Concerns and challenges facing social workers in family practice

Area of Science:

• Social Work in Healthcare
• Interdisciplinary Family Practice

Background:

• Social workers play a vital role in interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Understanding the challenges faced by social workers in family practice is crucial for effective collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the primary concerns and challenges of social workers in family practice.
• To explore the perceived importance of social worker contributions and interdisciplinary relationships.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 25 social work members of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.
• Respondents identified their chief concerns and challenges in family practice settings.

Main Results:

• The highest priorities for social workers were achieving acceptance and recognition for their contributions.
• Developing interdisciplinary relationships and clarifying role functions were significant challenges.
• Respondents emphasized the need for high performance standards, interprofessional understanding of roles, and open dialogue.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing social worker integration in family practice requires addressing acceptance and role clarity.
• Promoting interprofessional education and fostering constructive communication are essential for successful collaboration.