This study addresses the factors influencing decisions to send medicine-surgical (med-surg) patients home or to nursing facilities (NFs). The sample (n = 7,852) was taken from a large, urban, teaching, med-surg unit where discharges were documented and data collected over a two-and-a-half-year period. Using logistical regression, the factors found…

Examines potentially assaultive or preassaultive client and suggests some ways to minimize the risk of assault by such clients. Data for the article are from author's 10-year experience in providing social work services on acute psychiatric ward in large public medical center. Reviews potentially assaultive client conditions of panic, rage,…

Conducted study of social work time expenditure on voluntary inpatient psychiatric unit in inner-city, tertiary-care, teaching hospital. Controlling for patient length of stay, found time expenditure influenced by greater number of assessed psychosocial problems; Asian ethnocultural background; interactive effect of being Medicaid recipient and…

Reports on use of transition groups to improve linkages between inpatient and outpatient alcoholism treatment. Notes that clients who had access to transition group had more favorable outcomes than did clients who had no access to the group. Sees group as especially useful for inpatients who had encounters with outpatient clinic before their…

Notes that many social workers believe they have duty to warn third parties of danger posed to them by clients. Describes social workers' duty under law and outlines standards of care for assessing and responding to threats of harm. Places duty to protect third parties into larger context of social workers' ethical and legal obligations to protect…

Conducted content analysis of nine experimental studies on bereavement programs to investigate elements needed to serve bereaved spouses. Examined client characteristics, practitioners, intervention, research methodology, and outcome. Found that planned brief intervention was effective in preventing or reducing symptoms of morbid grief among…

Asserts that in working with lesbian alcoholics, it is most important to be aware of shame and internalized homophobia as ongoing forces that will emerge and re-emerge within the client as she learns to live a life of sobriety. In recognizing the role that stress plays in relapse, it is crucial to teach stress management tools such as relaxation…

From social work perspective, considers ethics of assisted suicide. Discusses traditional social work value of client self-determination and identifies tensions in this ideal and conflicts with value of client well-being. Finds assisted suicide unethical, arguing that studies have shown judgment of most suicidal people to be impaired as result of…

Presents finding from an investigation of two group therapy modalities involving 93 women with dependent children and limited education and income levels. An overview of intervention activities that participants found beneficial is presented. Programs were found to help participants develop a sense of community, reduce stress, improve…

Examines diabetes awareness, diagnosis, and social support-among Mexican Americans, African Americans, other Hispanic people, and white people living in the United States. Mexican Americans were the most likely to have a diagnosis, had the highest mean glucose levels, and, together with white people, were most likely to be classified as unaware.…

Previously used for process notations, global assessment, and treatment planning, the clinical record is increasingly used to demonstrate accountability to third-party payers and to the legal system. This article discusses the documentation of accountability in the case of potential client suicide or violence toward others. (Author/RB)

Examines the role of motivation in substance abusers' acceptance of treatment and its relation to treatment outcomes. Better motivation was consistently associated with severity of substance use. Motivation was not related to alcohol and drug use severity six months later. Severity associated with motivation at entry was not related to clients'…

Reports on qualitative study of recovering people who attended a 12-step fellowship and involved themselves in the community to find out how this involvement was affected by 12-step participation. Respondents reported fellowship prepared them for community activity by teaching them skills, offering opportunities to practice participation with…