Understanding Group Work in Healthcare Settings
Health care social workers provide services across the continuum of care and in a variety of settings. Social workers are present in public health, acute and chronic care settings providing a range of services including health education, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and case management. In response to both global and national critical events, health care social workers are increasingly trained to provide interventions to prepare for and respond to traumatic events and disasters.
The types of groups used in a hospital are:
1) Educational Groups- Educational groups disseminate information about the disease and its effects on patients. They educate the individual about the causes of the disease, its effects on the body, its pattern of progression and its debilitating effects. They are trained to avoid behaviour patterns that will worsen the conditions. In the sessions, group members are educated about various aspects of cancer – its causes and its effects. Early death, pain and stigma are discussed. Patients have fears about the effects of chemotherapy on the body and hair. Clarifications and doubts are cleared. Often it is the members themselves rather than the group worker who impart knowledge to the group members. Experiences are shared in the group to help others.
2) Support Groups- These groups provide patients with the necessary social and emotional support. Often the experience of learning that one has a potentially life-threatening illness is shocking to the patient.
3) Training Groups- Training groups focus on teaching patients new social skills that will help them after they are discharged from hospitals.
Explain the function of groups in a psychiatric setting
Group work is an important component in the treatment and care of mentally ill people. It is increasingly being used in mental health settings in India and abroad. India has a high incidence of mental illness. One trend in the care of the mentally ill that is affecting the practice of group work is deinstitutionalization—an increasing number of mentally ill people are being cared for by families and in their homes rather than confined to hospitals.
The goals of group work in psychiatric settings are:
· To socialize, including building satisfactory social relationships, establishing awareness of others, learning and regaining social skills
· To support the ego and build ego strength as well as broaden the range of interests and activities, build self-confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, acquire tangible things, gain acceptance.
· To examine and observe cause-and-effect relationships
· To increase responsibility, develop good judgment and self-control, and handle group problems
· To influence each other in a positive way, develop better morale, and challenge group hostility
· To feel and have some control over one’s future.
· Direct services to individuals, couples, families, and groups in the form of counseling, crisis intervention, therapy, advocacy, coordination of resources, etc.
· To assist in adjusting to a new way of living and to interrupt the process of deterioration and to counteract regression to institutional life.
· Preparation and testing for discharge and return to community life.
· To promote insight, develop a more positive perspective on problems and feelings, release and eliminate tension.
· To accept one’s illness and respond to and use personal and other treatments more positively.