French-Canadian validation of the Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR).

The Traumatic Grief Inventory Self-Report (TGI-SR), which aims to assess both Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder and Prolonged Grief Disorder, has been validated in several languages. This study sought to validate the French-Canadian version. We conducted an online survey exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on grief. With data from 728 participants, the scale demonstrated high internal consistency, correlated significantly with three other scales known to measure similar concepts, and distinguished between groups known to be different. This study supports the use of the TGI-SR French-Canadian version by clinicians and researchers to assess complications of grief.

Spirituality and Social Justice: Spirit in the Political Quest for a Just World, Norma Jean Profitt & Cindy Baskin (Editors). Canadian Scholars Press, 2019, 486 pages

The book Spirituality and Social Justice: Spirit in the Political Quest for a Just World, by Norma Jean Profitt and Cyndy Baskin, is a much-needed contribution. Chapter 11 is written by a professor and two students, and is based on a social work course exploring spirituality and social justice through art. Because I believe that this volume should only be the beginning of more of its kind.

Sociographie des ritualités funéraires en temps de pandémie: des rites empêchés aux rites appropriés.

COVID-19 has led to unprecedented health and social measures in several countries, including major restrictions on funeral rituals. These restrictions concerned pre-mortem, peri-mortem and post-mortem rites. Based on a longitudinal study of 955 French-speaking Canadians bereaved of a loved one during the pandemic, this article describes the reality of these impediments. Through an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data collected, it is possible to identify the gap between desired and realized funeral rituals during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show important hindrances to the various desired rituals, yet some ritual and symbolic creativity by the bereaved.

La Covid-19 a entraîné dans plusieurs pays des mesures sociosanitaires inédites, notamment des restrictions majeures aux rituels funéraires. Ces empêchements ont concerné tant les rites pré-mortem, péri-mortem que post-mortem. À partir d'une étude longitudinale débutée en mars 2021 auprès de 955 personnes francophones canadiennes endeuillées d'un proche pendant la pandémie, cet article propose de décrire la réalité vécue de ces empêchements. Par une analyse des données quantitatives et qualitatives recueillies, il est possible d'identifier l'écart entre les rituels funéraires souhaités et réalisés pendant la première année de la pandémie de Covid-19. Les résultats montrent d'importantes privations des différents rites souhaités, mais également une certaine créativité rituelle et symbolique de la part des personnes endeuillées.

COVID-19 and social work in health care in Canada: What are the impacts?

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the world. In Canada, the impact has been worrisome. Canada is a large, sparsely populated country with a system of universal health care that is decided nationally and enacted by each province and territory. There are variations in health care, as well as in the provision of social work, throughout the country. The aim of this survey is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social workers employed in health care. Participants were recruited for an online survey via social media, professional associations, and social work education programs. Three hundred and seventy-six social workers participated. Analyses were performed to: (1) investigate the changes in workplace conditions indicated by social workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) examine reported levels of distress, social support, quality of professional life, resilience, and posttraumatic growth among respondents during this time; and (3) contextualize these findings by exploring similarities and differences across geographic locations. Many respondents were deemed essential workers. Significant differences across regions were not found. The knowledge generated has important implications for all sectors of the social work profession in Canada.

Preparing social workers to address health inequities emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic by building capacity for health policy: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought tremendous changes in healthcare delivery and exacerbated a wide range of inequities. Social workers across a broad range of healthcare settings bring an expertise in social, behavioural and mental healthcare needed to help address these health inequities. In addition, social workers integrate policy-directed interventions and solutions in clinical practice, which is a needed perspective for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains unclear, however, what the most pressing policy issues are that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, many social workers in health settings tend to underuse policy in their direct practice. The objectives of this scoping review are to: (1) systematically scope the literature on social work, COVID-19 pandemic and policy; and (2) describe the competencies required by social workers and the social work profession to address the policy issues emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The scoping review follows Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework. Identification of literature published between 1 December 2019 and the search date, 31 March 2021, will take place in two stages: (1) title and abstract review, and (2) full-text review. In partnership with a health science librarian, the research team listed keywords related to social work and policy to search databases including Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Social Services Abstract and Social Work Abstracts. Two graduate-level research assistants will conduct screening and full-text review. Data will then be extracted, charted, analysed and summarised to report on our results and implications on practice, policy and future research. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Results will help develop a policy practice competence framework to inform how social workers can influence policy. We will share our findings through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. This study does not require Research Ethics Board approval as it uses publicly available sources of data.

Predictive Factors of Spiritual Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multivariate Analysis.

COVID-19 has led to the implementation of various social and sanitary measures, impacting populations' quality of life. Aims: Documenting the spiritual quality of life (SQoL) of university employees and students in Quebec, Canada. A survey of 2,202 employees and students was conducted using health measurement tools, including the short version of the WHOQoL-SRPB. We ran a multiple linear regression to determine which variables promote the SQoL. SQoL was very low (2.92/5). Positive mental health, religion, and age are the main predictors of the SQoL. Some dimensions of spirituality contribute more than others to the respondents' quality of life and health during the COVID-19 pandemic.