives on patient care, illness and role of the health care professional; (3) attitudes toward knowledge and data; (4) attitudes toward and preparation for team-work; (5) perspectives on the role of the patient; (6) perceptions of social work's function.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Psychosomatic symptoms in human service work. A study on Swedish social workers and social insurance personnel.

This study reports on subjective health of personnel in human services and other occupations. A mail questionnaire was sent to 8296 employees in the Social Insurance Organization (SIO) and the Individual and Family Care (IFC) in social welfare agencies. The response rate was 69.1% or 5730 persons. Perceived health was measured by a standard form widely used in occupational health services, FHV004D, here split into four principal components, indicating psycho-vegetative, musculoskeletal, immunological, and gastro-intestinal health. In relation to reference data on other human service personnel (nurses, teachers) and white collar workers (bank and insurance personnel), the studied groups scored much higher on psycho-vegetative symptoms (OR:s about 3), higher on musculo-skeletal symptoms (OR:s about 1.7), but had equal scores on the other symptom types. It is concluded that self-reported psychovegetative and musculoskeletal health is especially problematic in SIO and IFC, indicating stress in human service work. It is hypothesized that an adversary relation to clients can be an aggravating factor in that context.

Adolescent↗

A survey of evaluation practices for hospice social workers.

Hospice social workers make distinct contributions to the care of terminally ill persons and their loved ones. This study contributes to social work's professional knowledge base by examining methods by which hospice social workers are evaluated by their supervisors as well as their clients. This article reports on a survey of 109 hospices' evaluative methods for social workers. Implications for patient care and hospice operations are discussed.

Employee Performance Appraisal↗

Competitive allies: rural nurses' and social workers' perceptions of the social work role in the hospital setting.

The domain of social work in healthcare has not been clear, nor exclusive. Recently the social worker's role in hospital, particularly in rural hospitals, has been impacted by economic imperatives and legislative mandates. This article discusses the results of a study of rural hospital nurses' and social workers' perceptions of the domain of the medical social worker. Analyses of the profession identified as being best qualified to perform 15 generic hospital social service tasks revealed areas of clarity and collaboration. Implications include expanding the role and skills of medical social workers to include multi-systemic interventions and multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Adult↗

Data collection: are social workers reliable?

Social workers are required to collect a considerable amount of personal information about clients and their families which may be unrelated to direct clinical work. Administrators often use this for the purpose of payment, service documentation, agency planning, and accountability. The worker's concern about the appropriateness of collecting this data may result in poor compliance or even falsification of information. In a survey of Minnesota social workers, noncompliance with data collection requirements was substantial. The authors also found a significant degree of conflict about privacy and confidentiality issues. These findings suggest a basis of concern for those who must rely on accurate data for administrative planning.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Admitting applicants to skilled nursing facilities: social workers' role.

Social workers play a vital role in the screening and admission of applicants to skilled nursing facilities because they provide unique attention to patients' psychosocial as well as medical needs. This article reports on a study that investigates social workers' employment in nursing homes and their actual involvement in the admission process. It also details the practices and procedures used to screen, select, and admit applicants to the facilities.

Data Collection↗

Staff shortages in the mental health workforce: the case of the disappearing approved social worker.

Approved social worker (ASW) numbers in England and Wales were compared on the basis of two national surveys conducted in 1992 and 2002. These data were supplemented by reports published by the Employers' Organisation in the intervening years. Although raw numbers suggested a modest absolute increase over this time, rates of ASW's per 100,000 population declined by over 50%. Possible explanations for this dramatic fall are explored. The authors conclude that specific and targeted action needs to be taken by the government and public sector employers to determine the numbers of mental health social workers needed in modernised community mental health services.

Humans↗

The teaching social worker in family medicine: a prototype for the hospital social worker?

The need for physicians to receive training in interpersonal skills as well as in preventive medicine to aid them in recognizing and addressing the psychosocial aspects of illness and to facilitate the delivery of more comprehensive care to patients, has been addressed in the Department of Family Medicine and several other specialties. In January, 1978 the author surveyed social work members of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine to determine their activities and responsibilities and to identify the experiences which have proven most helpful as a preparation for their positions on medical school faculties. Results of the survey are reviewed in light of possible implications for the future hospital social worker as a medical educator.

Adult↗