Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care最新文献

Social workers are frontline professionals providing psychosocial care to families when children are receiving end-of-life care. To explore the social work role in this context, data was collected from a cohort of 12 social workers employed at a national children's hospital in Ireland, via three focus groups, with four participants in each group. A two-part narrative process elicited social workers' stories of end-of-life care, facilitating the recounting of experiences in the first part of the focus group and allowing the researcher to explore issues raised, in the second part. Following thematic analysis, an overarching theme "enabling families to find their own path" emerged, with four sub-themes: a) engaging with families and navigating across boundaries; b) mediating end-of-life care; c) negotiating competing discourses; d) enabling preferences to minimize regrets. The theme and sub-themes provide insight into empowerment of families at this critical time. The use of a narrative approach facilitated the emergence of knowledge about how this is achieved in a hospital setting. This article maps the essential components of practice identified in the study and charts the key contribution that social workers make in supporting families, with the purpose of informing future practice within this field.

Working in palliative care is recognized as one of the most demanding occupations, characterized by high levels of stress and frequent exposure to those with life-limiting illnesses and perceived as suffering. Investigating psychological factors that could provide support is crucial, particularly given the importance of compassion and self-compassion in promoting professionals' well-being. A cross-sectional study of palliative care workers (N = 232) found that spiritual care had a positive direct effect on compassion for others and self-compassion. Indirect effects showed that compassion and self-compassion were parallel mediators in the relationship of spiritual care with the presence of meaning. However, only self-compassion mediated the association between spiritual care and inner harmony. The findings showed that the attitudes of palliative care workers reflecting kindness, humanity and attentiveness to themselves and others may play a key role in how they experience of meaning in life and inner harmony. The study underscores the potential value of interventions that educate and develop spiritual care and dimensions of compassion within palliative care workers.

An interdisciplinary approach to care is essential and crucial in the practice of end-of-life and hospice care. However, there is a lack of data on how social workers and art therapists may work together to provide psychosocial-spiritual interventions. This case study illustrates how the home hospice medical social worker and art therapist employed complementary methods to fulfill the wish of a young adult with advanced cancer through legacy work. Similar team approaches in practice may benefit other patients with similar needs. Further research is needed to investigate patient care outcomes and formulate guidelines to inform and encourage the use of similar complementary team practices.

This article offers an in-depth examination of the social worker's role in pediatric palliative care, focusing on their skills and scope of intervention. This study was conducted to understand perceptions of the social worker's contributions within a multidisciplinary palliative care team. A qualitative design with healthcare professionals and families at a major hospital in Catalonia (Spain) was used to gather data. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect insights into the social worker's diverse roles, including emotional support, family guidance, child protection, and their unique position in connecting healthcare with social, cultural, and relational factors. Findings show that social workers were perceived to be crucial in addressing psychosocial needs, promoting family autonomy, and providing guidance on resources. However, their integration into teams is often hindered by structural and hierarchical barriers. The study highlighted the importance of recognizing and reinforcing the social worker's role through policy changes that ensure their consistent involvement in all aspects of pediatric palliative care. Further studies are needed to develop strong support systems that prioritize the social and emotional needs of families in end-of-life care, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality of pediatric palliative services.