Social Work in Health Care最新文献

There is increasing recognition of the salience of eHealth technologies in enhancing health service capacity. Yet social work remains "behind the curve" in progressing digital practices. As the demand for digital health care increases, particularly following COVID-19, it is becoming increasingly urgent to understand how social workers engage with eHealth technologies, and how technological engagement impacts on social work practice. In this scoping review, we sought to examine eHealth use in health social work practice. Our findings suggest that, while social workers recognize the strengths and opportunities to broaden the scope of their practice, they remain concerned that eHealth may not be congruent with the values and approaches of the profession. This review provides a broad overview of health social workers' engagement with eHealth technologies and considers implications for future research that examines the nuanced and complex nature of professional values, risk, and assessment in the digital space.

Individuals who cannot afford out of pocket medical expenses may reduce health care use, resulting in poorer health outcomes. To ease the situation, employers turn to financial technology ("fintech") health care credit applications. We examine whether an employer-sponsored credit fintech application (MedPut) helps employees manage medical expenses. Results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and probit regression models reveal MedPut users did worse financially and delayed health care due to cost more often than employees who did not use MedPut. Results may inform social work policy and direct practice perspectives on fin-tech and medical expenses.

Our cross-sectional study seeks to understand how COVID-19 stigma, race/ethnicity [Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, white] and residency [New York City (NYC) resident vs. non-NYC resident] associated with depression. Our sample includes 568 participants: 260 (45.77%) were NYC residents and 308 (54.3%) were non-NYC residents. A series of multiple linear regression were run to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity, COVID-19 stigma, and depressive symptoms. Irrespective of residency, older age and ever being diagnosed with COVID-19 were negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Stigma and thinking less of oneself significantly associates with depressive symptoms across residency. Our study expects to benefit mental health care providers and public health professionals in designing best practices to mitigate stigma in ongoing or future pandemics.

Nursing homes contend with high staff turnover. Resources invested in employees are lost when an employee leaves. However, if employees are thriving in their job, turnover is less a concern. How can employers promote thriving in employees? Using an adaptation of Spreitzer et al. (2005)'s Social Embeddedness Model of Thriving at Work as a conceptual framework, we performed a logistic regression on the responses of 836 nursing home social service directors in the 2019 National Nursing Home Social Service Director Survey to determine factors that contribute to thriving. The model explained 39% of the variation. Seven variables contributed the most to distinguishing social service directors who report thriving at work from those who do not. Having greater influence on social service functions, having time to support residents, not having to do things others could do, and the facility providing quality care were all associated with greater thriving. Those who reported the administrator and/or attending physicians engage the expertise of social services were more likely to report thriving at work. Working in nursing home social services is demanding; retaining a good social worker is important. These findings suggest ways in which administrators can support social service directors thriving at work.

Consumer credit score has been used as an indicator of financial strain that could potentially impact health. Subjective financial well-being, or one's feelings about one's expectations, preferences, and satisfaction with their financial situation, is related to financial strain. This study examined whether subjective financial well-being mediates the association between credit score and self-reported physical health in a national representative sample. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we test whether a mediating association exists between self-rated credit score and self-rated physical health. Results suggest that, after controlling for sociodemographic variables, those who reported higher credit scores have better health (β = 0.175, p < .001) and higher financial well-being (β = 0.469, p < .001), and those who reported higher financial well-being have better health (β = 0.265, p < .001). The mediation effect of financial well-being on the association between credit and physical health is also positive and statistically significant (β = 0.299, p < .001). Thus, subjective feelings about one's financial situation would enhance the observed positive association between credit and health. Practice and policy implications are included.

People with cystic fibrosis experience rates of anxiety and depression that are considerably higher than those of the general population. Research suggests low mental health functioning can lead to poor health outcomes and quality of life for this population. Consequently, recognition of the need for routine mental health screening and referral in cystic fibrosis care is increasing. Yet to date, less is known about the actual mental health care needs of people with cystic fibrosis. This scoping review sought to address this gap by examining the mental health care needs of adults and adolescents living with cystic fibrosis, and how are these needs are (or are not) being met. Findings suggest current efforts at mental health care provision do not adequately meet the needs of people with cystic fibrosis, highlighting the urgency of conducting high quality intervention research to support effective mental health care for this population.

The musculoskeletal community is increasingly recognizing the importance of addressing mental and social health opportunities and incorporating psychosocial support in outpatient care. This secondary analysis of a longitudinal study evaluating the management of upper extremity conditions in a musculoskeletal integrated practice unit involving 102 adult patients (63% women, mean age 49 ± 13 years), aimed to identify demographic, clinical and psychosocial variables associated with involvement of an immediately available social worker. Additionally, we assess factors associated with patients seeking second opinions and level of self-efficacy. The only factor independently associated with meeting a social worker was greater symptoms of depression. There were no factors associated with presenting for advice from a second specialist. Self-efficacy score below 10 was independently associated with higher BMI, conditions involving the shoulder or upper arm compared to the hand or wrist, and greater symptoms of depression. When a social worker is available in an upper extremity practice, they are most welcomed and helpful for people with notable symptoms of depression, likely because a depression screen was used as a trigger for involvement. Less adaptive response to painful illness may be easier to measure and discuss, with the potential to increase attention to mental and social health.