Social Work in Public Health最新文献

The experiences of social and community mental health (SCMH) workers serving in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic are understudied. Therefore, nine SCMH workers were interviewed about challenges and strategies for providing mental health services in rural communities in the wake of COVID-19. Through qualitative analyses three primary themes emerged; challenges, needed resources and strategies for addressing mental health needs. Challenges included lack of resources, stigma, and policy barriers, but collaborating with local organizations, providing individualized services, and improving communication were suggested strategies to overcome challenges. The resilience and flexibility of SCMH workers was advantageous in adapting to the changing mental health landscape post-COVID-19, yet advocacy for funding, resources, and training for practitioners in rural mental health is still needed. Findings suggest offering individualized services, forging community connections and maximizing use of existing resources through local collaborations. Moreover, utilizing online mental health services and peer community-building may improve effective services.

This study aimed to investigate the working experiences and perceptions of hospital-based, pediatric medical social workers in China. Eight medical social workers were interviewed. There were three primary themes extracted through the analysis: (1) negative experience and perceived work challenges of medical social workers; (2) positive experiences and sense of professional benefit for medical social workers; and (3) development needs of medical social work profession. While Chinese pediatric medical social workers have encountered several difficulties and challenges, they have also benefited from the work. Furthermore, they provided constructive recommendations for professional development at the hospital, social and national levels. Hoping this study can enrich the knowledge system of pediatric medical social work in China, promote the sustainable development of the nascent profession in China, and pave the way for the integration of pediatric medical social work practice in different socio-cultural contexts.

Data science refers to the connections among different disciplines, including physics, statistics, engineering, mathematics, and the social sciences. Data science can significantly affect how social work students collect and use data. Data science tools and methodology can provide effective strategies for social work students to explore, analyze, visualize, and understand social problems. This article aims to present the findings of the Social Work Data Corps (SWDC) project. The SWDC project was implemented in the summer of 2022 to introduce social work students to data science. The SWDC project mentored Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) data science scholars who explored health disparities of marginalized communities in the United States using secondary data. The data science scholars addressed a wide range of issues, including cancer, pregnancy, Covid-19, trauma, veterans' issues, autism, reproductive care, and the impact of the opioid crisis on Native Americans in their research projects.

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder with no known single cause which makes family caregivers of patients to develop their own perceptions and interpretations of the condition. We aimed to find out family caregivers' perceptions and how they influence their treatment seeking behavior as well as attitudes of community members toward family caregivers and their patients. Qualitative data were collected from 24 family caregivers, of patients with schizophrenia who were residents of Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. Findings indicated that family caregivers accepted schizophrenia as a chronic medical condition that could only be treated in a hospital. Community members got used to seeing patients with schizophrenia and accepted them with their family caregivers as part of their community. Study findings provide important information that could be used by social workers, other mental health workers and policy-makers to strengthen service delivery and mobilization of social support for family caregivers and their patients with schizophrenia.

Globally, high sodium intake is the leading dietary risk factor of morality. Most Americans, including children, consume too much sodium compared with the federal guidelines. Socioeconomic and racial disparities place children, many of color, from low-income households and neighborhoods, at higher risk of consuming foods high in sodium. Preferences in sodium levels are determined during childhood and can be challenging to modify in adulthood. Thus, early intervention and health promotion in children's sodium intake is crucial to reducing health consequences and extending the overall life expectancy of Americans. This article highlights innovative health policies and programs that aim to reduce sodium levels in food that American children consume. Additionally, the implications of federal food assistance programs are discussed. Furthermore, the role of social workers is noted regarding providing education and guidance around food selection and eating practices to support the health of American children and families.

This study aims to examine the accessibility of Community-Based Rehabilitation trainees to public health services in Malaysia. Quantitative data were collected from 290 parents and guardians across 14 CBR locations using multi-stage simple random sampling. Accessibility to health services and facilities was measured in terms of service availability, suitability, convenience, and adequacy. A four-level Likert scale was employed to assess the condition of the health services and facilities. A questionnaire was employed, and data were analyzed using SPSS. Findings revealed high satisfaction with health campaigns (79.0%), preventive services (74.8%), healthy food programs (74.5%), medical treatment (73.8%), equipment/assistive services (74.1%), and rehabilitation/therapy (67.2%). Results demonstrated significant correlations between trainees' self-change and satisfaction with health services. Improved accessibility to health services was shown to positively impact trainees' ability to perform daily activities, highlighting the importance of tailored, accessible health programs in supporting the development and independence of individuals with disabilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly the associated conditions of isolation, has detrimental effects on the mental health of the population that are not yet fully understood. Variables such as individual stress, anxiety, and tolerance to uncertainty may play a role in the ability of individuals to adapt to the isolation situation. In this context, it is necessary to pay attention to population groups that present difficulties in adapting to this situation of uncertainty, such as people with autism. This narrative review of the evidence has as objectives to explore (1) the effect that the autism community has experienced as a result of the lockdown and isolation due to COVID-19; and (2) opportunities for health, educational, and social services providers to support people with autism and their families in isolation in an attempt to ensure that specialized interventions continue as much as possible. We map suggestions regarding information delivery, time management at home, recognition and emotional expression, and some suggestions to maintain support with service providers.

The phenomenon of attacks on social workers has been documented worldwide, though most of the related research has been conducted in the United States. This study aims to expands the literature, analyzing the prevalence of workplace violence and associated factors among Social Work professionals in Spain. A total of 195 social workers in south-western Spain completed a questionnaire which the following variables: workplace violence, burnout, job satisfaction and anxiety. The results suggest that majority of social workers in Spain have suffered episodes of violence perpetrated by their clients, the most frequent types of violence being verbal attacks (94.9%) and threats (81.5%). A binary logistic regression analysis showed how the prevalence of workplace violence was statistically associated with higher levels of burnout and anxiety resulting from it. As a main conclusion, it is important to raise awareness of this occupational risk problem, as well as to develop strategies to prevent it.

Resettled refugees face physical and mental health challenges including the violence and trauma of their displacement. Once resettled in the U.S. refugees face difficulties accessing healthcare. This qualitative study explored refugees' experiences with barriers and facilitators to accessing healthcare. Thirty-four resettled refugee adults from five different countries of origin participated in focus groups. Study results identified logistical and language barriers to accessing healthcare, experiences with discrimination and fear, and the role of integration in promoting access and satisfaction with healthcare. Implications are provided for improving access to healthcare for refugees in the U.S.

A university is a living environment that can influence people's health. This study aims to analyze health and health literacy of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students in comparison with students in other study programs. A survey was conducted among all students at the University of Kassel regarding their health and health literacy. The survey evaluated general health status, disability, and health literacy. In this study, BSW students had an adverse health status compared to other students. Only 66.9% of the BSW students rated their general health as very good or good (vs. 79.7% in other study programs). BSW students are also more likely to be moderately or severely limited in daily activities due to chronic health conditions than students in other study programs. In contrast, health literacy levels differ little between BSW students and other students. This study highlights the need for health (literacy) promotion in social work studies.