Screening for social and environmental problems in a VA primary care setting

Area of Science:

• Social Work
• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Social workers are crucial for identifying and managing social and environmental determinants of health.
• Early intervention in the continuum of care can improve patient outcomes and resource allocation.
• Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care settings present unique opportunities for integrated social work services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of social and environmental problems among patients in a VA primary care clinic.
• To determine patient demand for social work services within this setting.
• To inform the development of targeted social work interventions in VA primary care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 132 patients at a university-affiliated VA medical center primary care clinic.
• Data collection involved assessing social and environmental problems and patient requests for services.
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the prevalence of identified problems and service needs.

Main Results:

• The most common social problems reported were financial difficulties, personal stress, family issues, legal concerns, and employment challenges.
• Approximately one-third of patients expressed a need for or interest in social work services.
• Significant patient need for psychosocial support was identified within the primary care setting.

Conclusions:

• Social workers are well-positioned to address prevalent psychosocial issues in VA primary care.
• There is a clear demand for social work interventions to support patients with social and environmental problems.
• Integrating social work services into VA primary care is essential for comprehensive patient care and resource management.