Social service providers' perspectives on caring for structurally vulnerable hospital patients who use drugs: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

People who use drugs and are structurally vulnerable (e.g., experiencing unstable and/or lack of housing) frequently access acute care. However, acute care systems and providers may not be able to effectively address social needs during hospitalization. Our objectives were to: 1) explore social service providers' perspectives on addressing social needs for this patient population; and 2) identify what possible strategies social service providers suggest for improving patient care.

Methods

We completed 18 semi-structured interviews with social service providers (e.g., social workers, transition coordinators, peer support workers) at a large, urban acute care hospital in Western Canada between August 8, 2018 and January 24, 2019. Interviews explored staff experience

SUBMITTER: Gehring ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9461250 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature