According to the Research study Conducted by the Faculty of Social Work University of Calgary, Central and Northern Alberta Region, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on the topic Examining the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on social work in health care.
This qualitative study examined the COVID-19 pandemic as experienced by healthcare-based social workers in relation to practice, and personal and professional impacts of providing care in this context, with recommendations for pandemic preparedness and response. A total of 12 focus groups were convened between June 2020 and March 2021, comprising 67 hospital social workers across multiple hospitals and other care facilities in western Canada.
Based on an Interpretive Description approach, themes emerged reflecting practice shifts; increased work and changing roles; imposed restrictions; problems in communication and decision-making; distress, fear, and demoralization; and co-existing silver linings amid challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted social and healthcare workers in their delivery of service. Addressing concerns through proactive responsiveness, both during and beyond the pandemic, are important in nurturing patient-centered care and a supported workforce. Along with that of interdisciplinary colleagues in health care, social workers’ practice has been profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has exposed or highlighted significant social inequities (Abrams & Detlaff, 2020), including favoring individuals with ready access to technology. Concern abounds regarding the impacts of the pandemic on already vulnerable populations (Amadasun, 2 020; Banks et al., 2020), such as people with disabilities (Farkas & Romaniuk, 2020), those living in poverty (Farkas & Romaniuk, 2020), racial minorities (Chowkwanyun & Reed, 2020), and people reliant on supports and services that have been subsequently reduced or become unavailable in the pandemic (Ross et al., 2021). Stereotypes and stigma against certain groups have arisen, with one example being stigma toward individuals of Asian descent (Farkas & Romaniuk, 2020). Additionally, there are reports that some services have been overwhelmed, while others have lacked clients and workflow (Abrams & Detlaff, 2020). Furthermore, many individuals, including social workers, have lost their jobs, contributing to economic strain among the profession (Farkas & Romaniuk, 2020).
Amid these challenges and uncertainties confronting social workers in the pandemic, the literature alludes to hope that the pandemic has heightened or will heighten opportunities for social workers to expand practice, increase interdisciplinary colleagues’ awareness of the psychosocial needs of patients and families, and amplify social work perspectives in policy and resource development (Ross et al., 2021; Wilson et al., 2021). However, to date, there is a dearth of literature that addresses pandemic-related experiences of social workers and/or impacts on social work as a discipline, and how social workers may be uniquely positioned to inform clinical and policy responses. To address these gaps, this study elicited the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare-based social workers. Research questions were: (1) How has social work in health care been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) What are the experiences of social workers during the pandemic? and (3) What recommendations do social workers offer to improve pandemic response in health care?
The pandemic amplified systemic gaps, with substantial personal and professional impacts. Of this impact, Farkas and Romaniuk (2020) argue, “we will face continuing problems of job loss, economic hardship, mental and physical strains among all levels of society after the threat of infection and illness has passed”. Social workers in Ross et al.’s (2021) study likewise predicted a “second pandemic”, which likely will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of the population due to the current and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic conditions, population mental health, and service access. Ebor et al. (2020) note that social workers have a duty to address these intersecting vulnerabilities.
We concur, while recognizing and applauding social workers for addressing, with others, systemic and societal inequities, and advocating for equitable care to vulnerable communities. Yet, we also identify concern over professional strain imposed by these pandemic circumstances.
Imposed restrictions were viewed to disproportionately affect populations largely served by social work, and in particular, individuals with social determinants of health barriers—many of whom were noted to have been more severely impacted by the service ruptures associated with the pandemic such as individuals with less resources or limited access to online technology, those from remote regions, elderly people
In another instance of imposed restrictions, participants described a lack of PPE early in the pandemic, and a designation of essential services that, in some cases, did not include social work; hence, access to PPE early in the pandemic was restricted particularly when in short supply. This left some social workers feeling at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19.
Several participants reported personal struggle over the requirement to uphold pandemic rules and care guidelines such as enforcing the separation of families at particularly challenging times such as health crises or the end of life
Although communication was viewed as central to pandemic management, decision-making and the communication of care-related decisions were viewed by some to periodically lack receptivity to the range of needs of patients and their families, as well as clinicians and their practice on the ground.
Conference seek to draw these lessons and challengers to shape conversations for more prepared Healthcare and Social Work aspects of life.
