Analysis of End-Of-Life Content in Social Work Textbooks

Abstract

This article reports on a project designed to improve end-of-life (EOL) care in social work education. The project’s goals were to develop and use EOL-related content guidelines to conduct a critical review of textbooks frequently used in social work. A descriptive study design was employed using content analysis and quantification of the content in 50 texts, selected from a list of over 700 books. Ten content areas considered essential for competent social work practice in situations involving EOL care comprised only 3% of the total text. Results demonstrate a significant opportunity for improvement of EOL content in social work textbooks.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Betty J. Kramer

This study was supported by a research grant from the Open Society Institute, Soros Foundation, Project on Death in America. The authors gratefully acknowledge Betty R. Ferrell, PhD, FAAN, and Rose Virani, RNC, MHA for their generous support and assistance in this project. We thank the editors and publishers of the textbooks reviewed for their willingness to work to improve care at the end of life. All of the textbooks reviewed were supplied gratis to the researchers by the books’ publishers.