Conflicted helping: The mediator role of social work discharge planners in a rapidly changing health care environment.
Item
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Title
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Conflicted helping: The mediator role of social work discharge planners in a rapidly changing health care environment.
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Identifier
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AAI9732943
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identifier
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9732943
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Creator
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Levine, Joanne.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Mildred Mailick
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Date
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1997
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work | Health Sciences, Health Care Management
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Abstract
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Studying the mediator role that health care social workers play in discharge planning conflicts provides a view of the rapidly changing health care environment. Social workers have traditionally struggled in this host environment to define their role and status.;Using a random sample of inpatient, health care social workers (N = 600) drawn from the mailing list of national members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), intensive follow up efforts yielded a response rate of 67% (n = 402) of which 60% (n = 355) were useable in the data analysis. A highly structured questionnaire obtained both qualitative and quantitative data on relationships between the mediator role, occupational and personal stressors and stress modifiers on job satisfaction and burnout. Six hypothesis explored different aspects of these relationships using techniques of the t- ratio and F-ratio.;The means of the prorated scores revealed that this sample of health care social workers was centrally positioned with regard to overall concern about role overload and role boundary problems. They tended to prefer an integrating over compromising style for resolving discharge planning conflicts. They also reported very high levels of social support, were above the midpoint in job satisfaction and reported symptoms of burnout less than once a month. Their attitude toward discharge planning was found to be undecided but leaned towards agreement regarding its importance as function for hospital social workers.;There were three major themes reflected in the qualitative data obtained from this sample; pressure imposed from managed care to discharge patients quickly, negative impacts on staffing due to hospital downsizing and increased competition between nurses and social workers for the role of discharge planner.;Implications from both the quantitative and qualitative data were related to suggested components of a framework for training health care social workers in mediating discharge planning conflicts. These components were: understanding health care economics, overview of mediation interventions, examination of stress reduction techniques and empowerment and political advocacy skills. This study helped to raise larger issues involving the social work profession's commitment to the goal of social justice and whether social change is fundamental to social work education.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
