Riding the wave: pandemic social work in hospitals

Craig, S. L., Kourgiantakis, T., Kirkland, A., Muskat, B., & Sur, D. (2022). Riding the wave: pandemic social work in hospitals. Social Work in Healthcare, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2022.2085232

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Highlights

Background

• Social workers have been described as assuming a “critical clinical role” in hospitals, supporting members of interprofessional teams, addressing the social determinants of health, and contributing to patient health and wellbeing

• There is limited research related to hospital social workers’ roles, contributions, and experiences during pandemics, despite the centrality of the context of hospitals during medical crises

• This study describes the experiences of hospital social workers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (September 2020 – March 2021) with a focus on changes to their roles and responsibilities, as well as patient care

Study Description

• Using a cross-sectional survey, we examined the experiences of hospital social workers (N = 230) in Ontario, Canada during the second wave of the pandemic

• The survey was comprised of 48 multiple-choice and open-ended questions organized into four sections:

  1. Respondent descriptors and social work experience

  2. Description of pandemic-related work and tasks

  3. Pandemic practice innovations

  4. Lessons learned for future pandemic social work practice

• Qualitative responses were coded and analyzed by all five members of the research team and discussed during team meetings utilizing content analysis

Key Findings

• During the pandemic, more than half of respondents (55%) reported that pre-pandemic tasks and responsibilities changed after the beginning of the pandemic, with a small number (6.48%) representing short-term redeployment

• Nearly three quarters (73%) of study participants reported workload changes, and 82% had increased responsibilities due to patient care demands

• While 33% of respondents stated that they utilized a variety of virtual platforms to support their work (e.g., Doxy and Zoom), others advocated to have technology provided to clients to reduce their social isolation. Virtual work also required social workers to adapt to a new way of providing clinical support yet only 51% felt comfortable to do their work remotely

• While social worker sought educational opportunities and contributed to the development of procedures, it is important to note that they also referenced burnout, increased stress, along with compassion and Zoom fatigue

Recommendations

• Hospital social workers adapted and made an important contribution to health care during the pandemic by employing virtual resources, supporting interprofessional colleagues,

  focusing on advocacy, and providing mental health and trauma-focused care despite the lack of practice standards

• Based on participant experiences with COVID-19, guidelines were developed to support professional adaptation of hospital social work practice during a pandemic

• Guidelines designed to maximize the impact of the work of hospital social workers during the pandemic were organized into the following three categories:

  • Clear directives

  • Enhanced training

  • Professional growth

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