Natalie D. Pope

Remote patient monitoring acceptance trends among older adults residing in a frontier state

We examine remote patient monitoring acceptance for older adults in a frontier state.Family and friends may influence technology acceptance-promoting behaviors.Monitoring technology could translate into higher levels of patient engagement.Our methodology is promising for geographically isolated populations. This pilot study aims to present a methodological approach for investigating remote patient monitoring system acceptance trends for older adults residing in a frontier state. For this purpose, extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) variables, which included subjective norm, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention were investigated using growth curve methods and modern resampling techniques. Results revealed our methodological and analytical approach shows promise for investigating technology acceptance over time on subjects where little literature exists and where recruiting adequate sample sizes for statistical power purposes may be challenging. Results of the data analysis showed there was a significant and reliable linear trend on subjective norm. Time did not predict perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, or behavioral intention, indicating the levels of these factors were high and stable over the course of the study. Older adults accepted remote patient monitoring, and family and friends may influence technology acceptance promoting behaviors. The longer participants used the technology, the more they perceived those important to them would want them to use it. Attention to social influence to optimize the implementation of in-home health monitoring among this population is warranted. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Self-care among healthcare social workers: An exploratory study

ABSTRACT Despite growing interest in self-care, few studies have explicitly examined the self-care practices of healthcare social workers. This exploratory study investigated self-care among practitioners (N = 138) in one southeastern state. Overall, data suggest that healthcare social workers only moderately engaged in self-care. Additionally, analyses revealed significant differences in self-care practices by financial stability, overall health, and licensure status, respectively. Interestingly, perceived health status and current financial situation were significant predictors for overall self-care practices. After a brief review of the literature, this narrative will explicate findings, elucidate discussion points, identify salient implications, and conclude with areas for future research.

Geriatric Case Managers' Perspectives on Suicide Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

ABSTRACT It has been suggested that clinical screening for suicide, along with firearm assessment and safety counseling, are important in service provision to older adults. It is unclear, however, how geriatric case managers respond to these issues. This study surveyed geriatric case managers (n=161) from Area Agencies on Aging in Ohio on their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to suicide, firearm assessment, and safety counseling. Results indicated that the majority of respondents (70%) agree their clients are at risk for suicide. However, few (30%) in this study reported that they assess for firearms and less than half (48%) discuss firearms with their clients/family members when specifically assessing for suicide. Analyses identified barriers that contribute to the decreased likelihood that routine firearm assessment and safety counseling would occur, such as lack of training and time. Implications include the need for training with geriatric case managers that addresses barriers to suicide, firearm assessment and safety counseling as a means to decrease these population risks.

Evaluating a Training Intervention to Prepare Geriatric Case Managers to Assess for Suicide and Firearm Safety.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to report on the implementation and initial evaluation of a 1-day training intervention targeting direct care providers in the Ohio aging services network. A primary objective is to describe the training intervention that consisted of two parts: (a) a gatekeeper training for assessing suicide risk among older adults, and (b) CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means)—a brief training that teaches effective strategies to talk with clients about reducing access to lethal means. A second objective of this study is to report on changes in providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices immediately posttraining related to suicide and firearm assessment and safety counseling with community dwelling older adults. Sixty-six employees in one regional office participated in the study. Results indicated that training increased participants’ perceived knowledge, preparedness, and efficacy regarding suicide assessment. Training also positively impacted knowledge and attitudes of firearm assessment and safety counseling among participants. At posttest, however, gatekeeper reluctance did not demonstrate a significant decrease. This study is unique in its contribution to literature on suicide prevention training with its focus on geriatric care providers and attention to measuring firearm assessment and safety counseling.

Depression Literacy Among American Indian Older Adults

Older American Indians experience high rates of depression and other psychological disorders, yet little research exist on the depression literacy of this group. Depression literacy is fundamental for individuals seeking help for depression in a timely and appropriate manner. In the present study the authors examine levels and predictors of knowledge of depression symptoms in a sample of rural older American Indians (N = 227) living in the Midwestern United States. Data from self-administered questionnaires indicate limited knowledge of depression and negative attitudes toward seeking help for mental health problems. Additional findings and implications for social work practice and policy are discussed.

Exploring the self-compassion of health-care social workers: How do they fare?

ABSTRACT Indubitably, the challenges facing health-care social workers are becoming increasingly complex. Whilst these problematic professional circumstances compound the need for self-compassion among health-care social workers, few studies, if any, have explicitly examined self-compassion among this practitioner group. This cross-sectional study explored self-compassion among a sample of practitioners (N = 138) in one southeastern state. Results indicate that health-care social workers in this sample engage in self-compassion only moderately. Further, occupational and demographic/life characteristics (e.g., age, years practicing social work, average hours worked per week, health status, and relationship status, among others) are able to predict self-compassion scores. After a terse review of relevant literature, this paper will explicate findings from this study, discuss relevant points derived from said findings, and identify salient implication for health-care social work praxis.

Broadcasting War Trauma: An Exploratory Netnography of Veterans’ YouTube Vlogs

This exploratory netnographic study is among the first to investigate military video blogs (milvlogs) posted by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who self-published stories on military-related trauma to YouTube. Studies have shown that self-published milvlogs provide benefits such as education, social support, and self-management of chronic physical and psychological illness. The aim of this study was to explore combat veterans’ milvlogs and to determine themes that emerged across the videos. We transcribed and analyzed content from 17 milvlogs. Our analysis yielded seven themes: motivation, loss, managing symptoms, help-seeking, guilt and shame, suicide, and connecting to other veterans. We concluded that veterans were initially drawn to vlogging to connect to others. Vlogging also served as a medium for combat veterans to tell their stories, position these stories against others’ experiences, and engage in outreach and advocacy. Finally, milvlogs may provide an easily accessible resource for developing preventive and/or mental health treatment/support links.

An Evaluation of the Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) Training with an Area Agency on Aging

ABSTRACT Firearms are a significant risk factor in suicide and older adults are disproportionately impacted in suicide by this means. This study investigated the impact of Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) training with geriatric case managers at an Area Agency on Aging. A concurrent mixed methods approach was used to explore 1) geriatric case managers’ attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions about counseling on access to lethal means following CALM training, and 2) perceived barriers to assessing for suicidality and counseling clients on access to firearms. The CALM evaluation data was collected immediately posttest at CALM training, at three-month follow up. Results indicated that 38% of respondents reported they had, since CALM training, discussed reducing access to lethal means with clients and/or families. At three-month follow up, data showed that most beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral intentions about counseling clients and families on this topic increased. Focus group findings indicated that training had a positive effect on participants’ attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions about counseling on access to lethal means.The findings of the present study offer additional evidence and implication for trainings of this type.

Development of the Older Adult Prescription Drug Assessment Questionnaire for Case Workers.

Instruments assessing geriatric case managers’ perceptions of prescription abuse are limited. Based on a review of current literature and pilot testing feedback, 22 items were initially assembled to form an older adult Prescription Drug Assessment Questionnaire (PDAQ). Case managers (N = 161) at an older adult agency located in a Midwestern state were surveyed using the instrument. Data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring (PAF) and Promax rotation, and Horn’s parallel analysis determined the number of extracted factors. PAF generated a final 11-item three-factor model accounting for 51% of total variance explained: Standard Assessment (Factor 1; four items; ∞ = .83), Assessment Belief (Factor 2; three items; ∞ = .74), and Problem Scope (Factor 3; four items; ∞ = .62). The older adult PDAQ is a brief, data-driven instrument with acceptable psychometric properties for assessing perceptions of prescription drug abuse and misuse assessment and counseling.

Predicting personal self-care in informal caregivers

ABSTRACT Caregiver research often focuses on negative health outcomes, yet little is known about the self-care practices of caregivers. The present study investigates self-care practices among family caregivers and the relationships between personal self-care, perceived stress, and other health variables. Data were collected from informal caregivers through self-administered Internet and paper surveys that included the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey, Perceived Stress Scale, and Self-Care Practices Scale. Personal self-care was most strongly associated with emotional well-being, pain, perceived stress, and general health. The relevance of study findings to strengthening family caregiver programs and future research is discussed.