Health & Social Care in the Community
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Acceptance rate12%
Submission to final decision140 days
Acceptance to publication17 days
CiteScore3.300
Journal Citation Indicator0.770
Impact Factor2.4

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 Journal profile

Health and Social Care in the Community is an essential journal for anyone involved in nursing, social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, general practice, health psychology, health economy, primary health care and the promotion of health.

 Editor spotlight

Health and Social Care in the Community maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study. 

 Special Issues

We currently have a number of Special Issues open for submission. Special Issues highlight emerging areas of research within a field, or provide a venue for a deeper investigation into an existing research area.

Latest Articles

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Research Article

Delivering a Specialised Best Practice Service for People with Functional Neurological Disorder: An Australian Qualitative Descriptive Study

Specialised functional neurological disorder (FND) clinics are emerging as the preferred way of providing best practice care to people with FND. However, questions remain around optimal care pathways, service provision, and resources. This study aimed to identify (1) service characteristics of Australian FND models of care; (2) barriers and enablers to implementing a specialised FND service; and (3) enablers and barriers to providing best practice management for people living with FND. Clinicians were recruited from Australian public and private healthcare organisations identified as leading best practice for adults with FND. Clinicians completed a structured interview via phone. A descriptive content analysis was used. Five out of 12 healthcare organisations interviewed had a specialised multidisciplinary FND service. All specialised FND services were outpatient programs, but the structure and referral pathways varied. Barriers identified by organisations with an FND service included “funding” and “staff and service fragility,” while enablers included “engaging stakeholders” and having a clear “service driver.” “Diagnosis delay” and “insufficient access to staff” were identified as barriers to implementing best practice by organisations without a specialised FND service. Despite specialised clinics being recognised as a practical way to deliver care to people with FND, only a few services operate in Australia. Timely and educated diagnosis and access to an interdisciplinary team consisting of neurology, physiotherapy, and psychology are central pillars for FND services. Further work to establish clinically and economically effective delivery models is required to facilitate the provision of best practice care for people living with FND.

Research Article

Coping Mechanisms Used by Male Partners of Women Diagnosed with Cervical Cancer: An Explorative Qualitative Study at Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Cervical cancer has a significant impact on the lives of caregivers of cervical cancer patients, including male partners. Disturbances in physical, psychological, sexual, spiritual, and socioeconomical aspects of life are reported by male partners of cervical cancer patients. To reduce the impact associated with cervical cancer, adaptive coping mechanisms are needed. In this regard, little is known about the coping mechanisms used by male partners of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the coping mechanisms used by male partners of women diagnosed with cervical cancer at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional study design with a qualitative approach was employed to explore coping strategies used by male partners of cervical cancer patients between December 2022 and March 2023. Participants were selected using a purposeful sampling technique guided by the principles of saturation. In-depth interviews with thirteen male partners of cervical cancer patients were carried out, and the interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were then analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Four themes highlighting coping mechanisms used by male partners of cervical patients were identified after data analysis. They include religious coping, emotional expression and regulation strategies, support-seeking strategies, and problem-solving strategies. Male partners of cervical cancer patients used various mechanisms to cope with the stressful situations they encountered. While most of the coping mechanisms used by male partners of cervical cancer patients were adaptive, some were maladaptive. Therefore, regular assessment among this population needs to be done to identify maladaptive coping and provide relevant support.

Research Article

Community Engagement in Health Promotion: Results from a Realist Multiple Case Study

Community engagement (CE) has long been endorsed by policy makers and health practitioners. However, uncertainties remain about the workings and outcomes of CE. This study aims to provide in-depth insights into them. In a multiple case study, we investigated three participatory health promotion projects for families in vulnerable situations in the Netherlands. We adopted a realist approach combined with a theory of change (ToC) model. We then analysed the qualitative data for context–mechanism–outcome (CMO) configurations to refine this ToC. Results show that CE can strengthen social networks, empower families, and increase perceived health. However, specific contexts in combination with CE project approaches may or may not trigger positive responses. Participants may feel that they matter when asked to actively contribute to a project, which in turn can enhance their self-confidence. In another context, we found that families were overwhelmed by the responsibilities given to them in the project, leading to feelings of stress and withdrawal from the project. We present a list of CMO configurations and refine the ToC accordingly. Our main conclusion is that flexibility is key when CE is implemented in health promotion. Also, our findings question physical health outcomes as a realistic ambition for CE projects with groups in vulnerable situations.

Research Article

Understanding What Older People Value in the Design of a Community-Based Healthy Ageing Program, a Qualitative Study

Older people who are wanting to support their own ability to age well may benefit from attending community-based group programs. However, many of these programs are designed and implemented by health professionals without direct input from older people, which may limit the opportunity to ensure such programs are authentically meeting the needs of this population group. A qualitative approach, using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), was undertaken with seven (six female and one male) participants, aged between 62 and 80 years to explore the experiences of participating in a pilot Ageing Well Program. Interviews were transcribed and analysed according to IPA principles. Three themes emerged from the analysis of the interview data: (1) The value of focusing on different aspects of ageing; (2) Learning new knowledge; and (3) Transferring skills to everyday life. Participants in the pilot of the Ageing Well Program highlighted that those aspects of the Program, such as the focus on adding value through targeting multiple aspects of ageing, as well as developing strategies to successfully learn, apply, and translate new knowledge into their everyday lives, were beneficial and supported engagement. However, future programs would benefit from the inclusion of clear and coherent written material to provide an aide in remembering the strategies and new information learnt during the Program. Findings support the importance and value of engaging with older people to assist with the development of community-based programs that are authentically designed to align with the expectations of older people, through a process of quality improvement.

Research Article

Insights from Health and Social Care Professionals Supporting Children and Young Adults with a Parent Diagnosed with Dementia: An Interview Study

Dementia is recognised as one of the major global health and social care challenges of present times. When the onset of dementia occurs in midlife, there is an increased possibility that there are children and young adults involved who are dependent on the parent concerned. The aim of the study was to describe health and social care professionals’ experiences of identifying and supporting children and young adults with a parent with dementia. A qualitative descriptive approach was carried out with individual interviews of health and social care professionals, using a semistructured interview guide. Thirteen participants in rural and urban areas in Sweden were interviewed. The overarching theme, advocating a forgotten group with three categories were identified. They combine and reflect health and social care professionals’ experiences of identifying and supporting children and young adults with a parent with dementia. Health and social care professionals who encountered children and young adults with a parent with dementia described how they were not sufficiently trained in supporting this group and identified a general shortage of available appropriate support services. The children and young adults were also described as a forgotten and overlooked group in need of affirmation and support in a more systematic way.

Review Article

Enhancing Quality of Life in Pediatric Palliative Care: Insights, Challenges, and Future Directions—A Systematic Review

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) programs are essential in encompassing not only the affected children but also their family system and the healthcare and educational professionals involved. Despite the field’s significance, there is a notable scarcity in current literature, which underscores the pressing need for further research into the attributes of PPC programs that effectively enhance the quality of life (QoL) for pediatric patients. This study particularly emphasizes the pivotal role of schools as key community resources within this framework, highlighting the crucial aspect of educational integration in PPC. Through a systematic review of relevant literature and applying stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified pertinent studies across various databases. Of these, 30 articles met our criteria and were subject to a thorough qualitative analysis. Our findings indicate that while PPC programs may vary in their methodologies, they consistently share certain core elements that significantly boost the QoL for pediatric patients. These include a holistic approach that addresses the physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual facets of care; encourages the active involvement of the patient in decision-making processes; and ensures timely access to PPC services. Importantly, our analysis identified the critical role of educational settings in enhancing QoL, shedding light on the vital need for educational inclusion and the integration of schools into the broader spectrum of PPC services. The distinct individual perceptions of QoL and the varied international practices in PPC underscore the imperative to tailor successful strategies to specific local contexts, thereby fostering the global well-being of pediatric palliative care patients.

Health & Social Care in the Community
Publishing Collaboration
More info
Wiley Hindawi logo
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate12%
Submission to final decision140 days
Acceptance to publication17 days
CiteScore3.300
Journal Citation Indicator0.770
Impact Factor2.4
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