- Email: [email protected]
Social Work Role in Pain Management with Hospice Caregivers: A National Survey (740)
Vol. 37 No.3 March 2009
Schedule with Abstracts
spiritual care. This may give healthcare providers guidance on how to better assist caregivers in this important area at EOL. VI. Implications for research, policy, or practice. EOL is a difficult time for families. Assisting them to engage in EOL communication may provide some of the comfort caregivers need to better cope with the death.
Social Work Role in Pain Management with Hospice Caregivers: A National Survey (740) Elaine M. Wittenberg-Lyles, PhD, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; Debra Parker Oliver, PhD MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Karla Washington, MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Seema Sehrawat, MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO Objectives 1. Discuss the perceptions of hospice social workers related to pain management and the administration of pain medications for hospice patients. 2. Identify the assessment practices of hospice social workers related to pain management, especially caregiver concerns of pain. 3. Explore the collaboration practices of hospice social workers related to pain management, especially caregiver concerns of pain. I. Background. As patients are cared for in their home by family caregivers, several challenges arise in effective pain and symptom management. Problems for caregivers include pain assessment, reluctance and fear of administering medication, noncompliance with pain medicine regimens, and hesitance to report pain. Although assessment of patient needs by hospice staff upon admission is common practice, little has been done to explore the assessment of caregivers. II. Research Objectives. This study seeks to identify the assessment and collaboration practices of hospice social workers related to the psychosocial components of pain, especially caregiver concerns of pain management. III. Methods. A national survey was administered to members of the Population Based Palliative Care Research Network (PoPCRN) and was followed by extended interviews with five hospice social workers. This work was funded by the National Cancer Institute (R21 RA-CA-05-013). IV. Results. Social workers reported devoting approximately 21% of their time to pain management issues, yet wish they could spend 28% of
553
their time on these concerns. While most report assessing patient and family needs, many do not use standardized assessment instruments. 27% reported being approached by other team members about caregiver concerns of pain management at least once a week. V. Conclusions. Social workers assess the components of pain but are not able to devote as much attention to it as they feel is needed. This study suggests that social workers understand their role in pain management and struggle to find the time and tools needed to help them address caregiver concerns related to pain management. VI. Implications for research, policy, or practice. This study suggests that the development of standardized assessment instruments for hospice social workers would be helpful and team training and discussion related to ways the social worker can best assist in pain management issues for caregivers is warranted.
Exploring Videophone Communication Between Hospice Teams and Family Caregivers During Interdisciplinary Team Meetings (741) Elaine M. Wittenberg-Lyles, PhD, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; Debra Parker Oliver, PhD MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; George Demiris, PhD, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Paula K Baldwin, BA, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX Objectives 1. Identify the active communication strategies of caregivers using videophones to participate in team meetings. 2. Discuss the role of the team when communicating with caregivers via videophone. I. Background. Although patients and family members are considered the unit of care in hospice, they are rarely included in team meetings. Still, the inclusion of patients and families in team meetings is theorized to improve communication and satisfaction with care. Staff communication with family caregivers during end-of-life care can serve to promote family communication, encourage advance care planning, support home care, empathy for family emotions and relationships, and attend to family bereavement. II. Research Objectives. This study investigates an exploratory project funded by the National Cancer Institute (R21 RA-CA-05-013) aimed at improving communication between family caregivers and
Schedule with Abstracts
spiritual care. This may give healthcare providers guidance on how to better assist caregivers in this important area at EOL. VI. Implications for research, policy, or practice. EOL is a difficult time for families. Assisting them to engage in EOL communication may provide some of the comfort caregivers need to better cope with the death.
Social Work Role in Pain Management with Hospice Caregivers: A National Survey (740) Elaine M. Wittenberg-Lyles, PhD, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; Debra Parker Oliver, PhD MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Karla Washington, MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Seema Sehrawat, MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO Objectives 1. Discuss the perceptions of hospice social workers related to pain management and the administration of pain medications for hospice patients. 2. Identify the assessment practices of hospice social workers related to pain management, especially caregiver concerns of pain. 3. Explore the collaboration practices of hospice social workers related to pain management, especially caregiver concerns of pain. I. Background. As patients are cared for in their home by family caregivers, several challenges arise in effective pain and symptom management. Problems for caregivers include pain assessment, reluctance and fear of administering medication, noncompliance with pain medicine regimens, and hesitance to report pain. Although assessment of patient needs by hospice staff upon admission is common practice, little has been done to explore the assessment of caregivers. II. Research Objectives. This study seeks to identify the assessment and collaboration practices of hospice social workers related to the psychosocial components of pain, especially caregiver concerns of pain management. III. Methods. A national survey was administered to members of the Population Based Palliative Care Research Network (PoPCRN) and was followed by extended interviews with five hospice social workers. This work was funded by the National Cancer Institute (R21 RA-CA-05-013). IV. Results. Social workers reported devoting approximately 21% of their time to pain management issues, yet wish they could spend 28% of
553
their time on these concerns. While most report assessing patient and family needs, many do not use standardized assessment instruments. 27% reported being approached by other team members about caregiver concerns of pain management at least once a week. V. Conclusions. Social workers assess the components of pain but are not able to devote as much attention to it as they feel is needed. This study suggests that social workers understand their role in pain management and struggle to find the time and tools needed to help them address caregiver concerns related to pain management. VI. Implications for research, policy, or practice. This study suggests that the development of standardized assessment instruments for hospice social workers would be helpful and team training and discussion related to ways the social worker can best assist in pain management issues for caregivers is warranted.
Exploring Videophone Communication Between Hospice Teams and Family Caregivers During Interdisciplinary Team Meetings (741) Elaine M. Wittenberg-Lyles, PhD, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; Debra Parker Oliver, PhD MSW, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; George Demiris, PhD, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Paula K Baldwin, BA, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX Objectives 1. Identify the active communication strategies of caregivers using videophones to participate in team meetings. 2. Discuss the role of the team when communicating with caregivers via videophone. I. Background. Although patients and family members are considered the unit of care in hospice, they are rarely included in team meetings. Still, the inclusion of patients and families in team meetings is theorized to improve communication and satisfaction with care. Staff communication with family caregivers during end-of-life care can serve to promote family communication, encourage advance care planning, support home care, empathy for family emotions and relationships, and attend to family bereavement. II. Research Objectives. This study investigates an exploratory project funded by the National Cancer Institute (R21 RA-CA-05-013) aimed at improving communication between family caregivers and