Current status of social work practice in selected grade 1 public hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City in 2024

Abstract

Social work activities in hospitals constitute an essential service. This study aimed to evaluate the current status of social work practices in three Grade I public general hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City. A cross - sectional descriptive study was conducted, involving 242 healthcare professionals and 230 patients selected through multi-stage sampling. Eligible participants were interviewed using a pre-structured questionnaire. The research found that the proportion of specialized social work staff was low, below 40%, while the percentage of staff participating in social work networks ranged from 3.4% to 4.1%. The overall satisfaction rate of healthcare professionals regarding social work activities was recorded at 46.7%. There was a correlation between healthcare professionals’ satisfaction with social work activities and factors such as network membership, current participation in social work activities, duration of social work involvement, and income. The overall satisfaction rate of patients with social work activities was 61.7%. Patients who had previously heard of or received support from social work services reported higher satisfaction rates compared to those unfamiliar with or unexposed to such activities.