scholarly journals How do People with Disabilities Evaluate the Quality of Social Services?

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 37-65
Author(s):  
Laurita Čiapaitė ◽  
Asta Vaitkevičienė

In this article we analyse the quality of social services from the perspective of people with disabilities and we analyse other social services quality studies that use the EQUASS system or the SERVQUAL model. We show the contrast between the high quality ratings reported by social workers and unmet expectations of the services’ recipients. It is argued that the difference may be due to methodological errors in choosing one or another research method, and the phenomenon of social workers’ conformism, which can be supported also by the peculiarities of Lithuania’s long-term social policy. It is proposed that the SERWQUAL model be used for the study of the quality of social services, which is flexible with regards to the needs of service users. Triangulation of research methods was used to analyse the data. We show evaluation of the quality of social services according to the 5 dimensions of the SERWQUAL model: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance (certainty) and sensitivity (empathy).

BMJ ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 328 (7441) ◽  
pp. 673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Schroter ◽  
Nick Black ◽  
Stephen Evans ◽  
James Carpenter ◽  
Fiona Godlee ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective To determine the effects of training on the quality of peer review.Design Single blind randomised controlled trial with two intervention groups receiving different types of training plus a control group.Setting and participants Reviewers at a general medical journal.Interventions Attendance at a training workshop or reception of a self taught training package focusing on what editors want from reviewers and how to critically appraise randomised controlled trials.Main outcome measures Quality of reviews of three manuscripts sent to reviewers at four to six monthly intervals, evaluated using the validated review quality instrument; number of deliberate major errors identified; time taken to review the manuscripts; proportion recommending rejection of the manuscripts.Results Reviewers in the self taught group scored higher in review quality after training than did the control group (score 2.85 v 2.56; difference 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.14 to 0.44; P = 0.001), but the difference was not of editorial significance and was not maintained in the long term. Both intervention groups identified significantly more major errors after training than did the control group (3.14 and 2.96 v 2.13; P < 0.001), and this remained significant after the reviewers' performance at baseline assessment was taken into account. The evidence for benefit of training was no longer apparent on further testing six months after the interventions. Training had no impact on the time taken to review the papers but was associated with an increased likelihood of recommending rejection (92% and 84% v 76%; P = 0.002).Conclusions Short training packages have only a slight impact on the quality of peer review. The value of longer interventions needs to be assessed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-167
Author(s):  
Kelvin Choi ◽  
Esther T Maas ◽  
Mieke Koehoorn ◽  
Christopher B McLeod

ObjectivesThis study examined time to return-to-work (RTW) among direct healthcare and social workers with violence-related incidents compared with these workers with non-violence-related incidents in British Columbia, Canada.MethodsAccepted workers’ compensation lost-time claims were extracted between 2010 and 2014. Workers with violence-related incidents and with non-violence-related incidents were matched using coarsened exact matching (n=5762). The outcome was days until RTW within 1 year after the first day of time loss, estimated with Cox regression using piecewise models, stratified by injury type, occupation, care setting and shift type.ResultsWorkers with violence-related incidents, compared with workers with non-violence-related incidents, were more likely to RTW within 30 days postinjury, less likely within 61–180 days, and were no different after 181 days. Workers with psychological injuries resulting from a violence-related incident had a lower likelihood to RTW during the year postinjury (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.86). Workers with violence-related incidents in counselling and social work occupations were less likely to RTW within 90 days postinjury (HR 31–60 days: 0.67, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.95 and HR 61–90 days: 0.46, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.69). Workers with violence-related incidents in long-term care and residential social services were less likely to RTW within 91–180 days postinjury.ConclusionsWorkers with psychological injuries, and those in counselling and social work occupations and in long-term care and residential social services, took longer to RTW following a violence-related incident than workers with non-violence-related incidents. Future research should focus on identifying risk factors to reduce the burden of violence and facilitate RTW.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 613-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Groene ◽  
Davis W. Heniford ◽  
Tanushree Prasad ◽  
Amy E. Lincourt ◽  
Vedra A. Augenstein

Quality of life (QOL) has become an important focus of hernia repair outcomes. This study aims to identify factors which lead to ideal outcomes (asymptomatic and without recurrence) in large umbilical hernias (defect size ≥9 cm2). Review of the prospective International Hernia Mesh Registry was performed. The Carolinas Comfort Scale was used to measure QOL at 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Demographics, operative details, complications, and QOL data were evaluated using standard statistical methods. Forty-four large umbilical hernia repairs were analyzed. Demographics included: average age 53.6 ± 12.0 and body mass index 34.9 ± 7.2 kg/m2. The mean defect size was 21.7 ± 16.9 cm2, and 72.7 per cent were performed laparoscopically. Complications included hematoma (2.3%), seroma (12.6%), and recurrence (9.1%). Follow-up and ideal outcomes were one month = 28.2 per cent, six months = 42.9 per cent, one year = 55.6 per cent. All patients who remained symptomatic at one and two years were significantly symptomatic before surgery. Symptomatic preoperative activity limitation was a significant predictor of nonideal outcomes at one year ( P = 0.02). Symptomatic preoperative pain was associated with nonideal outcomes at one year, though the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.06). Operative technique, mesh choice, and fixation technique did not impact recurrence or QOL. Repair of umbilical hernia with defects ≥9 cm2 had a surprising low rate of ideal outcomes (asymptomatic and no recurrence). All patients with nonideal long-term outcomes had preoperative pain and activity limitations. These data may suggest that umbilical hernia should be repaired when they are small and asymptomatic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (12) ◽  
pp. 839-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Kuper

AbstractNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of infectious conditions that vary in their epidemiology, impact and control. They are among the most common conditions globally, affecting approximately one billion people. Many NTDs have long-term consequences, such as visual and physical impairments. As a result, people with NTDs may have difficulties in carrying out activities or participating in society—in other words, NTDs can cause disabilities. Additionally, NTDs are often strongly linked to stigma and can have mental health consequences. It is therefore important to incorporate rehabilitation within NTD programmes. Rehabilitation can be conceptualized narrowly in terms of the provision of clinical services (e.g. physiotherapy and assistive devices) or, more broadly, including efforts to improve employment, overcome stigma and enhance social participation of people with disabilities. Approximately 15% of the global population has a disability, and this large group must be considered when designing NTD programmes. Improving the inclusion of people with disabilities may require adaptations to NTD programmes, such as making them physically accessible or training staff about disability awareness. Without incorporating disability within NTD programmes, the quality of life of people with NTDs will suffer and global targets for elimination and management of NTDs will not be met.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Michaela Šuľová

Mental health is a fragile area. One of the frequent psychical illnesses is depression which means decline, uneasiness, anxiety. Many people develop a psychical illness during their life, whereby the triggering mechanism can be different stressful situation. Thus, many people with psychical illness become clients of social services facilities. This way the client comes into contact with social workers, which should be ready for their work (or rather mission) professionally and personally. They should be familiar with a range of approaches, methods and techniques, which they can implement based on the client’s individual needs within social intervention, in order to improve the client’s quality of life. The aim of our research is to determine what approaches and methods are used in social work with depressed clients. As a research method we use the analysis of professional materials and case studies, which focused on the application of methods of social work with clients with depression. The article has theoretical and research parts. In the theoretical part we introduce the diagnostics and symptoms of depression. In the research part we analyze the approaches and methods, used in social work with a depressed client. Then we present case studies, which are focused on the application of methods of social work with clients with depression.


Author(s):  
Daniel R. Brickner

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">This study examines the impact of hypothesized factors on the value-relevance of SFAS No. 107 fair value disclosures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These factors include firm size, the relative magnitude of the difference between the fair value and the historical cost measurements for each financial instrument, firm financial condition, and the quality of a firm&rsquo;s financial statement audit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A pooled valuation model is employed on the sample of 867 firm years for banks and bank holding companies during the period of 1996 and 1997.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&nbsp;</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The results indicate that the SFAS No. 107 fair value disclosures for investment securities, net loans, and long-term debt are value-relevant in explaining the market value of common equity for the sample banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With respect to the hypothesized factors, firm size was found to have a statistically significant impact on the value-relevance of the disclosures for net loans and long-term debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Additionally, the relative magnitude of the difference between the fair value and historical cost had a statistically significant effect on the value-relevance of the disclosure for investment securities and long-term debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Finally, firm financial condition and the quality of a firm&rsquo;s audit were found to have a statistically significant impact on the fair value disclosure for net loans. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&nbsp;</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The results of this study are descriptive of the behavior of financial statement users with respect to these fair value disclosures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The implications of this study&rsquo;s findings are useful for both accounting standard-setters and preparers of financial statements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Taken together, these findings suggest that the market does not respond to the SFAS No. 107 fair value disclosures at their face value alone or without considering their context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Specifically, it appears to look to other factors that may impact the relevance and/or reliability of these disclosures.</span></span></p>


TERRITORIO ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Laura Pogliani

- The Lombard services plan defines operational criteria and policies designed to achieve the objectives of settlement quality and urban welfare. They are objectives which cut across the public-private relationship in the construction and improvement of settlement contexts. If quality of living in an area and the long term value of the urban asset depends on the capacity to achieve integrated development (housing, public transport and social services), then the centrality of this instrument is clear to see, with its ability to seize on local opportunities and community resources in its triple nature of a plan, a project and a programme. A number of positive experiences have developed in recent years, such as the Bergamo, Cremona and Monza plans which have introduced a new vocabulary and new ways of operating (competitions, settlement criteria, expected public performance and financial assessments) to strengthen bargaining capacities and competition in public strategies and policies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (12) ◽  
pp. 1774-1779
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kendall ◽  
Carolyn Ehrlich ◽  
Kelsey Chapman ◽  
Camila Shirota ◽  
Gary Allen ◽  
...  

Some people with disabilities may have greater risk of contracting COVID-19 or experiencing worse outcomes if infected. Although COVID-19 is a genuine threat for people with disabilities, they also fear decisions that might limit lifesaving treatment should they contract the virus. During a pandemic, health systems must manage excess demand for treatment, and governments must enact heavy restrictions on their citizens to prevent transmission. Both actions can have a negative impact on people with disabilities. Ironically, the sociotechnical advances prompted by this pandemic could also revolutionize quality of life and participation for people with disabilities. Preparation for future disasters requires careful consideration.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathi J. Kemper ◽  
Nisha Rao

Background. There is increasing interest in brief, online training in mind-body skills to improve resilience in health professionals. Methods. We analyzed data from an online training program in focused attention meditation. Resilience, relaxation, stress, positive and negative affect, and flourishing were measured before and after training using standardized scales. Results. The 379 participants included nurses (31%), physicians (21%), social workers and psychologists (10%), and others (38%). At baseline, participants reported high levels of stress (mean 16.7 compared with population norms of 12-14). Completing modules was associated with small but significant improvements in relaxation, resilience, stress, positive and negative affect, and flourishing ( P <. 01 for all) Conclusion. Online focused attention meditation training reaches diverse health professionals and is associated with improvements in relaxation, resilience, stress, affect, and flourishing. Additional research is warranted to compare the long-term cost-effectiveness of different amounts and types of mind-body training on clinician burnout and quality of care.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Sheps Isaac

The success factors of organizations are developing continuously and every few year’s new success factors are added to the complex demanding and ever-changing competitive environment in which organizations operate. There is no doubt that the primary focus of an organization should be to achieve higher satisfaction of its customers by implementing rigorous processes to continuously improve its products and services quality - but in the current competitive environment this is not enough to achieve sustained success and all interested parties needs and expectations have to be met. Organizations have to implement an effective and efficient management system that is led by top management and is focused on the organization ability to meet the needs and expectations of its customers and other relevant interested parties, over the long term as the way to achieve sustained success of the organization. Doing so organizations are moving from product quality which is the scope of ISO 9001 to quality of an organization which is the scope of the new ISO 9004 which has reached these days the level of draft of international standard (DIS) and is planned to be published in 2018 and will provide a guidance to organizations on how to achieve sustained success.


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