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Levels of directiveness: a contextual analysis
1University of Southern Maine, School of Social Work, 96 Falmouth Street, Portland, ME 04104, USA. thealy@usm.maine.edu
Social Work in Health Care
|April 16, 2005
Summary
Social workers use varying directiveness levels when persuading clients, influenced by ethical considerations and practice context. This study identified six directiveness levels and five influencing factors in home health care social work.
Area of Science:
- Social Work Practice
- Clinical Decision-Making
- Professional Ethics
Background:
- Practitioners' decisions on directiveness align with choices regarding client autonomy and beneficence.
- Understanding the factors influencing directiveness is crucial for effective social work practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the levels of directiveness used by social workers.
- To identify factors influencing social workers' directiveness decisions in practice.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing an interview guide.
- Convenience sample of seventeen home health care social workers.
- Constant comparative analysis for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- Identified six distinct levels of directiveness employed by social workers.
- Discovered five key factors influencing these directiveness decisions.
- Highlighted the ethical dimensions inherent in practice decisions.
Conclusions:
- Practice context significantly influences practitioners' use of directiveness.
- Further research is needed to explore the nuances of directiveness in social work.
- Findings emphasize the importance of ethical awareness in social work interventions.