Self-reported patient psychosocial needs in integrated primary health care: A role for social work in interdisciplinary teams

Craig, S. L., Frankford, R., Allan, K., Williams, C., Schwartz, C., Yaworski, A., Janz, G., & Malek-Saniee, S. (2016). Self-reported patient psychosocial needs in integrated primary health care: A role for social work in interdisciplinary teams. Social Work in Health Care, 55(1), 41–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2015.1085483

---

Highlights

Background

Despite being identified as significant determinants of health, depression and anxiety continue to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings.

Health social workers comprise interdisciplinary teams in primary care.

Study Description

• This study examined the psychosocial health needs of patients (n = 100) at 4 Canadian, urban interdisciplinary primary health teams

  • Patients ranged in age from 19–71 (Mage = 16.87, SDage = 1.57)

  • Patients identified as white European (54.7%); Asian (combined South Asian, East Asian; 14.4%); Black African/African-American/Caribbean (12.4%); Aboriginal (2.1%); Latin American (2.1%); and Middle Eastern (4.1%)

Key findings

• Quantitative analysis revealed that nearly 80% of patients reported anxiety and/or depression

• Self-reported anxiety and depression was correlated with poor social relationships, compromised health status and underdeveloped problem-solving skills

• These findings suggest that social workers play vital role within interdisciplinary primary health teams. To ameliorate factors associated with anxiety and depression, social workers should

  • Enhance patients’ problem-solving of daily challenges

  • Improve quality of social relationships

  • Communicate the importance of patients’ health status, and utilize psychosocial interventions to address health status

---