The Role of the ICU Social Worker in Supporting Families

Cagle, John G.; Bunting, Morgan

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-94337-4_24

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

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“…Parents’ perceptions of SW and chaplain roles mirrored some of those reported in the literature. In adult-care settings, SWs provide concrete resources, act as patient counselors and advocates, help patients and families cope with stress, and may improve physician-family communication [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. In pediatrics, SWs provide psychosocial support, act as counselors, and guide families through decisions [ 27 , 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental Views of Social Worker and Chaplain Involvement in Care and Decision Making for Critically Ill Children with Cancer

et al. 2022

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Background: Social workers (SWs) and chaplains are trained to support families facing challenges associated with critical illness and potential end-of-life issues. Little is known about how parents view SW/chaplain involvement in care for critically ill children with cancer. Methods: We studied parent perceptions of SW/chaplain involvement in care for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients with cancer or who had a hematopoietic cell transplant. English- and Spanish-speaking parents completed surveys within 7 days of PICU admission and at discharge. Some parents participated in an optional interview. Results: Twenty-four parents of 18 patients completed both surveys, and six parents were interviewed. Of the survey respondents, 66.7% and 75% interacted with SWs or chaplains, respectively. Most parents described SW/chaplain interactions as helpful (81.3% and 72.2%, respectively), but few reported their help with decision making (18.8% and 12.4%, respectively). Parents described SW/chaplain roles related to emotional, spiritual, instrumental, and holistic support. Few parents expressed awareness about SW/chaplain interactions with other healthcare team members. Conclusions: Future work is needed to determine SWs’/chaplains’ contributions to and impact on parental decision making, improve parent awareness about SW/chaplain roles and engagement with the healthcare team, and understand why some PICU parents do not interact with SWs/chaplains.

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