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Amy Colver, MSSA, MA, LISW
AOSW Communications Director
Jeanice Hansen, LCSW, OSW-C
Managing Editor
Patricia Sullivan
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COVID-19 & Cancer Care Delivery
By Brittany Moore-Nwachuku, EdD, LCSW, LISW, OSW-C
AOSW Communications Director
As AOSW’s Communications Director, I have been able to witness firsthand the power of collaboration among social workers during adverse situations. The leadership and members of AOSW have pulled together during this time of COVID-19 to offer support among one another through the Collegial Comfort Groups (now called Timeout Tuesday), maintain networking opportunities through virtual conferences, support COVID related research and resources for fellow oncology social workers, and offer advice, expertise, and time of reflection on our SWON platforms. This past year has been ROUGH – but I’m thankful for the community we have built through our several communication platforms. Nonetheless, the pandemic has impacted our work and delivery of services, while also causing us to use diverse methods to meet the needs of our patients and families facing cancer.
COVID-19 has caused havoc in the lives of individuals, families, communities, and societies and, in the process, intensified existing vulnerabilities, oppression, and inequities among our patient populations. Social workers have a stupendous role to play in serving and protecting the most vulnerable of people, including those impacted by cancer. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) states that social workers should “enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” (National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2017, para. 1). Psychosocial needs of people affected by cancer have not been adequately met due to the disruption in services caused by COVID-19 pandemic. In responding to the pandemic, oncology social workers hold a frontline role in the provision of psychosocial services to communities that have been affected by the virus. This includes providing adequate social support for the general population and fellow medical professionals, advocating for social inclusion for the most vulnerable, creating awareness on the pandemic, and implementing mental health support and community-based strategies to support resilience and psychologically vulnerable individuals and groups (Afomachukwu, 2021). While this is not a complete description of how oncology social workers have responded in this time of crisis, it is clear that the current pandemic is undoubtedly changing the way we live and how we provide psychosocial care (Vivian & Heesoon, 2020).
One of the largest transitions in care that we have seen across the country is the increase in remote delivery of services. Cancer care is now being delivered remotely by health care professionals (including social workers) at home or in some regions has been suspended entirely. In a recent study among 939 oncology social workers, “20% reported a reduction in work hours, and two-thirds indicated a temporary shift in work to home, with most patient contact occurring primarily via telephone or videoconference” (Zebrack et al., 2021, p. 461). Moving psychosocial support to remote delivery, and in some cases suspending it all together, has proven to be difficult for oncology social workers to deliver adequate care and has resulted in the needs of patients and families affected by cancer not being met. This has further exasperated the psychological impact of fear and anxiety among cancer patients, causing the mental health consequences of the pandemic to be a public health priority for social workers. Lastly, quarantine and physical distancing measures continue to be deployed globally. With this in place, it becomes difficult for families to see and support their loved ones, as well as bury their loved ones according to their customs and traditions in the case of death. These scenarios bring about disturbing images and remains one of the visible challenges for which oncology social workers must prepare for (Afomachukwu, 2021).
It is with anticipation that oncology social workers will continue to provide leadership and advocacy for health care settings and professionals as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges speak to the essential role of the profession and the continued need for support, resources, and evidence-based education on the impact of COVID-19 and psychosocial cancer care.
References
Afomachukwu, O. (2021) Role of the social worker in the outbreak of pandemics: A case of COVID-19.
Cogent Psychology, 8(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2021.1939537
National Association of Social Workers. (2017). NASW code of ethics. Retrieved September 15, 2021,
from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Vivian, M. & HeeSoon, L. (2020) Social work values in action during COVID-19. Journal of
Gerontological Social Work, 63(6-7), 565-569. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2020.1769792
Zebrack, B., Grignon, M., Guan, T., Long, D., Miller, N., Nelson, K., Otis-Green, S., Rayton, M.,
Schapmire, T., Wiener, L. (2021). Six months in: COVID-19 and its impact on oncology social work practice. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 39(3):461-468. https://doi.org/07347332.2021.1893421.
About the Author
Brittany Moore-Nwachuku, EdD, LCSW, LISW, OSW-C
Assistant Professor of Social WorkAlliant International University
Dr. Brittany Nwachuku is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-S), Board-Certified Oncology Social Worker (OSW-C), and Qualified Administrator (QA) of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Dr. ...
Read Full Author Bio
Brittany Moore-Nwachuku, EdD, LCSW, LISW, OSW-C
Assistant Professor of Social WorkAlliant International University
Dr. Brittany Nwachuku is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-S), Board-Certified Oncology Social Worker (OSW-C), and Qualified Administrator (QA) of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Dr. Nwachuku received her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh and Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Louisville’s Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work. She has numerous years of experience in medical and mental health settings. Dr. Nwachuku’s clinical experience of working with diverse populations includes, juvenile probation, foster care youth, school social work, private practice, and oncology healthcare settings. In addition, she has provided clinical and administrative supervision to social work students, interns, and professionals, while facilitating a wide range of cancer support groups, educational lectures, and professional development to staff on best practices for diverse and underserved patient populations. Presently, Dr. Nwachuku is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Alliant International University. She serves as a member of the Ethics Committee for the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter (NASW-OH) and the President-Elect for the Association of Oncology Social Workers (AOSW). Her research specialties include equity and inclusion, psychosocial oncology care, grief and bereavement, and women's health disparities.
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