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The implicit contract: implications for health social work.
1School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ 08102-1519, USA. jmccoyd@ssw.rutgers.edu
Health & Social Work
|May 29, 2010
Summary
Women expect medical care to ensure positive outcomes, like a healthy baby. This study reveals implicit contracts with healthcare systems, suggesting social work should manage patient expectations for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Health Social Work
- Medical Sociology
- Patient Expectations
Background:
- Understanding patient dynamics is crucial for effective health social work.
- This study examines the experiences of women who terminated pregnancies due to fetal anomalies.
- Findings are applicable across various healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify common patient dynamics in health social work.
- To explore the expectations women hold regarding medical care and outcomes.
- To analyze the concept of implicit contracts between patients and the healthcare system.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of data from a study on women with fetal anomalies.
- Examination of patient expectations and their relationship with medical interventions.
- Identification of implicit contracts influencing patient-provider interactions.
Main Results:
- Women expect high-tech medical care to guarantee positive outcomes, such as a healthy baby.
- An implicit contract exists between patients and the medical system, 'Mother Nature,' or society.
- These expectations and contracts have implications for patient satisfaction and healthcare delivery.
Conclusions:
- Health social work should guide patients in developing realistic expectations of healthcare.
- Recognizing implicit contracts is vital for social work practice and patient support.
- Understanding these dynamics may inform social work roles, interventions, and address potential liability issues.
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