Post a description of the social support system of the patient you selected. Explain how the social support might improve the illness outcomes. Then, explain the importance of assessing the quality of the patient’s social support system. List a set of three questions that you think are important for assessing the patient’s social support system. Justify your selection. Then, explain how the roles of a medical social worker might improve the quality of the support for the patient. Explain one strategy that might be effective in improving the social support system of a patient.

Discussion 2: Assessment for Social Support
Social interactions and support have long-term physiological, psychological, and behavioral consequences impacting health outcomes. The importance of social support in improving health outcomes has led to increased attention to interventions. These interventions might include illness-specific support groups, health education programs, and community resources that engage socially isolated patients. When assessing a patient, medical social workers must consider the presence, nature, and level of social support that exist for that individual. In addition, an evaluation of a patient’s perception of his or her social support is important.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review this week’s resources. Consider a patient, the illness, and the social support system of the patient. Focus on the importance of social support on illness and health outcomes. Think about assessment of social support. Consider ways to improve social support for your patients that might lead to better health outcomes.

REQUIRED READINGS

Pietromonaco, P. R., Uchino, B. N., & Schetter, C. D. (2013). Close relationship processes and health: Implications of attachment theory for health and disease. Health Psychology, 32(5), 499–513.

Uchino, B. N., Bowen, K., Carlisle, M., & Birmingham, W. (2012). Psychological pathways linking social support to health outcomes: A visit with the "ghosts" of research past, present, and future. Social Science and Medicine, 74(7), 949–957.

Auerbach, C., & Beckerman, N. L. (2012). Locus of control and lupus: Patients' beliefs, perspectives, and disease activity. Social Work in Health Care, 51(7), 613–626.

Barger, S. D. (2013). Social integration, social support and mortality in the US National Health Interview Survey. Psychosomatic Medicine, 75(5), 510–517.
Social Integration, Social Support and Mortality in the US National Health Interview Survey by Barger, S. D., in Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 75, Issue 5. Copyright 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Liechty, J. M. (2011). Health literacy: Critical opportunities for social work leadership in health care and research. Health and Social Work, 36(2), 99–107.

Peltzer, K. & Pengpid, S. (2013). Socioeconomic factors in adherence to HIV therapy in low- and middle- income countries. Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, 31(2), 150-170.

OPTIONAL RESOURCES
Casale, M., Wild, L., & Kuo, C. (2013). “They give us hope”: HIV-positive caregivers’ perspectives on the role of social support for health. AIDS Care, 1–7.
O’Brien, K. M. (2012). Healthy, wealthy, wise? Psychosocial factors influencing the socioeconomic status–health gradient. Journal of Health Psychology, 17(8), 1142–1151.