Challenges of Integrating Social Work Professionals into Medical Practice

Muhandiki, Wilbard Deogratias (2016) Challenges of Integrating Social Work Professionals into Medical Practice. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study investigated the challenges relating to integration of Social work professionals into medical practice. The set objectives of the study were achieved through use of structured questionnaires which were disseminated to respondents who voluntarily accepted to participate in the study after signing a consent form. The study involved different cadres of hospital staff including; clinicians, nurses, radiologists, dental officers and hospital nutritionist. The study findings generally have shown that hospital health care workers have positive attitudes towards social work professionals attached to the hospitals; this was true to both those who were aware of the existence of this cadre within the hospital premises which is 52% and those who were not aware of their existence which is 48%. Moreover, health care workers recommended that the number of social work professionals should be increased so that they can manage patients and clients requiring their care. However, on the other hand, the results indicated that the majority of respondents which is 61.3% were not aware of the roles and functions of hospital social workers. Moreover, 81.3% of respondents were also not aware of cases which require social work interventions. The study concludes that these challenges are the source of under utilization of the hospital social workers, which affects the welfare of patients and clients who would otherwise have benefited from social welfare officers interventions. This is because not all patients who attend Outpatient Department (OPD) or In Patient Departments (IPDs) require medical and surgical treatments.

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