Exploring relationships between health professionals through the implementation of a reablement program for people with dementia: A mixed methods study

AbstractAims:Implementation of novel interventions occurs within broad organisational contexts, which contain many relationships and moving parts. Efforts need to be made to understand these relationships as they are an important predictor of successful implementation. This study examines the relationships between health professionals involved in the implementation of an evidence-based community program for people with dementia and their carers in Australia, The Care of People with dementia in their Environments program.Methods:This study utilised mixed methods including in-depth interviews and organisational diagrams. Qualitative data from 28 interviews were collected from occupational therapists, nurses and their managers. Recruitment ensured a variety of different organisational contexts were represented. Thematic analysis was used to capture key emergent themes.Findings:The strongest relationships were usually between the occupational therapist and their manager. Strong trusting relationships with managers were instrumental in advocating for the need for reablement programs and the occupational therapy professional role in dementia care. Large teams of occupational therapists were seen to be beneficial in supporting each other in case complexities. Relationships between occupational therapists and nurses were often missing or perceived as weak relationships. A conducive physical environment contributed to stronger more collaborative relationships, where individuals were visible and therefore felt to be more approachable.Conclusion:Our study highlights the additional preparation work that is required of organisations to consider relationships in their strategies for implementation.

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How the environment is conceptualised and represented globally in social work codes of ethics

International Social Work ◽

10.1177/00208728211020071 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002087282110200

Author(s):

Kang Liu ◽

Catherine A Flynn

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Social Justice ◽

Social Work ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Codes Of Ethics ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Sequential Mixed Methods ◽

The Social ◽

Holistic Understanding

While the environment is fundamental to humankind’s wellbeing, to date, social work has been largely focused on the social, rather than the physical, environment. To map how the broader environment is captured in the profession’s foundational documents, an exploratory sequential mixed methods study (QUAL → quan) analysed data from 64 social work codes of ethics. Findings indicate that although the environment is mentioned in the majority of these, there is a continued focus on the social, overlooking to some degree the physical, predominantly the built, environment. A more holistic understanding of the environment would enable social work to better fulfil its commitment to human rights and social justice.

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