Collaboration between general practitioners and social workers: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Services Research
• Social Work in Healthcare
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
• General practitioners (GPs) and social workers (SWs) often encounter overlapping patient needs.
• Understanding the dynamics of GP-SW collaboration is essential for optimizing healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of collaboration structures and processes between GPs and SWs.
• To identify target patient groups addressed by GP-SW collaborations.
• To assess the quality of existing scientific literature on this topic.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and DZI SoLit databases.
• Included literature published in English and German since 2000, focusing on GP-SW collaboration.

Main Results:

• 72 articles from 17 countries were identified, revealing diverse collaborative structures and routines across healthcare systems.
• Case management, a person-centered approach for specific patient groups, is a common element.
• Evidence suggests benefits for patients, professionals, and healthcare systems, though varying measurement tools for effectiveness were noted.

Conclusions:

• GP-SW collaborations demonstrate positive impacts on patients, professionals, and healthcare systems.
• Existing research highlights the importance of integrated care models.
• More rigorous research is recommended to fully elucidate the multifaceted impact of these collaborations.