SAGE Journal Articles

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Article 1          Timothy B. Dyeson, T. B. (2004). Cultural diversity and populations at risk: Social work education and practice. Home Health Care Management Practice, 17(1), 45-47. doi: 10.1177/1084822304268165
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to inform the reader how the social work profession prepares its practitioners to serve those who experience discrimination and oppression. This article describes how issues of cultural diversity and populations at risk are infused throughout the social work curriculum leading to the bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. Applications to home health care are made.
 
Questions to consider:
  1. Why does social work education specifically include social justice as a fundamental value in the curriculum? How is diversity and oppression discourse integrated across the curriculum and in internship settings?
  2. Is there a “best” course in the social work curriculum to introduce and implement content on health care disparities for populations at risk?
  3. How can a student or practitioner utilize their knowledge and skills in social justice to benefit patients in health care settings? Identify specific roles a practitioner may engage in with health care professionals that demonstrate cultural diversity.
  4.  
Article 2          Sohl, S. J., Birdee, G., & Elam, R. (2015). Complementary tools to empower and sustain behavior change. Motivational interviewing and mindfulness. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE, XX(X), 1-8. DOI: 10.1177/1559827615571524.
 
Abstract
Improving health behaviors is fundamental to preventing and controlling chronic disease. Health care providers who have a patient-centered communication style and appropriate behavioral change tools can empower patients to engage in and sustain healthy behaviors. This review highlights motivational interviewing and mindfulness along with other evidence-based strategies for enhancing patient-centered communication and the behavior change process. Motivational interviewing and mindfulness are especially useful for empowering patients to set self-determined, or autonomous, goals for behavior change. This is important because autonomously motivated behavioral change is more sustainable. Additional strategies such as self-monitoring are discussed as useful for supporting the implementation and maintenance of goals. Thus, there is a need for health care providers to develop such tools to empower sustained behavior change. The additional support of a new role, a health coach who specializes in facilitating the process of health-related behavior change, may be required to substantially influence public health.
 
Questions to consider:
  1. What role does the patient or client have in determining his/her health outcomes? Can a patient be taught techniques to increase participation or empowerment of their health?
  2. How does the health care provider contribute to building and sustaining patient self-efficacy? Can motivational interviewing techniques support this process of patient learning and behavior change?
  3. Can a health care provider learn and apply “mindfulness” or self-awareness in patient care? How do all parties benefit from this approach?
  4. Describe three basic values in this behavioral change approach that are consistent with social work values.