Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Community Workers”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Stress and its relationship to expressed emotion in community mental health workers.

A small opportunistic study of Stress and Expressed Emotion was undertaken with community mental health workers, who were all case managers or keyworkers to clients with severe mental illness. It was hypothesised that a range of EE ratings would be found in staff, and that they would have high levels of burnout and stress. Job satisfaction was also measured. Ten staff were interviewed about 28 clients. Thirty nine percent of interviewees were rated as high EE (7/10 staff were high EE about at least one client), with low EE interviews showing significantly more warmth. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and GHQ levels were above norms for the general population, and were similar to those found in other inner city community teams, but were not related to EE levels. Nevertheless personal accomplishment and job satisfaction were high. High EE interviews were related to increased client symptomatology. Implications for long term community care are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The response of health care workers to AIDS patients' requests for euthanasia.

This paper reports on research into the practice of euthanasia amongst Australian health care professionals specializing in HIV/AIDS. It draws on data from thirty-nine semi-structured interviews carried out in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra with physicians, general practitioners, hospital and community nurses, therapists and community workers. Using a qualitative methodology, the study seeks to identify how (illegal) euthanasia is currently practised, the degrees of involvement, the various forms that involvement takes, and the social relations which provide the context for involvement. In this paper we outline three categories of 'doers' to illustrate the range of attitudes and practices concerning euthanasia. This 'typology' carries a number of implications for recent policy debates over the legalisation of euthanasia. In particular it illustrates, at least within the context of AIDS care, the fragmentation of consensus over euthanasia amongst health care workers, the reality of current illegal euthanasia practices, and the limitations of a prohibitionist policy. While the legalisation of euthanasia within a regulatory framework is sometimes portrayed as an extreme or 'radical' response to terminal illness, the data presented in this paper suggest that prohibitionism is also radical in its failure to control euthanasia practice.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2005

Religious beliefs about causes and treatment of epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: It has been acknowledged that religious and complementary therapies are commonly used among South Asian communities in the UK. However, little is known about their religious beliefs in relation to epilepsy and the type of South Asian therapies that they use to treat the condition. AIM: To explore the influences of spiritual and religious beliefs on explanation of the cause of epilepsy, and the choice of treatment in people of South Asian origin who have epilepsy. DESIGN OF STUDY: Qualitative study using interviews with patients, carers, health professionals, and focus groups of people from minority ethnic communities. SETTING: Bradford and Leeds. METHOD: Semi-structured individual interviews with 20 Muslims, six Sikhs, and four Hindus with epilepsy; 16 nominated carers (family members, friends); 10 health professionals (specialist GPs, neurologists, specialists nurses, social workers, community GPs); and two focus groups with a total of 16 South Asians without epilepsy. RESULTS: It was found that over half of responders attributed their illness to fate and the will of God, or as punishment for sins of a past life. Some patients had experienced prejudice from people who believed that their epilepsy was contagious. A strong network of traditional healers was found, providing a parallel system of health care in the UK and on the Indian subcontinent. People turned to religiospiritual treatments in desperation for a cure, often under the influence of their families after the perceived failure of Western medicine. Such treatments were viewed as complementary rather than as an alternative to Western medication. Younger people in particular expressed considerable scepticism about the effectiveness of these traditional South Asian treatments. CONCLUSIONS: In this study's South Asian sample, patients commonly turned to traditional healers in search of better health. Health professionals should be aware of the belief systems of these patients and understand the types of treatments in common use. Although these treatments might potentially compete with Western health care, they are used as an adjunct rather than a substitute. Patients have a 'healthy' scepticism about the effectiveness of such treatments, and adherence to medical therapy does not appear to be affected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[The application and evaluation of the system theory for community health assessment in a rural village].

In assessing the health of a community is important to select tools appropriate to the community's characteristics. The framework for this paper is the system framework for community assessment developed by Trotter, Smith and Maurer (2000); the data were collected by windshield survey, literature review, interview, and observation. Through data analysis and the identification of the community's problem, the authors prioritize those problems in accordance with Goeppinger and Schuste's (1992) criteria. They illustrate the practicality and local applicability of this method by means of a local case. Finally, the authors evaluate the framework in terms of concept clearance, variable classification, and indicator measurement. In addition, they propose concrete suggestions for community workers to consider in the selection of assessment tools, and to enrich nursing knowledge.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1986

Economics of notification and medical screening for high-risk workers.

Measuring the economic impact of notification and intervention programs for workers at high risk of disease from workplace exposure has been virtually nonexistent for several reasons, which will be discussed, and should include a comprehensive view of costs and benefits. A framework for analysis is proposed defining four major clients: the business community, workers and their families, the local and regional public sector, and the federal government. For each client, the positive and negative, quantitative and nonquantitative, direct and indirect, short-run and long-run effects are probed and a summary analysis is made. To illustrate the process, the notification and screening program conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Workers' Institute for Safety and Health, Augusta, Georgia, for workers exposed to beta-naphthylamine is described.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2006

Trauma, post-migration living difficulties, and social support as predictors of psychological adjustment in resettled Sudanese refugees.

OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the impact of pre-migration trauma, post-migration living difficulties and social support on the current mental health of 63 resettled Sudanese refugees. METHOD: A semistructured interview including questionnaires assessing sociodemographic information, pre-migration trauma, anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress, post-migration living difficulties and perceived social support were administered assisted by a bilingual community worker. RESULTS: Resettled refugees from Sudan evidenced a history of trauma. Less than 5% met criteria for posttraumatic stress but 25% reported clinically high levels of psychological distress. The results indicate that social support--particularly perceived social support from the migrant's ethnic community--play a significant role in predicting mental health outcomes. Pre-migration trauma, family status and gender were also associated with mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Refugees in Australia may constitute a particularly vulnerable group in terms of mental health outcomes. Culturally specific sequelae in terms of social isolation and acculturation may be particularly problematic for these migrants.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Having the rug pulled from under your feet: one project's experience of the US policy reversal on sex work.

After the election of President George W Bush in 2000, US government policy toward sexual and reproductive health changed dramatically. In May 2003, the Global AIDS Act was passed and prohibits allocation of US government funds to organizations that 'promote or advocate' legalization and practice of prostitution and sex trafficking. There are few documented examples of early impacts of this policy reversal on USAID-funded programmes already working with sex worker communities. This paper offers an anecdotal account of one programme in Cambodia that found itself caught in the ideological cross-fire of US politics, and describes consequent negative effects on the project's ability to offer appropriate and effective HIV prevention services to vulnerable migrant sex workers.

Cambodia↗
PubMed1989

Services for prisoners with alcohol-related problems: a survey of U.K. prisons.

Offenders have been identified as heavy drinkers who admit to a relationship between drinking and offending. Many prisoners express a desire to reduce their alcohol consumption. The extent of alcohol interventions in U.K. prisons was unknown and so a postal survey was conducted to gather basic information about current work. Of all responding establishments, 91% claimed to provide services for prisoners with alcohol-related problems and 58% gave details of these services. Services are provided mainly by probation officers/social workers, prison officers and Alcoholics Anonymous. Group and individual interventions are described. Service development has been haphazard, lacking central co-ordination. A case is made for appointment of a central facilitator responsible for staff training, establishing a communications network, encouraging new interventions to match clients' needs, encouraging closer links with community workers and guiding evaluative research.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed2000

Family work for schizophrenia: practical application.

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence for the efficacy, efficiency and effectiveness of family work for schizophrenia. METHOD: The review is based on the relevant literature but is not intended to be exhaustive, except in the area of practical application. RESULTS: The effectiveness of family work has been established by a series of randomized controlled trials. Relatives groups are efficient in terms of staff time, and multiple family groups may be more efficacious than sessions with single families. However, a substantial proportion of relatives refuse to attend a group and need sessions in the home. Family work skills can be acquired by clinicians working in ordinary settings, although few studies have addressed this question. Problems have been encountered regularly by trained community workers trying to practise their newly acquired skills. CONCLUSION: Difficulties in implementation may be remedied by adopting a systemic approach and including the managers of the service in the initial training sessions.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Turnover intentions of community mental health workers in psychosocial rehabilitation services.

Staff turnover is an important topic for community mental health administrators. This paper reports on turnover intentions of PSR workers, a rapidly growing sector of the community mental health labor force as reported in a nationwide survey. A predictive model of intended turnover, suggested by literature in the field as well as study finding, included worker characteristics, job characteristics and worker attitudes. It was found that seven variables predicted intended turnover: younger age, higher emotional exhaustion, a feeling of lower job fulfillment, the lack of a perception of a career path, having a master's degree, having held a previous job in PSR and working with clients who have both a mental illness and AIDS. To assist agencies in reducing turnover, organizational policies and recommendations for staff development are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The optimum principle in community psychiatry.

In community psychiatry, just as in dynamic psychotherapy, aiming too high may be just as ineffective as setting too minimal goals. In this article, causes and effects of maximalistic and minimalistic attitudes in therapists, community workers and their patients are discussed. The optimum principle and the optimal preventive and therapeutic approaches are presented at a theoretical level. Three clinical examples, where therapeutic techniques based on the optimum principle were applied, are described in detail.

Aspirations, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of an interagency home visiting program to reduce postneonatal mortality in disadvantaged communities.

This paper describes an interagency home visiting program, Resources, Education and Care in the Home (REACH), designed to reduce preventable causes of morbidity among normal, socioeconomically disadvantaged infants at risk for adverse outcomes due to social factors. Home nursing visits by a trained nurse-community worker team were made throughout the first year of life to 1,269 infants from predominantly African American families. Results demonstrate that repeated home visits with ongoing infant health monitoring plus individualized and culturally sensitive teaching helped mothers maintain good health practices and identify illnesses early. Infants' outcomes during the neonatal period and at 12 months showed consistent, though statistically nonsignificant, positive effects on physical health. The postneonatal mortality rate among REACH infants was 4.7 deaths per 1000 live births in communities where rates for nonparticipants ranged from 5.2 to 10.9 per 100. The evaluation demonstrates a need in this population for more intensive services with greater continuity of care. Specific areas where more education is needed include home safety, skin care, and early identification and treatment of upper respiratory infections. Infants from communities with high infant mortality rates present numerous preventable morbidities requiring interventions, even when they are not considered medically high-risk at birth.

Health Services Needs and Demand↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The "new" drug-free therapeutic community. Challenging encounter of classic and open therapeutic communities.

In view of a rapidly changing society, reflected in many changes within the drug-free Therapeutic Communities (TCs), the question has been raised: "What can and cannot be changed in this modality?" This question was addressed at a European conference of experienced therapeutic community workers, who concluded that many changes have occurred and will continue to occur, but some basic concepts should be preserved. The changes inherent in postmodern society are examined here in an effort to foresee their impact on the evolution of the TC. Necessary changes and additions are discussed.

Congresses as Topic↗
PubMed2004

A program to improve access to health care among Mexican immigrants in rural Colorado.

CONTEXT: Migration to the United States from Mexico is increasing every year. Mexican immigrants tend to be poor, uninsured, monolingual Spanish speakers without adequate access to appropriate medical care. As a further barrier, many are also undocumented. PURPOSE: This article describes a program developed to improve access to health care among Mexican immigrants in northern Colorado. METHODS: The program was implemented by a migrant/community health center in rural northern Colorado based on findings from an in-depth health needs survey of the target population. The program consists of community outreach services vertically integrated into the main medical clinics, which comprise Salud Family Health Centers. A mobile unit went to nontraditional areas identified by community workers as gathering places for Mexican immigrants. Services provided included preventive health care (screening for diabetes, hypertension, mental health problems, dental problems, and HIV); education; and primary care for acute problems. Patients were referred to a health care home for ongoing care. RESULTS: In the first 6 months, 1,553 Mexican immigrants were seen on the mobile unit. Hypertension and psychosocial problems were the most common problems in this population. Thirty-five percent of patients who received consultation in the mobile unit have visited any of the clinics for follow-up within the following year. CONCLUSIONS: A community-based mobile outreach program targeted toward Mexican immigrants can be effective in uncovering medical and mental illness and in directing patients to a health care home. This is an important first step in eliminating health disparities among this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Analisys of work-related accidents and incidents in an oil refinery in Rio de Janeiro].

Accidents in the chemical industry can have serious consequences for workers, communities, and the environment and are thus highly relevant to public health. This article is the result of an occupational surveillance project involving several public institutions. We analyze 800 work-related accidents that resulted in injuries, environmental damage, or loss of production in 1997 in an oil refinery located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The methodology was based on managerial and organizational approaches to accident investigation, with the European Union reporting system as the reference. The results highlight various limitations in the process of reporting and investigating accidents, as well as a certain hierarchy of accidents, with more attention given to accidents involving loss of production and less to those resulting in injuries, particularly among outsourced workers.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2004

An exploration of street drinking in Drumchapel, Scotland.

This paper describes the results of a survey undertaken to contribute to a health needs assessment of persistent street drinkers in Drumchapel, Greater Glasgow. Street drinkers, members of the public and local service providers [including agency professionals (community workers; health workers; social workers) and others (e.g. shopkeepers)] were interviewed. Street drinkers were generally male, single, unemployed and living in their own (rented) accommodation. Not being homeless, they gave volitional reasons for drinking in the street, centred on social aspects and the cost of drinking in traditional establishments/public houses. Half the group said they did not do all their drinking on the street, suggesting alternatives may be possible. Uptake of food offered to respondents being interviewed was low, and self-reported diet was poor in vitamins and unvaried. Awareness of services was low in the street drinking group, with friends/family remaining the most common source of support. Public concern was mainly with the visibility of the group and the negative impact this was perceived to have on the community; however, service providers focused on health risks associated with street drinking. Consensus on the need for some accommodation/centre for drinkers with access to services was established across all groups.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol liaison in action. The Canterbury experience.

In the changing health service, cooperation between disciplines is essential and innovation important to improve the service for people whose health is at risk or damaged. We describe our response to the challenge of liaison between different disciplines when faced with a multifaceted problem that needs the contribution of medical and psychiatric teams and community workers. Although this method of work has been applied to alcohol misuse, it could also be applied to other clinical problems. Liaison can be successful if these is an identified need and the different groups share a desire to work together. To stimulate the liaison and maintain momentum there need to be driving forces, be they clinical, practical or economic, also a shared philosophy and language, a conceptual base in the care of that group of patients, mutual respect and agreed working arrangements. Psychiatry and medicine operating together can ensure that these patients are treated with fairness and respect. They can tap into resources not easily available to either discipline separately, and so create original and exciting services. They can discover other agencies and individuals in their communities who will cooperate with them in obtaining funds and in pressurising statutory bodies to develop much needed services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Low awareness of intestinal schistosomiasis in northern Senegal after 7 years of health education as part of intense control and research activities.

We evaluated the awareness of and knowledge about intestinal schistosomiasis in a highly infected rural community of northern Senegal where a variety of health information and education activities had taken place for 7 years as a component of different research and control programmes. As the infection had been introduced only recently, an initial 'zero' knowledge can be assumed. Most of the health education activities had been performed with adapted messages through local health and community workers. By a questionnaire, 566 individuals were asked simple questions on symptoms, mode of transmission, the sources of information and health-seeking behaviour. About 86% of the respondents stated that they knew what schistosomiasis was, and 92% that in case of illness they would seek treatment at the health centre. However, only half of the people accurately quoted symptoms associated with intestinal schistosomiasis: diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloody stools. The majority of respondents realized that the disease was somehow linked with water and (lack of) hygiene, but only 44% of respondents reported water contact as the source of infection. Ultimately, only 30% of the respondents gave adequate answers about both symptoms and mode of transmission. We conclude that even intense and long-lasting education efforts for a specific and straightforward problem as schistosomiasis are not enough to have profound impact on the knowledge of rural traditional communities.

Adult↗