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Isaksson, Joakim
Publications (10 of 34) Show all publications
Isaksson, J., Lilliehorn, S. & Salander, P. (2018). Cancer patients' motives for psychosocial consultation: Oncology social workers' perceptions of 226 patient cases. Psycho-Oncology, 27(4), 1180-1184
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Cancer patients' motives for psychosocial consultation: Oncology social workers' perceptions of 226 patient cases
2018 (English)In: Psycho-Oncology, ISSN 1057-9249, E-ISSN 1099-1611, Vol. 27, no 4, p. 1180-1184Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Objective: Although oncology social workers (OSWs) have emerged as a core profession in the provision of psychosocial  services, there is a lack of empirical studies that describe their daily clinical work with patients. The overall aim of this study was to explore cancer patients' motives for consulting an OSW.

Methods: From a nationwide survey, we used data from 226 patient cases that OSWs met face to face. The OSWs were asked to describe how the case was referred to them, the patient's characteristics, and what they perceived as the patient's motives for contacting them as well as additional motives that came up during the consultations.

Results: Patients have different motives for consulting an OSW, and these motives change over the course of consultations; while feeling associated with being diagnosed with cancer were often the initial motive, questions associated with moving on in life and dealing with relationships and the overall life situation were added over time.

Conclusions: The results show that Swedish OSWs' function is multifaceted and that the initial motives among patients rarely predicts the content in consultations over time. Based on the diversity of motives, it seems obvious that OSWs (at least in Sweden) need a broad education in the psychology of counselling. It also seems obvious that even if patients initially were referred by health care staff to the OSW due to psychological reactions to being ill, staff should also be attentive to the fact that relational and socio-economic/juridical issues are of great concern for the patients.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2018
Keywords
cancer, counseling, oncology, oncology social workers, patients' motives
National Category
Social Work Cancer and Oncology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-144286 (URN)10.1002/pon.4633 (DOI)000430230400010 ()2-s2.0-85045136304 (Scopus ID)
Projects
A nationwide study of the function of the social worker in cancer care and rehabilitation: the present status and prospects for the future
Funder
The Kamprad Family Foundation, 20150039
Available from: 2018-01-30 Created: 2018-01-30 Last updated: 2023-09-05Bibliographically approved
Isaksson, J., Lilliehorn, S. & Salander, P. (2017). A nationwide study of Swedish oncology social workers: Characteristics, clinical functions and perceived barriers to optimal functioning. Social work in health care, 56(7), 600-614
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A nationwide study of Swedish oncology social workers: Characteristics, clinical functions and perceived barriers to optimal functioning
2017 (English)In: Social work in health care, ISSN 0098-1389, E-ISSN 1541-034X, Vol. 56, no 7, p. 600-614Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Oncology social workers (OSWs) play a key role in cancer services, but they have mainly been described from an Anglo-Saxon perspective. This study aims to widen the field by scrutinizing the role and function of OSWs in Sweden. By means of a nationwide questionnaire to Swedish OSWs, the professional characteristics of this group are described, as well as their descriptions and reflections on their clinical function and their experiences of barriers to optimal functioning. Our findings indicate that Swedish OSWs seem to have taken a different path than in other countries by mainly providing therapeutic treatment and counselling to the patients rather than working with discharge planning. However, due to a mismatch between clinical demands and the training of Swedish OSWs, some suggestions are provided for future social work education in Sweden.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis, 2017
Keywords
cancer, clinical function, counseling, education, oncology social work, training
National Category
Social Work Cancer and Oncology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-133284 (URN)10.1080/00981389.2017.1316340 (DOI)000406580000003 ()2-s2.0-85019151244 (Scopus ID)
Projects
A nationwide study of the function of the social worker in cancer care and rehabilitation: the present status and prospects for the future
Funder
The Kamprad Family Foundation, 20150039
Available from: 2017-04-03 Created: 2017-04-03 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
Stenhammar, C., Isaksson, J., Granström, B., Laurell, G. & Tiblom Ehrsson, Y. (2017). Changes in intimate relationships following treatment for head and neck cancer: a qualitative study. Journal of psychosocial oncology, 35(5), 614-630
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Changes in intimate relationships following treatment for head and neck cancer: a qualitative study
Show others...
2017 (English)In: Journal of psychosocial oncology, ISSN 0734-7332, E-ISSN 1540-7586, Vol. 35, no 5, p. 614-630Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The aim of this study was to determine how patients with head and neck cancer experience changes within their intimate relationships at the end of treatment and detect detrimental and facilitating factors in the process of resuming intimate relationships. Interviews were conducted with 131 patients. A core category – "Being open vs. not sharing the cancer journey" – emerged from the patients' narratives and was based on the experiences of engagement/disengagement, openess/fear, and patronising attitudes/sharing the burden. The findings point to the necessity of patients being open about the disease trajectory and might be understood in the light of theories about potential changes in identity and self-concept.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Routledge, 2017
Keywords
Head and neck cancer, intimate relationships, patients experience, social support, qualitative study
National Category
Social Work Cancer and Oncology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-135348 (URN)10.1080/07347332.2017.1339224 (DOI)000413909300007 ()28605311 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85027846387 (Scopus ID)
Note

Acknowledgement of funding: This study was sponsored by the Swedish Cancer Society, Lions Cancer Research Foundation at Umeå University, the Swedish Laryng Foundation, and the Cancer Research Foundation of Northern Sweden.

Available from: 2017-05-24 Created: 2017-05-24 Last updated: 2023-03-23Bibliographically approved
Isaksson, J. & Törnqvist, D. (2017). Professional dilemmas of defining a problem: the case of addiction treatment. In: Björn Blom, Lars Evertsson, Marek Perlinski (Ed.), Social and caring professions in European welfare states: policies, services and professional practices (pp. 161-174). Bristol: Policy Press
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Professional dilemmas of defining a problem: the case of addiction treatment
2017 (English)In: Social and caring professions in European welfare states: policies, services and professional practices / [ed] Björn Blom, Lars Evertsson, Marek Perlinski, Bristol: Policy Press, 2017, p. 161-174Chapter in book (Refereed)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Bristol: Policy Press, 2017
National Category
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-130389 (URN)978-1-4473-2719-6 (ISBN)978-1-4473-3651-8 (ISBN)
Available from: 2017-01-23 Created: 2017-01-18 Last updated: 2018-06-09Bibliographically approved
Ek, H., Isaksson, J. & Eriksson, R. (2017). Professioner, makt och samverkan mellan myndigheter: socialtjänstens, skolans och BUP:s arbete med ungdomar som inte går till skolan. Socialvetenskaplig tidskrift, 24(1), 59-77
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Professioner, makt och samverkan mellan myndigheter: socialtjänstens, skolans och BUP:s arbete med ungdomar som inte går till skolan
2017 (Swedish)In: Socialvetenskaplig tidskrift, ISSN 1104-1420, E-ISSN 2003-5624, Vol. 24, no 1, p. 59-77Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

School non-attendence is often a sign of a complex combination of different kinds of problems, which means that these children and young people are often in need of composite help from several different types of professions within various authorities. The purpose of the study was to examine how school authorities, the Social Services and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (BUP) collaborate in their work with young people who do not go to school. The study comprised a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with managerial representatives of the respective authorities. The empirical material consisted of 12 qualitative interviews with heads of units at BUP (5 individuals), section managers from Social Services (3 individuals) and principals from compulsory schools (4 individuals) in three municipalities in western Sweden. According to the results, it seems problematic to manage the positions of power that may arise in collaboration between the parties. A position of power thus implies the right to make a desicion as a profession as well as activities that are related to each other. The right to make a desicion means the mandate to determine which measures should be put in place for the young people and their families. This study also shows that the parties should develop a common knowledge base that is a combination of educational, social and psychiatric perspectives. The common knowledge base can reduce the risk of power imbalance between the parties.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Lund: Förbundet för forskning i socialt arbete (FORSA), 2017
Keywords
Samverkan, myndigheter, makt, kunskap, professioner, skolfrånvaro
National Category
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-133597 (URN)
Available from: 2017-04-12 Created: 2017-04-12 Last updated: 2022-05-10Bibliographically approved
Lilliehorn, S., Isaksson, J. & Salander, P. (2017). Social work in oncology: an empirical study of patient contacts during a 12‐month period. Paper presented at IPOS 19th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy, 14-18 August 2017, Berlin, Germany. Psycho-Oncology, 26, 66-67, Article ID 645.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Social work in oncology: an empirical study of patient contacts during a 12‐month period
2017 (English)In: Psycho-Oncology, ISSN 1057-9249, E-ISSN 1099-1611, Vol. 26, p. 66-67, article id 645Article in journal, Meeting abstract (Refereed) Published
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2017
National Category
Social Work Cancer and Oncology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-138739 (URN)10.1002/pon.4476 (DOI)000407688900172 ()
Conference
IPOS 19th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy, 14-18 August 2017, Berlin, Germany
Projects
A nationwide study of the function of the social worker in cancer care and rehabilitation: the present status and prospects for the future
Funder
The Kamprad Family Foundation, 20150039
Note

Supplement S3: Abstracts of the 2017 World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, 14-18 August 2017, Berlin, Germany

Available from: 2017-08-29 Created: 2017-08-29 Last updated: 2018-06-09Bibliographically approved
Isaksson, J. (2017). Sociala perspektiv på skolans arbete med åtgärdsprogram och särskilt stöd. In: Åsa Backlund, Sara Högdin & Ylva Spånberger Weitz (Ed.), Skolsocialt arbete: skolan som plats för och del i det sociala arbetet (pp. 171-182). Malmö: Gleerups Utbildning AB
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Sociala perspektiv på skolans arbete med åtgärdsprogram och särskilt stöd
2017 (Swedish)In: Skolsocialt arbete: skolan som plats för och del i det sociala arbetet / [ed] Åsa Backlund, Sara Högdin & Ylva Spånberger Weitz, Malmö: Gleerups Utbildning AB, 2017, p. 171-182Chapter in book (Other academic)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Malmö: Gleerups Utbildning AB, 2017
National Category
Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-136163 (URN)9789140695789 (ISBN)
Available from: 2017-06-14 Created: 2017-06-14 Last updated: 2018-06-09Bibliographically approved
Wimelius, M. E., Eriksson, M., Isaksson, J. & Ghazinour, M. (2017). Swedish reception of unaccompanied refugee children: promoting integration?. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 18(1), 143-157
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Swedish reception of unaccompanied refugee children: promoting integration?
2017 (English)In: Journal of International Migration and Integration, ISSN 1488-3473, E-ISSN 1874-6365, Vol. 18, no 1, p. 143-157Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In this article we describe and analyse the Swedish reception of unaccompanied refugee children and efforts to promote their integration into Swedish society. We identify the actors involved in the reception and promotion of the children's integration and investigate their efforts through the lens of social ecological systems theory. We show that reception is fraught with challenges that concern lack of interconnections between actors; lack of an articulated political vision of integration and absence of systematic evaluations and long-term follow-ups of how the reception effects integration.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer, 2017
Keywords
Reception, Unaccompanied refugee children, Integration, Sweden
National Category
Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Research subject
political science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-115630 (URN)10.1007/s12134-016-0472-2 (DOI)000394318700008 ()2-s2.0-84954570308 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2016-02-03 Created: 2016-02-03 Last updated: 2023-06-01Bibliographically approved
Isaksson, J., Lilliehorn, S. & Salander, P. (2017). The role and function of Swedish oncology social workers. Paper presented at IPOS 19th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy, 14-18 August 2017, Berlin, Germany. Psycho-Oncology, 26, 67-67, Article ID 271.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The role and function of Swedish oncology social workers
2017 (English)In: Psycho-Oncology, ISSN 1057-9249, E-ISSN 1099-1611, Vol. 26, p. 67-67, article id 271Article in journal, Meeting abstract (Other academic) Published
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2017
National Category
Social Work Cancer and Oncology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-138394 (URN)10.1002/pon.4476 (DOI)000407688900173 ()
Conference
IPOS 19th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy, 14-18 August 2017, Berlin, Germany
Projects
A nationwide study of the function of the social worker in cancer care and rehabilitation: the present status and prospects for the future
Funder
The Kamprad Family Foundation, 20150039
Note

Supplement S3: Abstracts of the 2017 World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, 14-18 August 2017, Berlin, Germany

Available from: 2017-08-23 Created: 2017-08-23 Last updated: 2018-06-09Bibliographically approved
Salander, P., Isaksson, J. & Lilliehorn, S. (2016). A nationwide study of the function of the social worker in cancer care and rehabilitation: the present status and prospects for the future. Paper presented at 18th International Psycho-Oncology Society Congress, Dublin, Ireland, October 17-21, 2016. Psycho-Oncology, 25(S3), 94, Article ID 271.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A nationwide study of the function of the social worker in cancer care and rehabilitation: the present status and prospects for the future
2016 (English)In: Psycho-Oncology, ISSN 1057-9249, E-ISSN 1099-1611, Vol. 25, no S3, p. 94-, article id 271Article in journal, Meeting abstract (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The number of patients living with cancer as a chronic disease is increasing. This stresses the importance of efforts to facilitate for these persons to resume a new everyday life in work, family and leisure time. In Sweden, the social worker is the professional who more than other professionals in health care represents the psychosocial perspective in rehabilitation. However, the function of the social worker in cancer care is poorly studied. The purpose of the present study is therefore to explore the function of the social worker – its present status and future prospects. In March 2016, 299 questionnaires were distributed to the social workers in Sweden practicing at least half-time in oncology. The questionnaire covered background data as affiliation, position and collaboration in an organizational context, complementary education, main tasks, but also a detailed description of their last three clinical cases, i.e. initiative and motive/subject for contact in each case. In addition, we ask the social workers to evaluate their present work and to identify requirements for improved interventions. Analysis will be conducted with descriptive statistics as well as with continuous comparisons in grounded theory. The results will display a condensed description of the background variables characterizing this group of social workers, but it will first of all focus on their clinical function and the social workers' prospects for development of the function. The conclusions will be presented in terms of a typology of different roles as social workers combined with ideas about development of these roles.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2016
National Category
Cancer and Oncology Social Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-128319 (URN)10.1002/pon.4272 (DOI)
Conference
18th International Psycho-Oncology Society Congress, Dublin, Ireland, October 17-21, 2016
Funder
The Kamprad Family Foundation, 20150039
Note

Special Issue: Abstracts of the 2016 World Congress of Psycho‐oncology, 17 – 21 October 2016, Dublin, Ireland

Available from: 2016-12-07 Created: 2016-12-01 Last updated: 2021-08-05Bibliographically approved
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