Oncology Social Work Research

Author(s):  
Julianne S. Oktay ◽  
Bradley Zebrack

Oncology social work researchers have made (and continue to make) important contributions to the knowledge base that supports the profession. This article discusses the profession of oncology social work, its roots in medical social work in the United States, the development of cancer treatment, and the body of research that informs its art and practice. Oncology social work research is placed in the broader contexts of the social work profession, the field of oncology, and the specific field of oncology social work. Through the decades, the profession of oncology social work has grown, gained stability and legitimacy. Oncology social work itself, along with oncology social work research, have made rapid strides in the 21st century and accelerating in impact and relevance. Oncology social work research is stronger now than ever. Recent developments, such as the addition of a research institute at the annual AOSW conference and initiatives to establish a “practice-based research network” are expanding capacity in the field. Oncology social work researchers bring a unique perspective to their research. Social work’s patient-centered perspective is reflected in research that explores the cancer experience of patients and family members and leads to new interventions based on that experience. Social work’s focus on human development over the life course results in research that reflects a developmental framework or focuses on specific age groups, such as children, adolescents, young adults, or the elderly. Social work’s conceptual model of “Person-in-Environment” is reflected in research on cancer patients in the context of their interpersonal relationships. The values of social justice and cultural competence are reflected in research on health disparities, minority populations, and multicultural perspectives. Finally, the field of oncology social work itself has been the focus of recent research on distress screening and its implementation. In the 21st century, oncology social work research stands in a pivotal position. Although this type of research is now widely recognized as important, it is still a challenge to access the level of support from major funders of cancer research required to establish and reinforce a strong and vibrant knowledge base for the profession.

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1128-1136
Author(s):  
Ian F. Shaw

Doing social science involves collaboration. Yet, there has been little attention to the character of collaboration between social scientists, or to if and in what ways research networks exist. This article reports aspects of a mixed method, participatory case study of a small international social work research network. It sets out how someone becomes a member of—or leaves—the network, how roles appeared to form and be assigned or taken, how the network operates, and the perceived transitional status of the network. The nature of collaboration is central to this analysis. The article illumines forms of collaboration typically deemphasized in arguments for its desirability. It was not characterized by consensus, but required role friction and creative reflexivity, where uncertainty and ambiguity were endemic, sometimes productively so.


Author(s):  
Carlos Gerena

Despite the shift in attitudes in religious institutions toward homosexuals in the United States, there are some religions that continue to view same-sex behavior as a deviant and damning sin. For many, religious beliefs and values provide meaning and impact personal identity. Using autoethnography, I will explicate my own experiences with religious institutions and the ongoing conflict between religious beliefs and sexuality. I will discuss messages received from the Pentecostal church, family, and Latino community, and how these messages influenced my human development and emotional well-being. I show that internalization of the principles taught by the Pentecostal Church triggered a conflict when I became aware of my homosexuality. In this article, I discuss the mental health challenges I faced, and strategies I used to reconcile conflicting identities. I also discuss the use of autoethnography in social work and its implications in social work research and practice.


Author(s):  
Yoosun Park

This overview of the Japanese American community includes a brief history of the community in the United States, an overview of some distinct characteristics of the community, and a review of current literature highlighting the particular issues of the community salient to social work research and intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. e0010
Author(s):  
Klaus Rose ◽  
◽  
Jane M. Grant-Kels ◽  
Earl B. Ettienne ◽  
Oishi Tanjinatus ◽  
...  

Children are infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as often as adults, but with fewer symptoms. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in children (MIS-C), with symptoms similar to Kawasaki syndrome, was described in young minors testing positive for COVID-19. The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined MIS-C as occurring in <21-year-olds, triggering hundreds of PubMed-listed papers. However, postpubertal adolescents are no longer children biologically; the term MIS-C is misleading. Furthermore, MIS also occurs in adults, termed MIS-A by the CDC. Acute and delayed inflammations can be triggered by COVID-19. The 18th birthday is an administrative not a biological age limit, whereas the body matures slowly during puberty. This blur in defining children leads to confusion regarding MIS-C/MIS-A. United States and European Union (EU) drug approval is handled separately for children, defined as <18-year-olds, ascribing non-existent physical characteristics up to the 18th birthday. This blur between the administrative and the physiological meanings for the term child is causing flawed demands for pediatric studies in all drugs and vaccines, including those against COVID-19. Effective treatment of all conditions, including COVID-19, should be based on actual physiological need. Now, the flawed definition for children in the development of drugs and vaccines and their approval is negatively impacting prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in minors. This review reveals the necessity for redefining pediatric age groups to rapidly establish recommendations for optimal prevention and treatment in minors.


Author(s):  
Thanh Tran ◽  
Tam Nguyen ◽  
Keith Chan

Given the demographic changes and the reality of cultural diversity in the United States and other parts of the world today, social work researchers are increasingly aware of the need to conduct cross-cultural research and evaluation, whether for hypothesis testing or for outcome evaluation. This book’s aims are twofold: to provide an overview of issues and techniques relevant to the development of cross-cultural measures and to provide readers with a step-by-step approach to the assessment of cross-cultural equivalence of measurement properties. There is no discussion of statistical theory and principles underlying the statistical techniques presented in this book. Rather, this book is concerned with applied theories and principles of cross-cultural research, and draws information from existing work in the social sciences, public domain secondary data, and primary data from the author’s research. In this second edition, several changes have been made throughout the book and a new chapter on item response theory has been added. The chapter on developing new cross-cultural instrument has also been expanded with a concrete example.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Goodkind ◽  
Rachel E Gartner ◽  
Leah A Jacobs ◽  
Dominique Branson ◽  
Jorden King ◽  
...  

Abstract Social work researchers often conduct population-level analyses of equity, sometimes focusing on how social and economic well-being are differently experienced depending on gender. In response to the United States’ refusal to ratify the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, city-level campaigns began conducting gender equity analyses to highlight and address inequality. To date, these analyses have largely focused on gender alone, affording little attention to other axes of inequality. This article argues that theories of intersectionality offer a conceptual antidote to this narrow focus on gender. Drawing on extant literature, authors developed four criteria to guide intersectional gender equity analyses: (1) analyzes power, (2) interprets population and phenomena in context, (3) mutually constituted and interdependent category use, and (4) strategic and transparent social justice goals (which can be abbreviated as AIMS). Taking a metaevaluation approach, they applied the AIMS criteria to assess existing gender equity analyses. Results indicate ways in which these criteria can be met and the implications of taking intersectional approaches. Ultimately, the AIMS criteria offer guidance to social work research that can systematically and intentionally integrate core intersectionality principles and, in turn, support efforts to promote equity in our systems and institutions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Clark

Gatekeepers occupy increasingly important positions within qualitative social work research and their engagement with research is crucial to the ongoing development of a useable knowledge base. However, while some studies have hinted at the mechanisms that support and challenge the relationship between gatekeepers and researchers, there is a paucity of systematic research concerning how these relationships can be maintained more effectively for all concerned. This article aims to develop the literature in this respect by examining how researchers in the child and families research arena (n = 13) understand the mechanisms that support and challenge the engagement of gatekeepers. Several mechanisms that support engagement are identified. These are: political representation, civic and moral responsibility to engage, and the identification of good practice. Similarly, a number of mechanisms that can challenge engagement are also explored. These include: methodology, representation, intrusion, and, disruption. These results are discussed in relation to the current developments within the field of qualitative social work that have seen a rise in collectivized responses to research requests.


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