A National Survey of Transplant Social Workers on Social Support Assessment and Intervention Practices

IntroductionTransplant candidates are assessed for caregiver support adequacy by transplant social workers as required by U.S. federal regulations. Research to date does not account nor adjust for interventions performed by transplant social workers to mitigate social support risk concerns on outcomes.Research QuestionThe objective of this study was to describe the social support assessment and interventions conducted by transplant social workers during the pretransplant evaluation process.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of transplant social workers was conducted through the Society for Transplant Social Workers. The survey inquired about social support assessment domains, requirements, and interventions to mitigate risk concerns.ResultsA total of 141 transplant social workers participated. Majority were White (n = 124, 87.9%), female (n = 128, 90.8%) and held licensure at the highest level (n = 118, 83.7%). All organ groups and U.S. Organ Procurement Transplant Network regions were represented. The majority (n = 100, 70.9%) reported using a standard assessment tool. All reported multiple assessment domains within their social support assessment though with variability in overlapping domains. All participants reported conducting interventions to mobilize social support with notable overlap in interventions.ConclusionTransplant social workers perform social support assessment and interventions to mitigate social support concerns. Research to date does not adequately capture nor adjust for interventions by transplant social workers to mitigate risk and facilitate transplant preparedness among potential transplant candidates. Future research should explore the effectiveness of transplant social work interventions to form guidelines for transplant social work practice.