Oncology social work practice behaviors: a national survey of AOSW members.

PURPOSE: Few studies have examined the practices of U.S. oncology social workers since the implementation of distress screening. This study presents data about oncology social work practice behaviors, including participation in distress screening and interdisciplinary team integration. DESIGN: Using a cross-sectional survey design, Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) members were invited to complete the anonymous web-based survey between June and September 2019. SAMPLE: AOSW members (N = 1116) were invited through email and listserv posts to participate in the survey with 533 (47.8%) responding. METHODS: A quantitative on-line survey was used to investigate demographics, distress screening roles and other practice behaviors. Descriptive analyses were conducted on the data. RESULTS: Respondents engaged in a range of practice behaviors consistent with the Standards and Scope of Practice published by AOSW, primarily engaging in patient-focused work. They reported viewing their role as integrated with the interdisciplinary team. Respondents were highly involved in distress screening processes, primarily receiving referrals from distress screening but also collecting/reviewing screening results and referring patients to other providers based on those results. IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL PROVIDERS: Knowledge about the ways that oncology social workers enact their role across settings and locations could be useful to those developing effective and integrated psychosocial oncology programs, especially distress screening protocols. Specific knowledge about the practice behaviors of oncology social workers in the U.S. may also help to delineate the role from the work of other interdisciplinary oncology team members.

Assessing the Availability of Pharmacotherapy Options for Tobacco Cessation in Tennessee's Substance Use Facilities.

OBJECTIVES: Smoking is deadly and exacerbates comorbid health conditions, especially among those with co-occurring substance use disorders. Tennessee does not require substance abuse treatment facilities to concurrently provide tobacco-cessation treatment options or limit smoking on facility property as a standard for licensure. This study examines the relation between Tennessee facility region and availability of pharmacotherapeutic options for tobacco cessation, and the relation between the facilities' region and facility smoking policy. METHODS: This study is descriptive, cross-sectional, and exploratory in its design. Study findings are from a secondary analysis of data acquired from the 2016 edition of the National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Facilities published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. RESULTS: The number of substance abuse treatment facilities providing pharmacotherapy options in west Tennessee (7.8%) are statistically significantly lower as compared with substance abuse treatment facilities in both middle (24.6%) and east (39.2%) Tennessee. A statistically significantly higher percentage of facilities in west Tennessee (23.5%) with policies that permit smoking without restriction as compared with the number of facilities in east Tennessee (6.8%) also was found, whereas the facilities in west Tennessee (60.8%) have a policy that permits smoking in designated areas that is significantly lower than the number of facilities in east Tennessee (81.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco-cessation options are a preventive intervention that can be easily incorporated into a treatment facility's standard of practice and should be made available within the context of all substance abuse treatment facilities. Failure to provide concurrent tobacco-cessation options during substance abuse treatment contradicts the purpose of medical treatment. Medically oriented substance abuse facilities are exemplary settings for offering pharmacotherapeutic options to concurrently treat tobacco use. It is suggested that interdisciplinary clinicians in the field of substance abuse advocate for the implementation of concurrent tobacco cessation treatment in their organization.