Regina T. P. Aguirre

Qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis in social work research: Uncharted territory

Summary The authors present the field of social work with a methodology specifically aimed at the synthesis of qualitative research informed by existing methods and applications yet tailored to the unique values and goals of the profession of social work. Findings Though qualitative research in social work is commonplace, currently, the field lacks a methodology to synthesize these qualitative studies. A synthesis of qualitative studies results in generation of a more in-depth understanding of the phenomena studied that can be used to develop theory and inform practice and policy. Applications This methodology enables synergistic understanding of phenomena with richness in diversity of settings, participants, and qualitative traditions. This synergistic understanding can be used to develop theory and inform practice and policy.

Suicide postvention as suicide prevention: Improvement and expansion in the United States

The authors asserted the need for increased postvention efforts for suicide survivors, individuals left behind to grieve the loss of a loved one by suicide, because they have an increased risk for suicide. Indeed, Shneidman (1972) asserted that suicide postvention efforts serve the dual purpose of assisting survivors through the grief process and preventing suicide for future generations. First, the authors briefly discussed the increased risk for suicide among survivors. Second, the authors overviewed the potential benefits of postvention programs and current strategies for suicide postvention in the United States. Finally, they recommended plans for suicide postvention program development such as states should include efforts to create or expand traditional postvention services as well as active survivor outreach to link survivors to these services.

A Qualitative Look at the Perceived Strengths of Male Batterers: Implications for Intervention Programs

Currently, batterer intervention programs tend to focus on education and confrontation, with outcomes being less than promising. Limitations of current interventions have encouraged development of alternative treatment forms aimed at ending relationship violence. An emerging trend in the fields of social work and positive psychology is to build on strengths and competencies of offenders. The purpose of this qualitative study was to introduce an alternative position within the treatment field by identifying self-disclosed strengths of men who had been charged with a domestic violence offense and who were being evaluated for a voluntary batterer diversion program. A content analysis revealed competencies useful for helping men be accountable and end violence against their partners through redirecting negative behavior and identifying resources and strengths.

Culturally Competent Health Care from the Immigrant Lens: A Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS)

Immigrant groups comprise a large segment of ethnic minorities in the United States. Although the literature is rich with strategies to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate services to eliminate health inequities, studies addressing cultural competence from the immigrants perspective are limited. Further research is needed to build knowledge of the predictors and needs of this population, and to influence health care policy and practice. Using qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis, this study describes the lived experience of immigrants accessing health care to understand the essence of cultural competence in health care through their lens. Findings provide insight on expanding the definition of culturally competent health care beyond language, behaviors, attitudes, and policies.

What Leads Non-U.S.-Born Latinos to Access Mental Health Care?

Latinos underutilize mental health care services. Of those who do, about 70% do not return after the initial visit. This studys purposes were: (1) to identify factors that led non-U.S.-born Latinos to utilize services from a nonprofit clinic in Texas and (2) to assess whether acculturation played a role in accessing mental health care. Data were collected over a 10-week period using an interview schedule and the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Latinos. Results indicate acculturation does not play a significant role in access, but patient knowledge of mental health care issues does. Specifically, the main barriers to access were: (1) lack of knowledge that there was a mental health issue; and (2) lack of knowledge of where to go for mental health services.

Increasing Marital Satisfaction as a Resilience Factor Among Active Duty Members and Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)

Supportive relationships are protective against a number of prevalent health risks among military populations, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Increasing marital satisfaction and strengthening that relationship is an important avenue for maintaining health among returning service members and their families. The current study builds upon two earlier studies that were limited to National Guard personnel from one state. An exploratory survey was employed to identify variables that influenced marital satisfaction among Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans. Using regression analysis, the statistically significant predictive model included five variables. In addition to the identification of this predictive model, other variables found to be non-predictive are reported.

Enhancing Learning and Learner Satisfaction Through the Use of WebCT in Social Work Education

Emerging technology has produced changes in the ways that social workers learn, practice, and interact. As communication and educational innovations have increasingly involved the use of ever-improving technologies for social work practice, so too has social work education evolved to incorporate these advances in the classroom setting. This article describes and evaluates various aspects of one particular type of web-based learning environment, WebCT, and its incorporation into five face-to-face foundation courses in a bachelors and masters level social work program. The authors utilized an online survey to assess frequency of access of the web-based course management system and perceptions of the features. Results of this online survey assessing student use and perception of hybrid courses are shared along with implications and recommendations.

Suicide and alcohol use among American Indians: toward a transactional–ecological framework

American Indian/Native Alaskan suicide rates are 72% higher than in the general US population. Current estimates indicate over 90% of people in the US who suicide have a mental illness and/or alcohol and substance issues. Among American Indians/Native Alaskans in 2002, the vast majority (69%) of suicides involved alcohol. Chronic alcohol use can cause or contribute to depressive disorders. Thus, suicide, chronic alcohol use, depression and mental health are intertwined. This article asserts the need for a transactional–ecological framework along with the strengths and comparative perspectives as a useful way to understand this problem and devise intervention strategies.

Being an Elbow: A Phenomenological Autoethnography of Faculty-Student Collaboration for Accommodations.

Hybrid and online courses and advances in assistive technologies make accommodating students with disabilities ever-changing, requiring innovation. This reality, coupled with students’ reluctance to disclose disabilities, points toward a need for replacing accommodations directed at those with disabilities with universal design whereby they become accessible to all—virtually eliminating the need for accommodations. In this paper, a masters of social work student (Chad) and his instructor (Regina) document their collaborations to revise a social work research course to meet his request for accommodations to make options more universally accessible. These revisions are done through reflections from both Chad and Regina from a phenomenological autoethnographic perspective—depicting their lived experiences.

Community Traumatic Events and the Temporal Distribution of Suicide and Calls to the Suicide and Crisis Hotline: Is There an Impact?

Survivors of community traumatic events (CTEs) are thought to be at an increased risk for suicide. Current studies of the impact of CTEs on suicide have (a) produced varied results and (b) not accounted for co-occurrences or series of CTEs. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between the temporal distribution of CTEs and the temporal distribution of suicide and calls to the crisis hotline in a Louisiana parish, taking into account co-occurrences and series of CTEs. The sample consisted of 11 years of data on suicidal deaths and 5 years of data on calls to the crisis hotline. Poisson regression was used to assess whether suicide patterns and hotline call volume were affected by CTEs. The distributions of suicide and calls to the crisis hotline were not affected by the presence of single, co-occurring, or series of CTEs. Though suicide prevention efforts are often increased after CTEs, this study indicates suicide prevention efforts should be ongoing and have a community-wide focus. Given the varied results across studies of CTE impact on suicide distributions, further research should focus on co-occurrence and series of CTEs rather than the historical trend of focusing on a single CTE. Also, psychological autopsies of people who died by suicide in the wake of a CTE should be conducted using phenomenology as the guiding qualitative paradigm. Language: en