DOI: 10.3886/icpsr38000.v1
title: Generalist-Specialist Palliative Care Social Work Collaboration, Michigan, 2014-2015
title: Version 1

description: A social work advisory group recently proposed 41 generalist-level palliative social work activities applicable to any venue, including hospital-based social work, but this applicability has not been empirically tested. The researchers used critical realist grounded theory analysis of qualitative interviews to explore whether the activities proposed by the advisory group reflect inpatient social workers' perceptions of their generalist-level palliative activities when caring for patients alongside specialist-level palliative social workers. Fourteen Masters-educated social workers from six hospitals in the state of Michigan participated. The research demonstrated that inpatient social workers find it challenging to engage in specific generalist-level palliative social work activities; provision of generalist-level palliative services is shaped by discharge planning duties, the consultation model, and the concentrated role of specialist-level palliative social workers. Competency in cultural and spiritual aspects of care could be lacking.
description: This study explores ward social workers' perceptions of what facilitates or hinders collaboration with palliative care social workers.
description: Grounded theory was used to explore the research aim. In-depth qualitative interviews with Masters-trained ward social workers (n = 14) working in six hospitals located in the state of Michigan were conducted between February 2014 and January 2015. A theoretical model of ward social workers' collaboration with palliative care social workers was developed.
description: Participants were asked about their experiences in their workplace with palliative care. They were also asked about their experiences in collaborating with social workers and other medical professionals in providing supportive care to patients. The interview data yielded an emerging model of collaboration which consists of: 1) trust, which is comprised of a) ability, b) benevolence, and c) integrity, 2) information sharing, and 3) role negotiation. Effective collaboration occurs when all elements of the model are present.
description: Response Rates: Fourteen Masters-trained social workers from six hospitals participated. The total number of ward social workers at the non-responding and participating hospitals is unknown. It is not possible to determine how many social workers declined to participate. Nonparticipating hospitals had similar characteristics to participating hospitals.
description: Masters-trained social workers from hospitals located in the state of Michigan in the Midwest, United States were recruited to participate in the study. Included in the study were English speaking ward social workers working with adult patients (patients 18 years old and older) in both for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals with palliative care consultation teams which included a palliative care social worker. Social workers in military and children's hospitals, or working at hospitals without a palliative care social worker, social work students or those not Masters-trained (i.e. those with a Bachelor of Social Work degree), and palliative care social workers were excluded from the study.
description: Datasets: DS1: Interview Data
description: Female Masters trained ward social workers working in hospitals in the Midwest United States.
description: face-to-face interviewThis study is part of the Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) Qualitative Data Sharing (QDS) project.ICPSR has zipped the 14 interview transcripts in a qualitative data package, which is available for restricted download.