Measurement in Social Work

Research 4810

Measurements in Social Work Research

November 9, 2014
Wayne State University School of Social Work
Research Methods and Data Statistics
Ec5994
Chelsey Pasha

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Each year Karmanos Cancer Institute in the heart of Detroit, Michigan receives over six
thousand new cancer cases. Karmanos, which is pronounced as Kar-man-is, serves the inner city
of Detroit as well as surrounding cities. It is one of the largest cancer institutes in the country and
the only one in Michigan. It caters to patients who have all types of cancers and most importantly
any kind of insurance. The cancer institute is partnered directly with Wayne State University
School of Medicine, School of Social Work, and Wayne State University Law School. Each year
the law school sends over twelve students to advocate for the patients who have little to no
income. They help the cancer patients to get assistance with things such as SSI and SSID, as well
as helping patients to fill out Advanced Directives, which are directions for the doctor and patient
at the end of their life. The medical students are involved in various tasks such as rotations in
each area of the cancer center and assisting the medical doctors to diagnose and treat the various
cancer patients. The social work interns assist the social workers with tasks such as providing
resources and supportive services. They help find discharge placement and end of life care to
those who are in hospice. There are many components to Karmanos, from the administrative
staff to volunteers, Karmanos staff work as a team to ensure the best service.
Karmanos, which is a part of the Detroit Medical Center, serves as sort of a one-stop shop
for cancer patients. They provide insurance for those who do not have any, and once they have
insurance they can then check in and be assisted to the infusion center for their appointment. The
infusion center offers a patient a relaxed environment for them to receive chemotherapy and
allows them to feel comfortable and relaxed during this process. Karmanos also serves as a
hospital on the upper level floors, which is in-patient. The in-patient floors serve to nurse the
cancer patients back to health during their stay for various reasons such as transplants, and

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complications from their cancer. Karmanos treats everyone, white, black rich or poor. The client
population at Karmanos consists of low-income families from the city of Detroit, most of whom
are African Americans, and some who have a high school education. Most of the patients do not
have access to transportation therefore a survey is passed out while the patient is waiting to see
the doctor and collected right before they leave. The survey is only ten questions in length and its
purpose is to make the Karmanos patient feel comfortable enough to share important information
with the institute regarding such things as reliable transportation to family support.
Patients and their families at Karmanos have different support groups to help love ones
who are dealing with someone going through cancer. The cancer center also provides support
groups for each individual cancer, but they dont have a support group or a group designated
specifically to deal with cancer patients who may be dealing with depression. In the survey I will
conduct, it will deal with the measure of depression a cancer patient goes through. The survey
will measure the effect of cancer and its link to depression and if the patient feels that Karmanos
has helped the patient in dealing with depression. The population will include breast, lung, brain
and head and neck cancer patients. It will consist of men and women of all ages. I believe that by
sharing this survey it will not only benefit Karmanos, but most importantly it will benefit the
patient.
Reading through different articles, there is one called Prevalence of depression in cancer
patients: a meta analysis of diagnostic interviews and self- report instruments focused on
research related to depression in cancer patients and survivors of cancer. The researcher A.M.H.
Krebber et al, aimed to assess the patients by diagnostic interviews and self- reporting
instruments. The researchers outcome of the study showed that the prevalence of depression in
cancer patients ranged from 8%-24%. The prevalence differed by the type of instrument used to

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measure depression. The prevalence also varied on the type of cancer that the patient had
(Krebber et al, 2012). The study concluded that more measurements and research are needed to
measure the prevalence of depression and cancer. This study relates directly to the survey, in
which we are trying to measure the prevalence of depression and cancer patients at Karmanos
Cancer Institute.

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Research 4810

CANCER AND DEPRESSION CORRELATION SURVEY

The purpose of this survey is to help the Institute know what we can do to better serve
our cancer patients who are depressed.

1. How old are you (in years)? ______________________________

2. What type of cancer do you have? -Please circle one of the options belowBreast
Head and Neck
Brain
Prostate
3. Have you ever been diagnosed with any form of depression?
4. If yes, when? ________________________________
5. Do you believe that your depression is related to cancer? Please choose one
YES

or

NO

6. If yes, please explain why__________________________________

7. Do you take medication for your depression?
YES

or

NO

8. Do you feel Karmanos has helped with your depression as a patient?

YES

or

NO

9. Do you have any children?

YES

or

NO

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Research 4810

10. Please use the space below to provide feedback that you may have for the
Institute, either positive or negative. We appreciate any feedback.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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CODEBOOK
Question #1 in the survey: How old are you in years?
Variable label: Age
Variable description: Age of Client in Years
Variable values: Range from 1- 95, SYSMIS=999
Level of Measurement: Ratio
Question #2 in the survey: What type of cancer do you have?
Variable label: Type of cancer
Variable description: Type of cancer patient has
Variable values: 1= Breast, 2 = Head & Neck, 3 = Brain, 4 = Prostate, SYSMIS= 999
Level of Measurement: Nominal
Question #3 in the survey: Have you ever been diagnosed with any form of depression?
Variable label: Depression Diagnosis
Variable description: Patient Depression Diagnosis
Variable values: 1 = Yes, 2 = No, SYSMIS= 999
Level of Measurement: Nominal
Question #4 in the survey: If yes, when?
Variable label: Date of diagnosis
Variable description: Year and month patient was diagnosed
Variable values: String variable
Level of Measurement: String
Question #5 in the survey: Do you believe your depression is related to cancer?
Variable label: Depress. Correlation
Variable description: Does patient believe depression is related to cancer
Variable values: 1= Yes, 2= No, SYSMIS= 999
Level of Measurement: Nominal
Question # 6 in the survey: If yes, please explain
Variable label: Explain Dep.
Variable description: Explain if cancer is related to diagnosis
Variable values: String
Level of Measurement: Qualitative data String
Question #7 in the survey: Do you take medication for depression?
Variable label: Meds for Depress.
Variable description: Does patient take prescription medication for depression?

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Variable values: 1= Yes, 2= No, SYSMIS= 999
Level of Measurement: Nominal
Question #8 in the survey: Do you feel Karmanos has helped you with depression?
Variable label: KCII help with depression
Variable description: Did Karmanos Help Client depression?
Variable values: 1= Yes, 2= No, SYSMIS= 999
Level of Measurement: Nominal
Question #9 in the survey: Do you have any children?
Variable label: patients kids
Variable description: Number of children patient has
Variable values: 1= Yes, 2=No, SYSMIS=999
Level of Measurement: Nominal
Question #10in the survey: Do you have any negative or positive feedback to help improve the
institute?
Variable label: Feedback
Variable description: Positive/Negative/comments Feedback on the program
Variable values: String variable
Level of Measurement: Qualitative Data String

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Reference
Krebber, A. H., Buffart, L. M., Kleijn, G., Riepma, I. C., de Bree, R., Leemans, C. R., & ...
Verdonckde Leeuw, I. M. (2014). Prevalence of depression in cancer patients: A meta
analysis
of diagnostic interviews and selfreport instruments. Psycho-Oncology, 23(2), 121-130.
doi:10.1002/pon.3409