Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong Kong
Abstract Background One in six older adults living in communities experience abuse and neglect. Elder abuse has serious consequences for individuals, families, and society, including mortality, physical and psychological morbidities, and increased care requirements. Timely and effective intervention...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03682-4 |
| _version_ | 1797977300840480768 |
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| author | Elsie Yan Louis To Debby Wan Xiaojing Xie Frances Wong David Shum |
| author_facet | Elsie Yan Louis To Debby Wan Xiaojing Xie Frances Wong David Shum |
| author_sort | Elsie Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background One in six older adults living in communities experience abuse and neglect. Elder abuse has serious consequences for individuals, families, and society, including mortality, physical and psychological morbidities, and increased care requirements. Timely and effective interventions for elder abuse should therefore be a priority. This study used a qualitative focus group approach to address the following questions: What are the essential elements of elder abuse interventions? What can be done to improve current interventions? Method The 32 participants in this focus group study included social workers, medical social workers, and nurses from seven organizations who shared their knowledge and insights. All sessions were conducted online, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Three researchers with backgrounds in social work and psychology independently coded the transcripts and agreed on the themes emerging from the focus groups. Results Based on the experiences of frontline helping professionals in Hong Kong, we highlighted the key factors for effective elder abuse intervention: 1) identification and assessment; 2) essential skills and attitudes; 3) elements of effective interventions; 4) collaborative efforts across disciplines and agencies; and 5) raising awareness among professionals and the public. Conclusions Training can equip frontline professionals with the necessary skills to identify elder abuse cases and to assess the risk of abuse. Effective interventions should not only address clients’ safety and need for tangible support but also respect their autonomy and privacy. A client-centered, strength-based approach that involves supportive peers and addresses the complex family relationships involved can be useful. Interventions should also involve cross-discipline and cross-agency collaboration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:04:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dfdc794cfe604fe289d5e18c1d6baaad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:04:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfdc794cfe604fe289d5e18c1d6baaad2022-12-25T12:28:41ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-12-0122111210.1186/s12877-022-03682-4Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong KongElsie Yan0Louis To1Debby Wan2Xiaojing Xie3Frances Wong4David Shum5Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversitySchool of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityFaculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityAbstract Background One in six older adults living in communities experience abuse and neglect. Elder abuse has serious consequences for individuals, families, and society, including mortality, physical and psychological morbidities, and increased care requirements. Timely and effective interventions for elder abuse should therefore be a priority. This study used a qualitative focus group approach to address the following questions: What are the essential elements of elder abuse interventions? What can be done to improve current interventions? Method The 32 participants in this focus group study included social workers, medical social workers, and nurses from seven organizations who shared their knowledge and insights. All sessions were conducted online, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Three researchers with backgrounds in social work and psychology independently coded the transcripts and agreed on the themes emerging from the focus groups. Results Based on the experiences of frontline helping professionals in Hong Kong, we highlighted the key factors for effective elder abuse intervention: 1) identification and assessment; 2) essential skills and attitudes; 3) elements of effective interventions; 4) collaborative efforts across disciplines and agencies; and 5) raising awareness among professionals and the public. Conclusions Training can equip frontline professionals with the necessary skills to identify elder abuse cases and to assess the risk of abuse. Effective interventions should not only address clients’ safety and need for tangible support but also respect their autonomy and privacy. A client-centered, strength-based approach that involves supportive peers and addresses the complex family relationships involved can be useful. Interventions should also involve cross-discipline and cross-agency collaboration.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03682-4Elder abuseInterventionFocus groupPractice |
| spellingShingle | Elsie Yan Louis To Debby Wan Xiaojing Xie Frances Wong David Shum Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong Kong BMC Geriatrics Elder abuse Intervention Focus group Practice |
| title | Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong Kong |
| title_full | Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong Kong |
| title_fullStr | Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong Kong |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong Kong |
| title_short | Strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse: a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in Hong Kong |
| title_sort | strategies to build more effective interventions for elder abuse a focus group study of nursing and social work professionals in hong kong |
| topic | Elder abuse Intervention Focus group Practice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03682-4 |
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