25 research outputs found
Psychiatric social workers in legal aid services in hospitals: Exploring roles in Indian context
No full textMental health and legal problems are interlinked in many ways. People facing legal issues may develop mental health problems, and people with mental illness and family also face legal issues. In India, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 gives provision for free legal aid services for the poor sections of society. Authors explain the roles of psychiatric social workers in legal aid services in hospitals. Social case work as a method of social work is suitable in legal aid services. Counseling, referrals, collateral contacts, advocacy and networking are major services from the social work perspective. Knowledge about laws and mental illness is essential for social workers to work in legal aid clinics (LACs)
Epilepsy: Attitude and Awareness among Students of Professional Social Work
No full textEpilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders that affect approximately 50 million peopleworldwide, with the prevalence of 1% in the population.Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy are found indeveloping countries, where the disease remains a majorpublic health problem. It is not only because of its healthimplications but also for its social, cultural, psychologicaland economic effects. The person with epilepsy goesthrough many difficulties such as unpredictability of theseizures, adjustmental demands on personal and worklife, family coping, problems in marital relationship,issues surrounding children, economic burden, andstigma about the disease apart from the access totreatment. Managing a chronic illness such as epilepsyinvolves more than managing medical problems. Socialworkers, as change agents, can fulfil their roles aseducators, counsellors, and patient-advocates by helpingpatients and families to gain insight into the implicationsof chronic illness. The present cross sectional study wasconducted among the Master of Social Work (MSW)students specialising in Medical and Psychiatric SocialWork, with an attempt to look at the Knowledge and Attitude about Epilepsy. Thirty one students of Master ofSocial Work course with Medical and Psychiatric SocialWork (males = 9; females = 22; age = 23.61, range 22-28years) from different colleges in South India filled thequestionnaire developed to assess the knowledge andattitudes about Epilepsy. All the respondents had heardabout Epilepsy. The study revealed that while there isgood awareness about Epilepsy among the students,majority of them felt that persons with Epilepsy shouldhave restrictions in movement (84%) and that they havelimitations in employment (58%). The implications of thestudy from knowledge development, research andpractice are discussed
Neuropalliative care in India – Barriers, challenges and future directions
No full textNeuropalliative care is an emerging sub-specialty of neurology and palliative care that aims to relieve suffering from symptoms, reduce distress and improve the quality of life of people with life-limiting neurological conditions and their family caregivers. As advances are being made in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological illnesses, there is an increasing need to guide and support patients and their families through complex choices involving immense uncertainty and important life-changing outcomes. The unmet need for palliative care in neurological illnesses is high, especially in a low-resource setting like India. This article discusses the scope of neuropalliative care in India, the barriers and challenges that impede the specialty's development, and the factors that could facilitate the development and scale-up delivery of neuropalliative services. The article also attempts to highlight priority areas for advancing neuropalliative care in India which include context-specific assessment tools, sensitization of the healthcare system, identification of intervention outcomes, the need for developing culturally sensitive models based on home-based or community-based care, evidence-based practices, and development of manpower and training resources
Social Workers in Hospice and Palliative Care in Indian Contect: Voices from the field
No full textPalliative care (PC) is emerging as an important area of practice in healthcare, where social workers’ involvement is vital in supporting patients and families through the many challenges and difficulties inherent in living with a life limiting illness, as well as in identifying opportunities to assist them with the difficult process of end-of-life planning.
Objectives:
The objective of this study is to explore the need for social work, roles played and the varied nature of palliative care social work in Indian context.
Methods:
The study adopted a qualitative research design. Eight participants who are expert practitioners with specific experience in palliative care were recruited purposively following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants completed an online informed consent form. Data were collected through scheduled interviews via online platform and an online form that contained open-ended questions for the participants to fill in. A semi-structured interview schedule was prepared by the research team to guide the data collection. Data were simultaneously analyzed manually using thematic analysis guidelines. The interviews were transcribed, reviewed, and coded for common themes and sub-themes.
Results:
Experts working extensively in hospice and palliative care settings have described the need and roles of social workers. The findings have been classified into three broad themes and sub-themes. The broad themes are categorized into the following: the need for social workers in PC, roles played by social workers, qualifications and requirements.
Conclusion:
Social workers are an integral part of the palliative care team. It is crucial to distinctly define and outline the social workers’ role as it will help to advance the social work practice and competency building in the delivery of palliative care in India
Social workers in hospice and palliative care in Indian contect: Voices from the field
No full textPalliative care (PC) is emerging as an important area of practice in healthcare, where social workers’ involvement is vital in supporting patients and families through the many challenges and difficulties inherent in living with a life limiting illness, as well as in identifying opportunities to assist them with the difficult process of end-of-life planning.
Objectives:
The objective of this study is to explore the need for social work, roles played and the varied nature of palliative care social work in Indian context.
Methods:
The study adopted a qualitative research design. Eight participants who are expert practitioners with specific experience in palliative care were recruited purposively following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants completed an online informed consent form. Data were collected through scheduled interviews via online platform and an online form that contained open-ended questions for the participants to fill in. A semi-structured interview schedule was prepared by the research team to guide the data collection. Data were simultaneously analyzed manually using thematic analysis guidelines. The interviews were transcribed, reviewed, and coded for common themes and sub-themes.
Results:
Experts working extensively in hospice and palliative care settings have described the need and roles of social workers. The findings have been classified into three broad themes and sub-themes. The broad themes are categorized into the following: the need for social workers in PC, roles played by social workers, qualifications and requirements.
Conclusion:
Social workers are an integral part of the palliative care team. It is crucial to distinctly define and outline the social workers’ role as it will help to advance the social work practice and competency building in the delivery of palliative care in India
Social Workers in Hospice and Palliative Care in Indian Contect: Voices from the field
No full textPalliative care (PC) is emerging as an important area of practice in healthcare, where social workers’ involvement is vital in supporting patients and families through the many challenges and difficulties inherent in living with a life limiting illness, as well as in identifying opportunities to assist them with the difficult process of end-of-life planning.
Objectives:
The objective of this study is to explore the need for social work, roles played and the varied nature of palliative care social work in Indian context.
Methods:
The study adopted a qualitative research design. Eight participants who are expert practitioners with specific experience in palliative care were recruited purposively following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants completed an online informed consent form. Data were collected through scheduled interviews via online platform and an online form that contained open-ended questions for the participants to fill in. A semi-structured interview schedule was prepared by the research team to guide the data collection. Data were simultaneously analyzed manually using thematic analysis guidelines. The interviews were transcribed, reviewed, and coded for common themes and sub-themes.
Results:
Experts working extensively in hospice and palliative care settings have described the need and roles of social workers. The findings have been classified into three broad themes and sub-themes. The broad themes are categorized into the following: the need for social workers in PC, roles played by social workers, qualifications and requirements.
Conclusion:
Social workers are an integral part of the palliative care team. It is crucial to distinctly define and outline the social workers’ role as it will help to advance the social work practice and competency building in the delivery of palliative care in India
Service users' perspectives on free legal aid services in India
No full textBackground of the Study: Free legal aid clinics (LACs) are functioning in few hospitals in India under the provision of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Currently, no literatures are available on the service user's (SUs) perspectives on services at free LACs. Methodology: The current study aimed to understand the perspective of SUs of free LAC working at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India. Forty SUs were randomly selected, their records were examined, and they were contacted over the phone to understand their perspectives on availed services from LAC. Results: Authors could contact and completed telephonic interviews with 32 SUs. Majority (53.1%) were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and intellectual disability. They approached LAC for various legal issues related to property, labor laws, mental health act, family/marital issues, and others. Legal advices and referrals to appropriate centers were the few among the various services offered. Telephonic calls to understand perspectives of SUs showed; legal problems solved (15.6%), in the process (37.5%), not solved (15.6%), and yet to start the legal process (31.3%). Majority (87.5%) reported LAC service is useful, 65.6% were able to follow the instructions, 56.3% reported that they do not require any additional help, and 96.9% reported that they will recommend LAC service to others. An average score of 7.72 (±1.67) on visual analog scale was rated by the SUs which indicated high satisfaction. Conclusion: Free legal aid services are essential in hospitals, especially in psychiatric hospitals, to protect legal rights, and to address legal issues of the poorer sections in the society
Dementia care research and psychosocial factors
No full textBACKGROUND: Impaired vision and hearing (sensory impairment) are common among elders, particularly those with cognitive impairment or dementia. The resulting difficulties with communication, daily functioning and social interactions reduce quality of life for affected persons and their families. Despite recent focus on providing sensory care for elders, this is often a neglected issue due to stigma, limited resources, and logistical barriers particularly in low-and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic further reduced access to sensory care services, creating additional barriers for community-dwelling elders and their carers. This qualitative study examined the impact of sensory impairment in elders with cognitive impairment or dementia in India from the family carer perspective, with a focus on how it affects quality of life, care provision as well as barriers to obtaining sensory care. METHOD: Data were collected in focus group discussions with family carers of elders with cognitive impairment or dementia. Participants had a wide range of educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, ensuring both depth and breadth in the data. Inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted to derive themes related to carers' perceptions, experiences and recommendations. RESULT: Three focus groups with 13 carers were interviewed in 2023/24. Five themes (ageing, sensory functions, elder care, quality of life and the COVID-19 pandemic) highlight the issues faced by the elders and their carers due to impaired social interactions and communication, difficulties adapting to sensory loss, as well as barriers to accessing sensory care and services during and after COVID-19. Participants also provided suggestions on how to increase public awareness and service provision for this segment of the older population. CONCLUSION: Addressing vision and hearing loss is vital to ensure the quality of life for elders, particularly those with cognitive impairment or dementia, and their families. Findings highlight the need for community-based care models and targeted interventions to address gaps in sensory care services for these elders, especially during public health crises
