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To test the validity of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale in a sample of Romanian social workers, registered social workers (N = 533) completed an online cross-sectional survey administered between November 2016-April 2017. Limitations of the original three-scale ProQOL model were found, indicating that the problems manifested only in the burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) subscales of the ProQOL which showed a high degree of overlap. Following successive exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to test construct validity, the best model supported by the data is a model with two factors: compassion fatigue (CF), consisting of 10 items belonging to the original scales BO and STS and compassion satisfaction (CS) (composed of all original items). In addition to the separate CS and CF scores, we propose a new computed score that describes the ratio between satisfaction and fatigue (Psychological balance). Its high values (> 1) indicate a positive psychological ratio, while the low values (, Author(s): Florin Lazar [sup.1] , Daniela Gaba [sup.1] , Shari Munch [sup.2] , Adrian Luca [sup.1] [sup.3] , Anca Mihai [sup.1] , Georgiana Cristina Rentea [sup.1] , Marian Popa [sup.1] [...]

The article is an editorial from the Social Work Review, discussing the theme of social work in uncertain times. It highlights the impact of events such as the pandemic, war in Ukraine, and earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on the social work profession. The editorial mentions that social workers are on the front line in responding to and finding sustainable solutions for social problems during extraordinary collective events. The issue contains articles on various topics, including social protection for different categories of people and social work practice. Most of the articles focus on the Romanian context but are accessible to any reader interested in the discussed issues. [Extracted from the article]

Lymphoid neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid neoplastic diseases with multiple presentations, and varying prognoses. They are especially frequent in older patients (OPs) and the atypism of this frail elderly population can make the diagnostic process even more difficult. Blood lymphocyte immunophenotyping (BLI) is essential in rapid noninvasive diagnosis orientation and guides complementary investigations. To our knowledge, BLI prescription has never been evaluated in OPs. We hypothesized that, when there is a suspicion of lymphoid neoplasm in the geriatric population, a BLI is performed in view of various clinical or biological abnormalities. This study aimed to: (1) describe the characteristics of hospitalized OPs having undergone BLI for suspected lymphoid neoplasm, (2) identify the causes leading to BLI prescription, and (3) identify the most profitable criteria for BLI prescription. This was a descriptive retrospective study on 151 OPs aged ≥75 years who underwent BLI over a 2-year period. Regarding BLI prescriptions, eight had lymphocytosis, constituting the "lymphocytosis group" (LG+), while the 143 others had BLI prescribed for reasons other than lymphocytosis (LG−), mainly general weakness and anemia. In the LG−, we compared OPs with positive and negative BLI results. The criteria found to be profitable for BLI prescription were lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, lymphocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. BLI identified circulating lymphoid neoplasms (positive BLI) in 21/151 OPs, mainly marginal zone lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In polymorbid OPs, as per our study population, the diagnostic and therapeutic complexity explained in part the sole use of indirect and minimally invasive diagnostic techniques such as BLI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forecasts concerning the impact of climate change include an increase in extreme flooding. According to 2019 International Disasters Database, EM-DAT, between 1990 and 2019 Romania was the country with the highest number of disasters caused by flooding in the European Union (EU) (Mihai, 2019). Therefore, it can be estimated that the risk of flooding, and other climate-related hazards, will increase; the manner in which socioeconomical activities are implemented will be affected. One of the measures to reduce the risk of flooding is green infrastructure (GI). GI contributes to the protection of biodiversity and also to meeting the objectives of the European Green Deal launched at the end of 2019. Green infrastructure projects refer to integrated and planned actions which focus on restoring/creating natural spaces which provide ecosystem services (European Commission, 2019a). In the European Union and beyond, green infrastructure projects which protect against flooding were implemented. These have many other benefits; not only do they protect against environmental risks and stimulate biodiversity, they allow for the construction of spaces for relaxation, exercising and spending time outdoors, they maintain the clean air, allow for water recycling and provide opportunities for the creation of new jobs. At the level of the other member states there are many initiatives which may serve as good practice models to Romania. Using the analysis of documents as a sociological method, I present four case studies from four EU countries that are described as good practices by experts from the European Green Capital Award. I highlight the relationship between green infrastructure and reducing the risk of flooding. Romania, as a member of the EU, has the tools and opportunity to learn from the experience of other EU member states and develop similar projects, with positive effects for inhabitants and low costs compared to grey infrastructure (O'Donnell et al., 2017). Taking into consideration the causes of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, green infrastructure measures are needed for creating and maintaining sustainable ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses the topics include Role of Social Work in the 2020s; rising economic inequalities; and demographic aging.

An editorial, is presented on how social workers need to adjust to the current social reality and support individuals, families, communities and other forms of groups to make the best decisions for an uncertain future. Topics include managing risk and professional dilemmas in our professional practice, i.e., conducting assessments and making difficult decisions; and meet professional standards while supporting service users who manifest various behaviors, emotions and vulnerabilities.

With a history of almost 90 years, professional social work in Romania once flourished up until World War II. The Communist Party disbanded the profession in 1968 and it was reinstated after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989. Within the context of the socio-economic transition from a centralised to a free-market economy, Romanian social policy and social work have evolved from a Marxist/socialist-type ideology, one that advocates for state intervention, to a libertarian/neo-liberal-type ideology, which promotes both state withdrawal from welfare provision and individuals taking responsibility for their own welfare. These two trends continue to co-exist subject to sometimes divergent forces such as international institutions and internal Romanian social pressures. Using a qualitative approach, we explore how Romanian social workers are adapting to the neo-liberal realities and identify three types of perceived challenges: 1. those related to regulation, 2. linked with collaboration in social work activity and 3. those related to the social worker-client relationship. Under neo-liberal pressures, the social worker's role of agent of social change becomes marginalised in daily practice, leaving little power to influence agency policies that negatively impact clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 4th edition of the Social Work International Conference (SWIC) took place in Bucharest between the 7th and 8th of November 2019. The conference is organised by the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest, in collaboration with the Association of Schools of Social Work in Romania (ASSWR). We present the main activities of the conference, namely the workshops, the keynote speeches, and the presentation of papers in the fi eld of social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses the topics include People Facing Homelessness and Gender Issue; cooperation, communication and conflict in social work; and Role of Communication in the Context of Evaluation, Monitoring and Assisting the Minor who Committed Crimes.

Health social work is a field with challenges, opportunities, and ways of professing social work that may vary between different national contexts. In this article, we look at how Romanian health social workers construct their professional identity through their everyday identity work. Drawing on a qualitative study based on interviews with 21 health social workers working in various organizational contexts, we analyze what health social workers say they do and how this shapes their self-conception as professionals. Four main themes emerged from participants’ descriptions: being a helping professional, being a mediator, gaining recognition, and contending with limits. Through these themes, participants articulated the everyday struggles and satisfactions specific to working as recently recognized professionals in Romanian health and welfare systems not always supportive of their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a profession, social work is dedicated to supporting those in distress to identify inner and/or external resources in order to achieve a better quality of life for all. Among social workers' core responsibilities is working constantly towards achieving social justice and development for all (IFSW, 2014). A natural phenomenon, no matter how extreme, is considered a disaster once it is unfolding directly, strongly and (mainly) negatively on the social‑ecological systems. Considering this, the paper aims to explore the literature describing how social workers intervene in the management of disasters caused by rather natural causes. It starts from the premises that social workers are key stakeholders and valuable resources in the main phases of disasters management, mitigation, preparedness, intervention, recovery (Coppola, 2011) as they are active at the grassroots and may build on the local knowledge to encourage preventive behaviours and enhance recovery. It ends by stressing the need to research the practices of Romanian social workers in disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the efficiency of the social work system in Romania, "investments in improving the current IT system in order to build an efficient electronic social work system" (Romanian Government, 2015b, 85) and the "development of a modern payment system" (Romanian Government, 2015b, 85) are key-points in the National Strategy concerning Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction for the period 2015-2020. Among other utilisations, the e-social work system is meant to be used by potential clients when submitting a request to benefit of means-tested measures. The current level of digitalisation of the Romanian society, particularly among vulnerable groups, leaves room for constructive debate regarding the feasibility and the potential challenges of such a project. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges posed to social workers' daily practice by the introduction of digitalisation in the work place, as well as its potential effects on the social worker-client professional relationship. We discuss based on the national strategies and data provided by the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)6 (connectivity infrastructure and quality, digital skills of human capital, use of internet by citizens, integration and digital technology, and digital public services). We identify gaps between the aims and the proposed solutions concerning the e-social work system. Our study contributes to understanding the potential changes in social workers' traditional roles brought forth by the implementation of a digitized social work system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly prescribed to elderly people, but the epidemiologic data for this population remains scarce. We compared the elderly population taking DOACs and those not taking DOACs (noDOAC).Method: We included individuals over 75 years old, affiliated to Mutualité Sociale Agricole of Burgundy (a French regional health insurance agency), who had been refunded for a prescribed DOAC between 1st and 30th September 2017. The DAOC group (DAOCG) and noDOAC group (noDOACG) were compared in terms of demographic conditions, registered chronic diseases (RCD), and number and types of prescribed drugs. In the DOACG, we compared the type of prescribing physician and laboratory monitoring for novel prescriptions (initial) and prescription refills (≥ 3 months).Results: Of the 19 798 included patients, 1518 (7.7%) were prescribed DAOCs and 18 280 (92.3%) were not. Mean and median age was 85 years in the 2 groups (DOACG and noDOACG). In the DOACG, there were more men (50% vs 40.2%), more RCD (88.9% vs 68.7%) and more drugs per prescription (6 ± 2.8 vs 5 ± 2.9) (All P < .01). The DOACG also took more antihypertensive drugs. The most commonly prescribed DOACs were apixaban (42.9%) followed by rivaroxaban (38.4%) and dabigatran (18.6%). Complete blood count, serum creatinine and coagulation function tests were requested for 69.4%, 75% and 22.2%, respectively, of patients prescribed DAOCs.Conclusions: The DOACG had more RCD and drugs per prescription than the noDOACG; routine laboratory monitoring was insufficient. What's known Platelet aggregation inhibitors (low-dose) are recommended for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients suffering from symptomatic atherosclerosis. The main risk of this treatment is bleeding. What's new A prescription for platelet aggregation inhibitors was found in 34% of geriatric inpatients in this prospective study. Compliance to guidelines was better for symptomatic peripheral artery disease than for primary prevention in accordance with recent publications. Geriatric comorbidities had no impact on the prescription of platelet aggregation inhibitors. Underuse of platelet aggregation inhibitors was observed in 11.3% of cases and overuse in 13.7% of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type-1 cryoglobulinemia (CG) is a rare disease associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Some viral infections, such as Epstein–Barr Virus infections, are known to cause malignant lymphoproliferation, like certain B-cell lymphomas. However, their role in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is still debatable. Here, we report a unique case of Type-1 CG associated to a CLL transformation diagnosed in the course of a human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection. Case presentation: A 91-year-old man was initially hospitalized for delirium. In a context of febrile rhinorrhea, the diagnosis of hMPV infection was made by molecular assay (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swab. Owing to hyperlymphocytosis that developed during the course of the infection and unexplained peripheral neuropathy, a type-1 IgG Kappa CG secondary to a CLL was diagnosed. The patient was not treated for the CLL because of Binet A stage classification and his poor physical condition. Conclusions: We report the unique observation in the literature of CLL transformation and hMPV infection. We provide a mini review on the pivotal role of viruses in CLL pathophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, a major increase in incident hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infections (HO-CDI) in a geriatric university hospital led to the implementation of a diagnosis-centered antibiotic stewardship program (ASP). We aimed to evaluate the impact of the ASP on antibiotic consumption and on HO-CDI incidence. The intervention was the arrival of a full-time infectiologist in the acute geriatric unit in May 2015, followed by the implementation of new diagnostic procedures for infections associated with an antibiotic withdrawal policy. Between 2015 and 2018, the ASP was associated with a major reduction in diagnoses for inpatients (23% to 13% for pneumonia, 24% to 13% for urinary tract infection), while median hospital stays and mortality rates remained stable. The reduction in diagnosed bacterial infections was associated with a 45% decrease in antibiotic consumption in the acute geriatric unit. HO-CDI incidence also decreased dramatically from 1.4‰ bed-days to 0.8‰ bed-days in the geriatric rehabilitation unit. The ASP focused on reducing the overdiagnosis of bacterial infections in the acute geriatric unit was successfully associated with both a reduction in antibiotic use and a clear reduction in the incidence of HO-CDI in the geriatric rehabilitation unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Due to the diversity of the elderly population and medical practices, the decision to transfer elderly patients to an intensive care unit is complex. This study aimed to identify the criteria used to take an advance decision to limit transfer to an intensive care unit of patients hospitalised in an acute geriatric unit., Methods: This retrospective study included, over a ten-month period, patients >75 years and hospitalised in an acute geriatric unit. They were divided into two groups according to whether or not an advanced decision to limit transfer to an intensive care unit had been taken., Results: In total, 906 elderly patients were included in the study. Of them, 446 had no advance decision to limit transfer to an ICU. Univariate analysis showed a correlation between an advance decision to limit transfer to an ICU and a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of less than 20/30. Malnutrition had no impact on the advance decision. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with an advance decision to limit transfer to an ICU were an age > 85 years, a hospitalisation in the last six months (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.72, Confidence Interval (CI) 95% [1.23-2.39]), residence in a nursing home (OR = 1.93, 95% CI [1.18-0.16]) and the presence of bedsores (OR = 2.44, 95% CI [1.20-0.98]). A zero Charlson score was associated with the absence of an advance decision to limit transfer to an ICU (OR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.26-0.67])., Conclusion: Some criteria are common to geriatricians, intensive care doctors and emergency physicians, while others are discordant, illustrating differences in physicians' practices.

To understand why students in the 2nd cycle of medical studies choose to complete a Diploma of Specialized Studies (DSS) in geriatrics, we conducted a study to identify the factors influencing the choice of a future specialty. In addition, we assessed the impact of clinical in-hospital training (CIHT) in a geriatric hospital on the students' selection of their future specialty. We included all students who completed CIHT in the geriatric facility of our University Hospital between 1 May and 31 October 2018. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire: one part was given before CIHT and the other after. The students were classified into two groups: those considering a career in geriatrics (CIG) before CIHT, forming the group DSS geriatrics+ (GDSSG+), and those not considering it, constituting the group DSS geriatrics- (GDSSG-). Seventy-four students aged 22 years old were included. Of these students, 26% were considering a CIG before CIHT. This rate increased significantly to 42% after CIHT ( p = 0.04). However, none of the students who indicated that they were potentially interested in pursuing geriatrics before CIHT preselected geriatrics as their first option. For more than 92% of the students, the comprehensive care of geriatric patients was an asset. The main drawbacks were diagnostic and therapeutic limitations (60% of students), then managing aging, disability, and neurocognitive disorders (55% of students). After CIHT, the view of geriatrics improved by 74%. In conclusion, geriatric CIHT improves students' opinions of geriatrics and increases the number of students considering a CIG. However, geriatrics still suffers from a lack of prestige.