Achievements and Barriers in Hospice and Palliative Social Work Practice: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: Hospice and palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and care designed to meet the needs of patients and their families at the end of life. Social workers are essential members of the hospice team, but their role is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to explore achievements and barriers in hospice social work practice and to suggest strategies for enhancing the role of social workers.

Web-based comprehensive information system for self-management of diabetes mellitus.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a web-based comprehensive information system, consisting of Internet and cellular phone use, on blood glucose control.

Methods: We established eMOD (electronic Management of Diabetes), a web-based ubiquitous information system, for cell phone users along with a website for Internet users to provide diabetes education. We examined whether this information system has the same impact on glycemic control as conventional education for the diabetes patient.