TY - JOUR
T1 - Defining Core Competencies for Generalist-Level Palliative Social Work
AU - Glajchen, Myra
AU - Berkman, Cathy
AU - Otis-Green, Shirley
AU - Stein, Gary L.
AU - Sedgwick, Tom
AU - Bern-Klug, Mercedes
AU - Christ, Grace
AU - Csikai, Ellen
AU - Downes, Deirdre
AU - Gerbino, Susan
AU - Head, Barbara
AU - Parker-Oliver, Debra
AU - Waldrop, Deborah
AU - Portenoy, Russell K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
PY - 2018/12
Y1 - 2018/12
N2 - Context: Care provided to seriously ill patients by frontline social workers is a component of generalist-level palliative care. The core competencies for high-quality generalist-level palliative social work are necessary to promote training curricula and best practices but have not yet been defined in the U.S. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop consensus-derived core competencies for generalist-level palliative social work. Methods: Fifty-five proposed social work competencies were categorized by the eight domains of palliative care identified by the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care. The competencies were rated by 41 regionally dispersed, Master's level social workers selected through purposive and snowball sampling using a Delphi method. Each was rated as essential for generalist-level palliative social work, acceptable with modifications, or rejected based on the judgment that it was not essential for generalist-level palliative social work or was outside the scope of practice. Consensus was defined as >70% agreement to accept or reject a competency. Three review rounds were needed to achieve consensus on all competencies. Results: Two competencies were added to the original list. Of the 57 proposed competencies, 41 were accepted (19 after modification) and 16 were rejected. Competencies in the social, spiritual, cultural, and ethical/legal aspects of care domains were relatively more likely to be accepted compared with those in structure and processes of care, physical care, psychological care, and care of patient at the end of life. Conclusion: The 41 consensus-derived competencies for generalist-level palliative social work may inform the development of training curricula and standards for high-quality care.
AB - Context: Care provided to seriously ill patients by frontline social workers is a component of generalist-level palliative care. The core competencies for high-quality generalist-level palliative social work are necessary to promote training curricula and best practices but have not yet been defined in the U.S. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop consensus-derived core competencies for generalist-level palliative social work. Methods: Fifty-five proposed social work competencies were categorized by the eight domains of palliative care identified by the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care. The competencies were rated by 41 regionally dispersed, Master's level social workers selected through purposive and snowball sampling using a Delphi method. Each was rated as essential for generalist-level palliative social work, acceptable with modifications, or rejected based on the judgment that it was not essential for generalist-level palliative social work or was outside the scope of practice. Consensus was defined as >70% agreement to accept or reject a competency. Three review rounds were needed to achieve consensus on all competencies. Results: Two competencies were added to the original list. Of the 57 proposed competencies, 41 were accepted (19 after modification) and 16 were rejected. Competencies in the social, spiritual, cultural, and ethical/legal aspects of care domains were relatively more likely to be accepted compared with those in structure and processes of care, physical care, psychological care, and care of patient at the end of life. Conclusion: The 41 consensus-derived competencies for generalist-level palliative social work may inform the development of training curricula and standards for high-quality care.
KW - Generalist social work
KW - clinical practice
KW - domains
KW - education
KW - hospice
KW - palliative care
KW - training
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.09.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.09.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 30201485
AN - SCOPUS:85055028033
SN - 0885-3924
VL - 56
SP - 886
EP - 892
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
IS - 6
ER -