ABSTRACT
The goal of the study reported in this article was to explore the conceptualizations of human rights and human rights practice among students and supervisors in social work field settings. Data were collected from 35 students and 48 supervisors through an online survey system that featured two open-ended questions regarding human rights issues in their agency and human rights practice tasks. Responses suggest that participants encountered human rights issues related to poverty, discrimination, participation/self-determination/autonomy, violence, dignity/respect, privacy, and freedom/liberty. They saw human rights practice as encompassing advocacy, service provision, assessment, awareness of threats to clients' rights, and the nature of the worker-client relationship. These results have implications for the social work profession, which has an opportunity to focus more intently on change efforts that support clients' rights. The study points to the possibilities of expanding the scope of the human rights competency within social work education and addressing the key human rights issues in field education.
Subject(s)
Human Rights/psychology , Social Work/methods , Social Workers/psychology , Students/psychology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Advocacy/psychology , Social Work/education , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
This study was designed to assess the impacts of maltreatment reporting policies and reporting system structures on four aspects of entry into the child protection system (the maltreatment referral rate, the percentage of referrals screened in for investigation, the screened-in report rate and the substantiated report rate). Using secondary data from several sources, eight multiple linear regression models were created and analyzed. Results from a sample of 44 states indicated significant effects for system structure but no effects for reporting policies. Specifically, states with decentralized reporting system structures were significantly more restrictive in access than other states. These results have implications for child welfare administrators and policymakers seeking to maximize access for maltreated children and their families.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse/prevention & control , Child Welfare , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Child , Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data , Epidemiologic Methods , Health Policy , Humans , Mandatory Reporting , Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data , United StatesABSTRACT
Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death in people aged 44 or less in the US. It is also estimated that 82% of deaths from battlefield hemorrhage may be survivable with better treatment options. In this study, two biomaterial hemostats having disparate mechanisms were evaluated in a large animal lethal hemorrhage model and compared to a commercial product and standard cotton gauze. We hypothesized that the biomaterial with a biologically active mechanism, as opposed to a mechanical mechanism, would be the most effective in this model. Using a published study protocol, the femoral artery in swine was punctured and treated. KeraStat™ (KeraNetics) and Nanosan®-Sorb (SNS Nano) hemostats were compared to a commercial chitosan dressing (second generation Hemcon®) and cotton gauze. Both KeraStat and Nanosan increased survival, significantly increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), and significantly decreased shock index compared to both controls. The Hemcon dressing was no different than gauze. Platelet adhesion assays suggested that the KeraStat mechanism of action involves ß1 integrin mediated platelet adhesion while Nanosan-Sorb operates similar to one reported mechanism for Hemcon, absorbing fluid and concentrating clotting components. The Nanosan also swelled considerably and created pressure within the wound site even after direct pressure was removed.
Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials , Disease Models, Animal , Hemorrhage/therapy , Hemostasis , Keratins , Polyurethanes , Animals , Extremities/blood supply , Female , SwineABSTRACT
Millions of people worldwide are diagnosed each year with valvular heart disease, resulting in hundreds of thousands of valve replacement operations. Prosthetic valve replacements are designed to correct narrowing or backflow through the valvular orifice. Although commonly used, these therapies have serious disadvantages including morbidity associated with long-term anticoagulation and limited durability necessitating repeat operations. The ideal substitute would be widely available and technically implantable for most cardiac surgeons, have normal hemodynamic performance, low risk for structural degeneration, thrombo-embolism and endocarditis, and growth potential for pediatric patients. Tissue engineered heart valves hold promise as a viable substitute to outperform existing valve replacements. An essential component to the development of tissue engineered heart valves is a bioreactor. It is inside the bioreactor that the scaffold and cells are gradually conditioned to the biochemical and mechanical environment of the valve to be replaced.
Subject(s)
Bioprosthesis , Bioreactors , Heart Valve Prosthesis , Heart Valves , Tissue Engineering/methods , Animals , HumansABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to examine domestic violence shelter workers' perceptions of child maltreatment reporting. A sample of 82 professionals from domestic violence shelters across the United States participated in a survey focusing on a variety of different types of reports and the frequency of both positive and negative outcomes arising from these reports. Possible outcomes included in the study are damage to the relationship between the worker and the battered woman, disempowerment of the battered woman, discouragement from seeking further help, protection of the child, further traumatization of the child, further disruption to the family, and damage to the woman's likelihood of maintaining custody. Significant differences in perceived impact are found based on identity of abuser (spousal batterer vs. battered woman) and nature of report (child as witness to domestic violence vs. child as victim of abuse). These results point to the complexity of perceptions regarding the impact of reporting.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Child Abuse/legislation & jurisprudence , Child Abuse/psychology , Community Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence , Domestic Violence/legislation & jurisprudence , Domestic Violence/psychology , Mandatory Reporting , Social Work/legislation & jurisprudence , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child Abuse/prevention & control , Child Custody/legislation & jurisprudence , Child Welfare/legislation & jurisprudence , Child Welfare/psychology , Comorbidity , Crime Victims/legislation & jurisprudence , Crime Victims/psychology , Data Collection , Domestic Violence/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Power, Psychological , Professional-Patient Relations , United States , Young AdultABSTRACT
The purpose of this article is to identify, assess, and offer solutions to common measurement errors found in sexual abstinence education evaluation. A critical review of the methodology of adolescent sexuality research was performed. "Gold standards" of their measurement strategy were derived and applied against 14 selected studies. Many of the articles reviewed had substantial limitations in their measurement strategies. However, several articles demonstrated excellence and serve as models for future efforts. Sexual abstinence education evaluation is plagued by the inherent weaknesses of self-report and health outcome measures. However, with careful adherence to the gold standards proposed, it is possible to limit the threat from these weaknesses, maximizing the benefit of self-report surveys and county-level health indicators.
