From vocational to knowledge-based education - an account of Swedish social work education

This article outlines the historical trajectory of Swedish social work education. Important stages and developmental changes in educational programs are described. As well overall structure of Swedish social work education and training is presented. A number of important issues not only specific to Swedish circumstances but also pertinent to social work education around the world are described and their role is analysed. More specifically, the author focuses on issues of social work as a research discipline, identity of the social work discipline, cleavage and relationship between social work research and social work practice. Social work education, social work practice and social work research are seen in a holistic perspective. The author describes and argues that Swedish social work education has gone from being a non-academic vocational training program to a knowledge-based package of academic discipline.     

Sexual Life of Women with Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Study

Objectives: To define the thoughts, emotions, experiences and perceptions of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to determine sexual, physical, and emotional effects of MS on patients. Methods: Twenty-one women were included into this qualitatively designed study. Results: Three baseline themes were defined as “uncertainty” arising from complaints due to numbness in extremities and loss of sense, balance or vision, “alterations in sexual life,” and “inability” as a result of deformities in marital status and gender role. Conclusion: Healthcare providers should evaluate MS patients meticulously as to sexual life and refer such patients to appropriate health centers.     

FAST TIMES DURING SPRING BREAKS: ARE TRAFFIC FATALITIES ANOTHER CONSEQUENCE?

Every year in the United States, millions of college students travel for spring break, spending billions of dollars. We examine a potential adverse consequence of spring break that has received little attention in the literature—traffic safety. In particular, we estimate the impact of spring break season on fatal passenger vehicle crashes. Using daily county‐level longitudinal data on traffic fatalities in popular spring break destinations from 1982 to 2011, we conduct separate analyses by age groups, license status, and alcohol involvement in the crash. Our findings indicate that passenger vehicle fatalities are significantly overrepresented during the spring break season. (JEL I12, I18, H73)