The Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a benefit available to Medicare beneficiaries. This benefit has the potential to address many areas of prevention in one focused visit to the primary care clinic, yet it is currently being provided to only 19% of Medicare beneficiaries. This research attempted to examine the extent to which certified health education specialists (CHES) have provided and perceive themselves to be prepared to provide the preventive health services (PHS) within the AWV, along with seven additional preventive counseling services (PCS). A web-based survey assessed the perceived preparedness of health educators, specifically CHES (N=998), to deliver these PHS. The results of these surveys include the development of a single factor internally consistent scale to measure perceived preparedness for the PHS within the AWV. They reveal health educators were least prepared to assist with end-of-life-planning and conduct a basic hearing test. No association was found for education level and perceived preparedness; however, prior experience did account for a significant amount of the variance in perceived preparedness to provide AWV services. Lastly, when compared to historical data regarding physician’s perceived preparedness to provide PCS, health educators were more prepared to counsel on diet and exercise and less prepared to counsel on six other PCS. These results may aid in the understanding of whether CHES perceive they are prepared to provide (PHS) and demonstrate the experience CHES have with each of these PHS.

The purpose of this study is to assess Master of Social Work (MSW) students’ perspectives on their preparedness to identify mental health needs of caregivers that are working toward reunification. Research has established that caregivers with mental illness have children removed by the child welfare system at higher rates. In order to reunify successfully, it is critical that any mental health needs are identified to provide appropriate linkage to services. This quantitative study used a self-administered survey questionnaire with a case study vignette. MSW students have some exposure to diagnosing during their MSW program, however, the findings suggest that key factors such as area of specialization, length of experience in a mental health setting, and mental health diagnosing experience, impact how comfortable they are with diagnosing and recognizing the severity of mental health symptoms.

Common diagnoses have greater emphasis in the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program, yet there is an oversight on other disorders that are just as important to address, such as Reactive Attachment Disorders (RAD). Although researchers have determined a need for additional training and education on RAD, none have measured MSW students’ level of knowledge on RAD and whether or not it influences their perceived preparedness. The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceived preparedness of MSW students to serve children with RAD before and after participating in an educational training. The study consisted of an explanatory quantitative design using pre/post self-administered surveys and an educational training on RAD. Findings determined that participating in the RAD Training significantly increased MSW students’ knowledge and perceived preparedness to serve children with RAD. The study’s findings may influence MSW administration to recognize the significance of implementing additional training on rare disorders.

No description available.