Perceived challenges of medical social workers in a public health facility in Ilorin.
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Abstract
Abstract
Medical social workers are important players in the overall management of diseases
and illnesses in hospital settings. They help facilitate the treatment process and
contribute to the overall well-being of the patients. However, there is a growing interprofessional misconception of roles between social workers and other medical
personnel in hospitals coupled with societal lack of knowledge of the role of social
workers in medical facilities. In this study, the perceived challenges of medical social
workers in a tertiary health facility in Ilorin were investigated using a
phenomenological research design. Fifteen participants who were medical social
workers were purposively selected. Data gathered was analysed using thematic and
content analyses. The study found prejudice, discrimination, and structural conflicts as
the major challenges of medical social workers in the facility studied. Other perceived
challenges were non-recognition of the roles of medical social workers by other health
practitioners, which often dovetails into a lack of cooperation. The study recommends
structural adjustment and policy framework that would institutionalize the roles of
medical social workers in health facilities not only in the study area but the whole
country. This will not only boost the morale of medical social workers but also improve
the good working relationship among other medical personnel.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: medical social work, health facility, role, discrimination, challenges