A Framework for Educating Health Professionals to Address the Social Determinants of Health


Book Description

The World Health Organization defines the social determinants of health as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life." These forces and systems include economic policies, development agendas, cultural and social norms, social policies, and political systems. In an era of pronounced human migration, changing demographics, and growing financial gaps between rich and poor, a fundamental understanding of how the conditions and circumstances in which individuals and populations exist affect mental and physical health is imperative. Educating health professionals about the social determinants of health generates awareness among those professionals about the potential root causes of ill health and the importance of addressing them in and with communities, contributing to more effective strategies for improving health and health care for underserved individuals, communities, and populations. Recently, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to develop a high-level framework for such health professional education. A Framework for Educating Health Professionals to Address the Social Determinants of Health also puts forth a conceptual model for the framework's use with the goal of helping stakeholder groups envision ways in which organizations, education, and communities can come together to address health inequalities.




Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care


Book Description

Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care: Moving Upstream to Improve the Nation's Health was released in September 2019, before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020. Improving social conditions remains critical to improving health outcomes, and integrating social care into health care delivery is more relevant than ever in the context of the pandemic and increased strains placed on the U.S. health care system. The report and its related products ultimately aim to help improve health and health equity, during COVID-19 and beyond. The consistent and compelling evidence on how social determinants shape health has led to a growing recognition throughout the health care sector that improving health and health equity is likely to depend â€" at least in part â€" on mitigating adverse social determinants. This recognition has been bolstered by a shift in the health care sector towards value-based payment, which incentivizes improved health outcomes for persons and populations rather than service delivery alone. The combined result of these changes has been a growing emphasis on health care systems addressing patients' social risk factors and social needs with the aim of improving health outcomes. This may involve health care systems linking individual patients with government and community social services, but important questions need to be answered about when and how health care systems should integrate social care into their practices and what kinds of infrastructure are required to facilitate such activities. Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care: Moving Upstream to Improve the Nation's Health examines the potential for integrating services addressing social needs and the social determinants of health into the delivery of health care to achieve better health outcomes. This report assesses approaches to social care integration currently being taken by health care providers and systems, and new or emerging approaches and opportunities; current roles in such integration by different disciplines and organizations, and new or emerging roles and types of providers; and current and emerging efforts to design health care systems to improve the nation's health and reduce health inequities.




Building a Better Delivery System


Book Description

In a joint effort between the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine, this books attempts to bridge the knowledge/awareness divide separating health care professionals from their potential partners in systems engineering and related disciplines. The goal of this partnership is to transform the U.S. health care sector from an underperforming conglomerate of independent entities (individual practitioners, small group practices, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, community health centers et. al.) into a high performance "system" in which every participating unit recognizes its dependence and influence on every other unit. By providing both a framework and action plan for a systems approach to health care delivery based on a partnership between engineers and health care professionals, Building a Better Delivery System describes opportunities and challenges to harness the power of systems-engineering tools, information technologies and complementary knowledge in social sciences, cognitive sciences and business/management to advance the U.S. health care system.




Sociological Perspectives of Health and Illness


Book Description

Medical sociology has evolved from being considered as an unimportant area of enquiry to being regarded as central to the study of private troubles and public issues. At present, much of what is deemed in sociology as exciting is advancing or contributing to the field of health. It is appropriate, therefore, that an edited text is published to specifically examine some of the important themes currently in medical sociology research and writing. This volume documents thinking, frameworks and processes that are actively shaping the medical sociology research of today. It covers a wide range of topics ranging from the morality of death and euthanasia to the conflict that exists between different status health care providers. Sociological Perspectives of Health and Illness will be of interest to students across a wide range of courses in sociology and the social sciences. Specifically, students undertaking undergraduate and postgraduate courses in health studies, and health promotion would benefit by reading this textbook. However, professionals will also be attracted to the book due to the dissemination of current practises in health promotion issues and practices.




Developing a framework for social care nurses: enhanced or advanced practice? The voices of practitioners and educators


Book Description

This is the second ebook in a series of three publications that form part of a larger programme that was conducted in October 2023 – April 2024. The programme aimed to develop a framework for advanced or enhanced practice in nursing in social care settings in the United Kingdom. To this end, there is a need to understand the competencies required for enhanced and advanced nursing practice in social care, and to articulate the training that is currently on offer for nursing staff working in social care settings. The overall programme hypothesis is that the evolving social care system requires the deployment of both enhanced and advanced nursing competencies and the creation of career grade opportunities; such competencies require further description and definition to demonstrate the benefits of employing enhanced and/or advanced social care nurses. The research of the overall programme is structured around three phases. Phase 1 involved comprehensive desk-based research to establish a baseline for subsequent investigations. Phase 2 is concluded with this ebook, which is based on original fieldwork that was carried out between December 2023 – February 2024. This involved 13 in-depth, semi-structured interviews and 2 semi-structured focus groups. The first focus group (nurses/nursing background) had 6 participants while the second one (employers/training providers) consisted of 8 participants. “This second e-book in the series represents a significant stride forward in the exploration of Advanced or Enhanced levels of practice for registered nurses within social care settings. I was relieved to see that this original piece of qualitative research gathered top-tier practitioners, including frontline nurses, employers, and educational providers, who could accurately paint the picture. The e-book delves deep into existing gaps and analyses with a profound understanding of the needs around infrastructure, education, funding, and regulation in social care nursing. Finally, the research team not only provides clear guidance and recommendations but also outlines the necessary stakeholders and priorities. It builds upon the groundwork laid in the first e-book of the series, advancing the practice of social care nursing.” Juliet Anderson, Director, Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy To cite this ebook: Gavrielides, T. et al. (2024). Developing a framework for social care nurses: enhanced or advanced practice? The voices of practitioners and educators. London: RJ4All Publications, ISBN: 978-1-80463-001-3. Authors: Gavrielides, T. Sideridou, S. and Iosif, M. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14021.46567




Patient and Public Involvement in Health and Social Care Research


Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the latest theory and practice on Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in research. Its seven chapters cover the historical and conceptual background; the various ways implementation can be approached and how they are put into practice; ethical considerations and critical perspectives, including on the potentially negative impacts of PPI; approaches to meaningful evaluation; a step by-step guide to planning PPI and conclusions with considerations for future research. Drawing on current literature, this book provides an essential reference work for research students and all who want to better understand PPI in practice. It offers exercises to address key questions, case examples and a checklist for planning PPI and includes a valuable glossary of terms.




Developing a framework for social care nurses: enhanced or advanced practice? A critical literature review


Book Description

This is the first ebook in a series of three publications that form part of a larger programme that was conducted in October 2023 – April 2024. The programme aimed to develop a framework for advanced or enhanced practice in nursing in social care settings in the United Kingdom. To this end, there is a need to understand the competencies required for enhanced and advanced nursing practice in social care, and to articulate the training that is currently on offer for nursing staff working in social care settings. The overall programme hypothesis is that the evolving social care system requires the deployment of both enhanced and advanced nursing competencies and the creation of career grade opportunities; such competencies require further description and definition to demonstrate the benefits of employing enhanced and/or advanced social care nurses. The research of the overall programme is structured around three phases. Phase 1 involves comprehensive desk-based research to establish a baseline for subsequent investigations. Phase 1 is concluded within this e-book. "This e-book represents a pivotal first step in the exploration of Advanced or Enhanced levels of practice for registered nurses within social care settings. Through comprehensive desk-based research and an extensive review of the existing literature, the research team manages to establish a crucial baseline for subsequent investigations, setting the stage for the development of a framework aimed at advancing the practice of social care nursing. I was thrilled to see that this initial piece of work already clarifies the intricate role of social care and initiates discussions around its challenges and gaps, laying the groundwork for further exploration." Juliet Anderson, Director, Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy To cite this ebook: Gavrielides, T. et al. (2024). Developing a framework for social care nurses: enhanced or advanced practice? A critical literature review. London: RJ4All Publications, ISBN: 978-1-80463-000-6. Authors: Gavrielides, T. Sideridou, S. Iosif, M. and Hurney, C. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19474.06087







Social Justice in Clinical Practice


Book Description

Social work theory and ethics places social justice at its core and recognises that many clients from oppressed and marginalized communities frequently suffer greater forms and degrees of physical and mental illness. However, social justice work has all too often been conceptualized as a macro intervention, separate and distinct from clinical practice. This practical text is designed to help social workers intervene around the impact of socio-political factors with their clients and integrate social justice into their clinical work. Based on past radical traditions, it introduces and applies a liberation health framework which merges clinical and macro work into a singular, unified way of working with individuals, families, and communities. Opening with a chapter on the theory and historical roots of liberation social work practice, each subsequent chapter goes on to look at a particular population group or individual case study, including: LGBT communities Mental health illness Violence Addiction Working with ethnic minorities Health Written by a team of experienced lecturers and practitioners, Social Justice in Clinical Practice provides a clear, focussed, practice-oriented model of clinical social work for both social work practitioners and students.