Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Perspectives On Groups For School Social Workers, Danielle F. Wozniak

Danielle F. Wozniak

No abstract provided.

Work-Family Fit: The Impact Of Emergency Medical Services Work On The Family System, Sheila Roth, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

INTRODUCTION: The stress associated with a career in emergency medical services (EMS) can impact the work-family fit and function of the family system for EMS personnel. Little research has been conducted on how the demands associated with a career in EMS influences family life. Objective. To describe salient EMS work factors that can impact the family system. METHODS: Twelve family members (11 spouses and one parent) of EMS workers were interviewed using a semistructured qualitative interview guide that explored issues related to their family members' work that could impact the quality of family life. Using a phenomenological approach, transcribed interview …

Validation Of The Swedish Translation Of The General Self-Efficacy Scale, Jesper Löve, Crystal Moore, Gunnel Hensing

Crystal Moore

Purpose

To study the internal consistency, factorial structure, and convergent validity of the Swedish translation of the General Self-Efficacy scale (S-GSE).

Methods

The S-GSE and two items on mental and physical work capacity were completed by a randomized population cohort (n = 4,027) and two cohorts (n = 3,310 and n = 498) of incident cases of sick-leave (>14 days).

Results

S-GSE means were higher among men than women in two of the cohorts and higher in the randomized population cohort than in the two sick-leave cohorts. Internal consistency was high with α = .90. Unidimensionality was …

Psychometric Analysis Of The Swedish Translation Of The Who Well-Being Scales, Jesper Löve, Crystal Moore, Lena Andersson, Gunnel Hensing

Crystal Moore

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to validate the Swedish translation of the WHO (Ten) and WHO (Five) Well-Being Questionnaires among three samples of Swedes.

Methods

Baseline data collected in 2008 from the Health Assets Project are the data source consisting of three cohorts of Swedes aged 19–64 years: (1) a randomized general population cohort (n = 4,027); (2) employees sick-listed reported by the employer (n = 3,310); and (3) self-certified sick-listed individuals (n = 498). The psychometric properties of the scales are assessed using factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, and examination of the relationship between scale …

The Impact Of Family Functioning On Caregiver Burden Among Caregivers Of Veterans With Congestive Heart Failure, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

A cross-sectional study of 76 family caregivers of older veterans with congestive heart failure utilized the McMaster model of family functioning to examine the impact of family functioning variables (problem solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, and affective involvement) on caregiver burden dimensions (relationship burden, objective burden, stress burden, and uplifts). Regression analyses indicated that the five dimensions of family functioning were significantly related (p < 0.01) to relationship burden (R 2 = .27) and uplifts (R 2 = .29). More specifically, increased relationship burden was associated with problems in family roles, and increased uplifts was related to higher levels of affective …

The Co-Occurrence Of Child Abuse And Domestic Violence: An Issue Of Service Delivery For Social Service Professionals, Wendy Folsom, Melissa Christensen, Lisa Avery, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

In order to add to the growing literature on intergenerational rates of family violence, data were collected from a community-based child abuse agency. The study's purpose was to compare the co-occurrence of child abuse/neglect (CAN) and domestic violence (DV), and the prevalence of CAN and parent's childhood history of abuse. Data were collected from 537 families through intake and subsequent interviews in an attempt to determine the relationship among CAN and DV, and CAN and parent's childhood history of abuse. A chi-square analysis indicated significant relationships among these variables. Of the participants in this sample, 48.9% had experienced both CAN …

The Effect Of A Family Support Intervention On Family Satisfaction, Length-Of-Stay, And Cost Of Care In The Intensive Care Unit, Wayne Shelton, Crystal Moore, Sophia Socaris, Jian Gao, Jane Dowling

Crystal Moore

OBJECTIVE: The study examined the effect of adding a full-time family support coordinator to the surgical intensive care unit team on family satisfaction, length-of-stay, and cost in the surgical intensive care unit. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A quasi-experimental design was conducted in two phases: baseline (8 mos) and intervention (10 mos) phases. Data on family satisfaction, length-of-stay, and costs from both phases were collected. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention added a new role, the family support coordinator, to the surgical intensive care unit team. The family support coordinator functioned as a liaison between the patient's family and the health care team. MEASUREMENTS …

Thirty-Day All-Cause Hospital Readmissions – Racial And Income Disparities And Risk Factors In A Veteransintegrated Healthcare Network, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

No abstract provided.

The Divorce Recovery Workbook: How To Heal From Anger, Hurt, And Resentment And Build The Life You Want, Mark Rye, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

If you have recently gone through a divorce, you might have unresolved feelings of anger toward your ex spouse; find yourself reeling from past betrayals both big and small; become stressed when you think about the legal and emotional ramifications of the divorce; or you may even experience symptoms of depression. You are not alone, and there are ways you can start to heal. "The Divorce Recovery Workbook "offers a unique approach using mindfulness and positive psychology to help you cope with these negative emotions so that you can start to rebuild your life. You ll learn powerful practices based …

The Michigan Advanced Practice Nursing Palliative Care Projec T, Kim Keubler, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

The emerging field of palliative care in the United States must respond to the health care needs of persons living and dying from advanced illness. The literature suggests that professional nursing education in palliative care is limited, inconsistent, and sometimes neglected. In response to these identified needs, the Michigan (MI) Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Palliative Care Project was designed to integrate palliative education into existing graduate nursing curricula and to provide continuing education for postgraduate nurses.

The Alternative To Cswe's Traditional Reaffirmation Process: One Small Bsw Program's Experience, Crystal Moore, David Karp

Crystal Moore

This article reports on educational policy that allows well-established social work programs to use alternative methods for their self-study and reaffirmation processes. The policy was approved by the Council of Social Work Education's (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation and will allow programs to focus on their own strengths, goals, and objectives. The article discusses a baccalaureate social work program at a small liberal arts college and how it completed its own alternative self-study. Information is also provided on CSWE proposals and regulations, auditing, and community collaboration.

Surrogate Decision-Making: Judgment Standard Preferences Of Older Adults, Crystal Moore, J. Sparr, S. Sherman, Lisa Avery

Crystal Moore

This qualitative study examines the judgment standard preferences of older adults related to surrogate decision-making for medical treatment. Thirty community dwelling adults over the age of 60 were presented with scenarios that depicted three decision-making standards, two of which are the predominant legal standards (substituted judgment and best interests), and a proposed third standard that allows the surrogate to consider the interests of the family in the decision-making process (best judgment). Half of the sample preferred substituted judgment, five preferred best interests, and ten chose best judgment. Selected cases are presented that demonstrate the themes associated with each judgment standard …

The Caregiver–Provider Relationship Assessment: Measuring Family Caregivers’ Perceptions Of Relationship Quality With Health Care Providers, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

This article summarizes the development of the caregiver–provider relationship assessment (CPRA) designed to measure family caregivers’ perceptions of relationship quality with health care providers. Using an online sample of family caregivers (n = 156), the patient reactions assessment (PRA) was adapted for use with family caregivers and subjected to principal component and reliability analyses. Analyses indicate that the CPRA factor structure is analogous to the original PRA scale, and Cronbach’s α for the three CPRA subscales range from .85 to .91. The tool can be used by clinicians and researchers in efforts to help family caregivers become more effective …

Predicting Self-Protection Against Sexual Assault In Dating Relationships Among Heterosexual Men And Women, Gay Men, Lesbians, And Bisexuals, Caroline Waterman, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

To measure self-protective behavior on dates, the Dating Self-Protection Against Rape Scale (DSPARS) was developed. The relationship among previous sexual victimization, self-perceived risk for sexual assault, rape awareness education, gender of dating partner, and DSPARS scores was assessed among 152 college students. Results, implications, and limitations of the study are discussed.

Physician Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment Form: Honoring End-Of-Life Directives For Nursing Home Residents For End Of Life Care: Preliminary Results Of A Washington State Pilot Project, J. Meyers, Crystal Moore, A. Mcgrory, J. Sparr, M. Ahern

Crystal Moore

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form provides choices about end-of-life care and gives these choices the power of physician orders. The POLST form assures end-of-life choices can be implemented in all settings, from the home through the health-care continuum. The use of the POLST form was evaluated in a pilot study in nursing homes in two eastern Washington counties. Chart reviews and template analysis of interviews revealed the POLST form accurately conveyed end-of-life wishes in 19 of 21 cases. An informed consent process was evidenced in 16 of 21 cases, and the POLST form was congruent with residents' existing …

Palliative Practices: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Kim Kuebler, Mellar Davis, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

The first book of its kind, this must-have resource examines the integration of palliative interventions from a disease-specific approach, providing practical guidance on caring for patients who follow a progressive, chronic disease trajectory prior to death. This uniquely practical book addresses all aspects of palliative care, going beyond theoretical information to advise practitioners on the most effective management of common symptoms and providing physical, psychological, and spiritual comfort to patients and families. The multidisciplinary focus of care is reflected by collaborative contributors and diverse authorship of an oncology/palliative care nurse practitioner, a physician, and a social worker.

In These Rounds, Health Care Professionals Heal Themselves, Crystal Moore, Julie Phillips

Crystal Moore

In 1995, Kenneth B. Schwartz founded the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center Foundation whose mission is to promote compassion in health care. One of the Center's most popular initiatives is the Schwartz Center Rounds, a multidisciplinary forum where medical professionals come together to discuss and process the difficult emotional issues that can arise in patient care. The focus of these meetings is on the patient-caregiver relationship rather than the patient. This article briefly describes implementation of Schwartz Center Rounds at a Veteran’s Affairs hospital. It then summarises the findings from a study that examined Rounds' outcomes, particularly looking at whether Round’s …

Holding On To The Indispensable Medication: A Grounded Theory On Medication Use From The Perspective Of Persons With Medication Overuse Headache, Pernilla Jonsson, Annika Jakobsson, Gunnel Hensing, Mattias Linde, Crystal Moore, Tove Hedenrud

Crystal Moore

Background Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a chronic headache disorder, caused by overuse of acute medication. To date, it remains unclear why some people overuse these medications. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how individuals with MOH use medications and other strategies to manage headaches in their daily lives, and their thoughts about their own use of acute medication. Our intention was to develop a theoretical model about the development of MOH, from the perspective of those with MOH. Methods Data collection and analysis were conducted according to grounded theory methodology. The participants were recruited via newspaper …

From Nursing Home To Green House: Changing Contexts Of Elder Care In The United States, Meika Loe, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

This article tracks the changing roles of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) as they transition from a traditional nursing home setting to a “deinstitutionalized” care setting called the Green House. The Green House concept, developed by William Thomas, MD and based on the Eden Alternative paradigm, emphasizes autonomy, dignity, privacy, and reciprocal relationships between residents and staff. This qualitative work focuses on how CNAs (called “shabazim” in the Green House) negotiated the transition from traditional nursing home to the Green House model. Interview, focus group, and participant observation data before and after the transition to the Green Houses reveal that in …

Factors That Influence Elders’ Decisions To Formulate Advance Directives, Crystal Moore, S. Sherman

Crystal Moore

Nine minority and eleven White low-income communi- ty-dwelling senior adults participated in semi-structured qualitative in- terviews regarding end-of-life deci sion-making related to the comple- tion of advance directives (e.g., living wills and health care proxies). The seniors were asked to discuss the role of their own evaluations and beliefs and their perceptions of the influence of significant others in their decisions to complete advance directives. Religious affiliation and a measure of religiosity were also examined. The participants over- whelmingly evaluated the completion of advance directives as positive, but many of the seniors reported that discussing end-of-life issues with their children …

Ethical Problems In End-Of-Life Care Decision Making Faced By Oncology Social Workers And The Need For Practice Guidelines, Ellen Csikai, Sheila Roth, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

Difficult ethical problems are often faced by patients, families, and social workers who assist in decision-making around issues regarding end-of-life care. In qualitative interviews with 12 hospital social workers in one large urban cancer center, common ethical issues identified through thematic analysis were preservation of patients' autonomy/self-determination, beneficence of health care providers, and medical futility of end-of-life treatments. Continued communication with all parties involved was key in resolving ethical problems. Discussion, along with referrals of more complex cases to ethics committees and ethics consultation teams, also occurred. Participants further indicated the potential helpfulness of developing practice guidelines for social workers …

Enhancing Health Care Communication Skills: Preliminary Evaluation Of A Curriculum For Family Caregivers, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

The Communicating Effectively with Health Care Professionals (CE) workshop curriculum is designed for family caregivers to encourage caregiver empowerment, effective health care communication, and advocacy in medical care contexts with the goal of promoting positive health outcomes for care recipients. This mixed-method study employed a cross-sectional quantitative mail survey (N = 51) and semistructured qualitative telephone interviews (N = 14) to examine the effectiveness of the curriculum in promoting self-reported changes in caregiver attitudes and communication behavior. Respondents reported increased assertiveness in medical encounters, feelings of empowerment, and preparation and organization of medical information for their care recipients as a …

Frail Elders’ Experiences With And Perceptions Of Health, Zahra Ebrahimi, Katarina Wilhelmson, Crystal Moore, Annika Jakobsson

Crystal Moore

In this study we explored frail elders’ experiences with and perceptions of the phenomenon of health so as to develop a deeper understanding of living with diseases and disorders in old age. Frail elders participated in qualitative interviews that explored the meaning of the phenomenon of health for them. Eleven men and 11 women, who had diverse ratings of self-perceived health ranging from poor to excellent, were selected by means of a purposeful strategic sampling of frail elders taken from a broader sample that participated in a larger quantitative study on health. In total, 22 individual interviews were analyzed using …

Community-Based Participatory Research: The College As The Focal Community, Elizabeth Heckel, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

This article describes one small BSW program’s engagement in community- based participatory research (CBPR) in which the college community was the focus of the social change effort and social work undergraduates were the research partners. Over a 3-year period students engaged college community stakeholders, collected data, and presented findings on student alcohol use and abuse to promote discussion and inclusion of harm reduction strategies in the college response to this issue. The project resulted in an ongoing dialogue among the student researchers and administration regarding revisions to the campus alcohol policy. Written from the perspectives of a student researcher and …

Communication Issues And Advance Care Planning, Crystal Moore

Crystal Moore

OBJECTIVES: To provide practical strategies to enhance the quality of communication in the palliative and end-of-life medical care settings. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, textbooks, and reports. CONCLUSION: The components of effective and compassionate care at the end of life require successful communication with patients, families, and members of the health care team. Unfortunately, few health care professionals are formally trained in communication skills. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses who possess self-awareness and are skilled in effective communication practices are integral to the provision of high-quality palliative care for patients and families coping with advanced malignancies.

A Survey Of Healthcare Industry Representative Participation In Surgical Cases, J. Bedard, Crystal Moore, W. Shelton

Crystal Moore

OBJECTIVE:

To provide preliminary evidence of the types and amount of involvement by healthcare industry representatives (HCIRs) in surgery, as well as the ethical concerns of those representatives.

METHODS:

A link to an anonymous, web-based survey was posted on several medical device boards of the website http://www. cafepharma.com. Additionally, members of two different medical device groups on LinkedIn were asked to participate. Respondents were self-identified HCIRs in the fields of orthopedics, cardiology, endoscopic devices, lasers, general surgery, ophthalmic surgery, oral surgery, anesthesia products, and urologic surgery.

RESULTS:

A total of 43 HCIRs replied to the survey over a period of …

An Investigation Of Volunteer-Student Relationship Trajectories Within School-Based Youth Mentoring Programs, Thomas Keller, Julia Pryce

Julia Pryce

This prospective, mixed-method study investigates the development of school-based mentoring relationships using direct observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires from the perspective of mentors and students. A pattern-oriented analysis of qualitative data explores the diversity observed in the life-course of mentor-student relationships. Systematic variation in developmental trends across relationships revealed four distinctive groupings. Some relationships showed progressive improvement in strength and quality. Others started well but reached a plateau and did not become particularly close. A third group struggled throughout to make a connection. Finally, some relationships succeeded after a breakthrough to overcome their challenges. These inductively derived categories are corroborated …

Examining Cohort Differences And Resilience Among The Aging Lgbt Community: Implications For Education And Practice Among An Expansively Diverse Population, Michael Dentato, John Orwat, Marcia Spira, Benjamin Walker

John Orwat

The aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community continues to grow considerably while often being faced with unique and unmet needs separate from younger LGBT cohorts or their non-LGBT counterparts. This article explores some of the differences in attitudes among generational cohort groups regarding coming out decisions; sexual risk and safety; the impact of evolving policies within systems and society; as well as the demonstrated strengths and resiliencies of the aging LGBT community. Implications and suggestions for education, training, and best practices among this expansive and diverse population are considered as well as continued research in the field of …

Minority Stress Theory: An Examination Of Factors Surrounding Sexual Risk Behavior Among Gay And Bisexual Men Who Use Club Drugs, Michael Dentato, Perry Halkitis, John Orwat

John Orwat

Background: Few studies have examined the impact of minority stress theory (MST) upon sexual risk behavior among gay and bisexual men using club drugs. Similar studies have focused on ethnic minorities and women; however, gay and bisexual men demonstrate greater likelihood for risk behaviors leading to HIV/AIDS. Objective: This study examines sexual risk behavior from the perspective of minority stress theory upon substance-using gay and bisexual men and their partners. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined minority stress associations with participant sexual risk behaviors, drug use, and partner type, controlling for demographics. Results: 396 gay and 54 bisexual respondents, ages …

Changing Women: An Ethnographic Study Of Homeless Mothers And Popular Education, Lorna Rivera

Lorna Rivera

This article discusses ethnographic research conducted between 1995 and 1998 that studied the impact of popular education on the lives of fifty homeless and formerly homeless mothers. Data collection involved indepth interviews and participant observation in a family shelter located in one of Boston's poorest neighborhoods. The article argues that popular education increased the women's self-esteem, they were inspired to help other low-income women, they learned to advocate for their rights and they became more involved in their children's education. The findings suggest that popular education can best address the academic, personal, and community goals of very poor women.