Toba Schwaber Kerson

Conducting Intensive Interviews Using Email: A Serendipitous Comparative Opportunity.

This article examines the use of computer-mediated recruitment and email intensive interviewing in contrast to more traditional methods of data collection. Email interviewing is compared to telephone and face-to-face interviewing with the same study population utilizing the same interview guide. This allows analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each interview format to emerge. This serendipitous comparison opportunity arose from a study of the decision-making and bereavement process of women who terminated desired pregnancies after diagnosis of a fetal anomaly. History and analysis of ethical and methodological issues related to computerized communication for research purposes is included. Although more methodological analysis (Illingworth, 2001) must occur, results suggest that computer-mediated methods allow the research to include isolated, geographically dispersed and/or stigmatized groups who are often overlooked or ignored. This is important for social work researchers who need additional research methods to collect rich data about these difficultto-access groups.

The Depiction of Seizures in Film

Summary: Purpose: The purpose was to describe the depiction of epilepsy in English language film.

Boundary-Spanning : An Ecological Reinterpretation of Social Work Practice in Health and Mental Health Systems

SUMMARY A boundary-spanning approach to practice traverses barriers to give social workers greater understanding of context, more latitude in interventions, and increased access to systems. This broad-based approach helps social workers work in large, complex systems of care that demand more creativity and advocacy from practitioners in less time with less support. It draws from direct social work practice, program planning and management, social work administration, and business/organizational management. Spanned boundaries include those restricting knowledge bases and definitions of setting, those separating health from mental health, those that isolate systems of service delivery and levels and modalities of practice.

Teaching Reflective Social Work Practice in Health Care: Promoting Best Practices

Reflection on case material is traditionally believed to promote better clinical practice; recent neurobiological understandings explain why reflection consolidates learning and allows professional heuristics to develop. Here, we describe a practice in context (PIC) framework that requires reflection on the contextual and decisional aspects of a case and further reflection on potential changes for use in similar cases in the future. We analyze cases using the PIC framework to identify themes related to the use of self to identify potential best practices. The framework is shown to function to promote reflection at all levels of practice; published cases provide “role-modeling” for students, while also creating data for analysis of best practices.

She can have a seizure maybe; then we can watch: the portrayal of epilepsy in film.

Abstract The study explores the portrayal of epilepsy in 23 films identified as involving seizures. Findings indicate that seizures are used in film to drive the narrative, enhance major characterization, add to minor characters and create distraction from other action. Epilepsy is primarily portrayed as one dimension of unsympathetic, out-of-control, and feared characters. Generally, depictions are out-dated and unrelated to present day treatment of the illness or control of its symptoms. Social workers are asked to advocate for more accurate portrayals, and a list of professional and self-help groups who work in this way is provided.

Truly Enthralling: Epileptiform Events In Film and On Television—Why They Persist and What We Can Do About Them

ABSTRACT Seizures and epilepsy have been portrayed in film since 1900 and on television since the 1950s, but unlike many other conditions, their depictions have not improved with increased scientific understanding. At this time, most individuals who are under 45 years of age will never witness a seizure. Thus, their information about what seizures are comes from depictions in film and on television. Because especially on television these fictive and often erroneous images are increasing, many think of them as accurate. The research addresses three questions in relation to these images: How do directors use the images? Why do uses of seizures in visual media not reflect contemporary scientific knowledge? Why have they persisted and increased in use? Data consist of material from 242 films and television episodes. The general category of seizures includes seizures in characters said to have epilepsy or some other condition, seizures related to alcohol/drug use, feigned or pseudoseizures, and a “throwaway” category. The research demonstrates how epileptiform events drive the narrative, support the genre, evoke emotional reactions, highlight traits of characters with seizures, accentuate traits of other characters through their responses, act as catalysts for action, and enhance voyeuristic experience. Through connecting categories, we explain a basic social process (Glaser, 2007). The conclusion is that these images are so enthralling that their use is likely to persist. The authors suggest that advocates acknowledge this and then find ways to have more continuing characters with correctly depicted epilepsy be part of television series as a way of exploring the truly enthralling dimensions of the condition.

Epilepsy Postings on YouTube: Exercising Individuals' and Organizations' Right to Appear

Philosopher Hannah Arendt maintains that everyone has the right to appear in public as an embodied, singular individual. Because of the stigma attached to epilepsy, many with this condition are denied this right. Using grounded theory techniques, the author analyzes uploads of epilepsy on YouTube. The author argues that personal uploads on YouTube are the only mass media examples in which those with epilepsy can exercise their right to appear without the interpretation of intermediaries. Emerging themes relating to “the right to appear” allow social workers to deepen understanding of this and other devastating, often invisible and sometimes life-threatening illnesses.

The Influence of Professional Identity and the Private Practice Environment: Attitudes of Clinical Social Workers Toward Addressing the Social Support Needs of Clients

This study uses focus groups and follow-up interviews to explore how clinical social workers in private practice settings address the social support needs of their clients. Findings indicate that the social workers understand the importance of addressing these needs; however, because of concerns about status, identity and reimbursement, they tend to avoid case-management-like tasks despite their intrinsic understanding of the social support value of these services. Recommendations for practice follow the discussion of these findings.

Driving forces maps: case studies of a tool for implementing change strategies.

Abstract In this article, driving forces mapping, a technique derived from business strategy, is applied to five different client situations: an AIDS support organization, a mens bereavement group, an individual managing grief after abortion following diagnosis of a fetal anomaly, an individual dealing with an HIV diagnosis, and a couple who wanted to increase marital satisfaction. The technique was found to be helpful in goal definition, contracting and developing mutuality, and it was less helpful in introspective work. The article describes the work in ways that allow the reader to understand the process and apply the technique.