Health Services Social Workers' Activities with People with Disabilities: Predicters of Community Practice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which hospital-based social workers were actively involved in community practice on behalf of disabled people. The study attempted to identify what variables influence social workers in health settings to engage in community practice. A sample of 286 social workers employed in 57 different hospital & rehabilitation settings participated in a survey that focused on advocacy & related topics. A questionnaire explored participants' perspectives & the levels & kinds of practice activities they engaged in relation to the needs of people with disabilities. Most respondents indicated that community practice was part of their professional responsibility & that disabled clients needed such assistance. Regression analyses showed that self-reports of community practice activities were nevertheless highly related to self-reported advocacy activities. However, their reports of their actual advocacy activities consistently fell below their recognition of need. 1 Table, 28 References. Adapted from the source document.