Assessment of medical social workers’ role and challenges in improving the qualityof-service delivery in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi: Medical sociology perspective

Abstract

This study investigates the roles and challenges of medical social workers at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi through a medical sociology lens. The objectives of the study are to analyze the roles of medical social workers at ATBUTH Bauchi, to identify the challenges experienced by medical social workers at ATBUTH, Bauchi and to provide strategies that will help improve the professional development of social workers. Relevant literature was reviewed and acknowledged to avoid plagiarism. The study employed a mixed-methods approach as a design of the study. Respondents were selected randomly in a stratified manner. The study used questionnaire to collect data to answer research questions,
the research reveals how social factors influence the practice of medical social workers and identifies key challenges such as inadequate resources, high workloads, and emotional strain. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, V27). For validity and reliability of the research tools, the tools were reviewed by a panel of experts in medical
sociology and social work, ensuring the relevance, clarity, and appropriateness of the questions, and the same questionnaire was administered twice to a small group, with consistent results confirming stability over time to ensure reliability. The study`s findings emphasized the need for systemic reforms and provide recommendations for raising awareness among healthcare teams about the importance of medical social workers to improve collaboration in patient care, and Encourage participation in relevant workshops and seminars to enhance skills and stay updated on best practices in medical social work.