The need for social work services in occupational medicine

Background Since 1998, Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) has employed a part-time social worker (SW) in its occupational medicine clinics (OMCs) to help patients deal with the psychosocial aspects of change in their work ability, earning capability loss and rehabilitation issues. The need, expectation and impact of this social work services (SWSs) as part of the independent occupational health service (OHS) have not yet been studied. Aims To explore patients' expectations and satisfaction with the SWS. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire study was administered to MHS members who visited OMCs between September 2011 and July 2012 for fitness-for-work evaluation and were later referred to a SW. Results A total of 203 forms were collected and included in the study. Most of the patients (85%) were interested in receiving information on social work benefits; 70% were interested in receiving help coping with emotional stress and 68% were interested in receiving help about future occupation. A very high percentage (97%) were satisfied with the SW session, its length and the care given. A correlation was found between the patients' expectations and their satisfaction with the amount of information received (P > 0.01). Conclusions This study supports the need for SW services and their usefulness in OHS. The study shows the positive impact of the SW service within the public health system of the Israeli OHS with a high patient satisfaction level with the SW service in addressing patient questions.