ERIC Number: EJ831243
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Feb
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-7283
EISSN: N/A
Education: A Complex and Empowering Social Work Intervention at the End of Life
Cagle, John G.; Kovacs, Pamela J.
Health & Social Work, v34 n1 p17-27 Feb 2009
Education is a frequently used social work intervention. Yet it seems to be an underappreciated and a deceptively complex intervention that social workers may not be adequately prepared to use. Reliable, accessible information is essential as it helps prevent unnecessary crises, facilitates coping, and promotes self-determination. This article conceptualizes education as a fundamental social work intervention and discusses the role social workers play in providing information that is both empowering and culturally sensitive. In particular, this article focuses on social workers working with patients and families facing life-threatening situations, including those in hospice and other end-of-life care settings. After reviewing the relevant literature and theory and exploring the inherent complexities of educational interventions, the authors recommend strategies for more effectively helping patients and families access the information they need.
Descriptors: Intervention, Patients, Social Work, Cultural Relevance, Access to Information, Health Education, Family Counseling, Hospices (Terminal Care), Terminal Illness, Counseling Techniques, Caseworkers
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). 750 First Street NE Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-227-3590; e-mail: press@naswdc.org; Web site: http://www.naswpress.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A