Suchergebnisse

Abstract
Little is known about family context and substance use behaviors among Latinos with schizophrenia. Learning about patient and family caregiver perceptions of use is critical to our understanding of how best to support these vulnerable patients and family caregivers. This study explored perceptions of substance use in relation to mental illness among Latinos primarily of Mexican origin with schizophrenia and their family caregivers. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 34 participants (20 family caregivers; 14 patients) with direct and indirect substance use experience, in their preferred language. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which consisted of comparing codes across and within patient and family caregiver transcripts. Findings revealed that substance use affected well-being, particularly patient recovery and caregiver burden. Strategies to address well-being included limiting substance use, being vigilant about patient use, and communicating the negative impact of use. The environmental impact and stigma of substance use were major contextual challenges. Patients addressed these by limiting their socialization. Family social context was important to how substance use was perceived and managed by patients and caregivers. As such, treatment models should consider a holistic perspective that incorporates family context when addressing substance use among Latinos with schizophrenia.

Purpose: The field of social work is evolving toward community-engaged, stakeholder-driven research in the context of evidence-based practice (EBP) and practice-based evidence (PBE). Methods: We propose that practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are an approach to conducting stakeholder-driven research that can be uniquely valuable for the field of social work. Results: We define the concept of a PBRN and demonstrate how it can address the development of complementary agendas for service improvement, social work science, policy development and advocacy, as well as highlight the challenges and benefits of participating in a PBRN. We provide details of our experiences with a mental health–based PBRN in Los Angeles County, the Recovery-Oriented Care Collaborative, to illustrate the processes outlined and inform our recommendations. Conclusions: PBRNs are an important form of community-based participatory research, which can help the field of social work with reconciling EBPs and PBE to improve service delivery.