567 A Qualitative Exploration of Social Workers as Members of Burn Care Teams

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Social workers as members of interprofessional teams are important in treating the psychosocial sequela of trauma and burn injuries. However, the specific skills needed and roles of social workers on treatment teams can be confusing and poorly articulated not only by medical providers, but even among social workers themselves. This qualitative study was designed to increase both the breadth and depth of knowledge related to social work practice on interprofessional burn care teams. Methods Primarily qualitative methods were used to explore the roles of social workers employed on burn care teams. In addition to conducting individual interviews, brief surveys were collected from each of the social work participants (N = 11) focused on participant work environments and demographics. All qualitative interviews were transcribed verbatim to capture the perceptions of participants in their own words. Each interview was analyzed and coded by at least two research team members using NVivo 12 (QSR International, 2018). Analysis applied grounded theory strategies for inductive thematic approaches. Results Ten females and one male participated. All participants held some level of professional license and had a mean of 4.69 years of experience working in a burn center (range = 1–13 years). Themes and sub-themes derived between and across participant interviews were: “Skills” (building trust/rapport, thorough assessment of needs, support, communication, case management, trauma-informed therapy, and knowledge of medical terminology and burn treatment); “Challenges/Barriers to Treatment” (patient finances, lack of community providers knowledgeable in management of burn injuries, knowledge of available community resources throughout their catchment area, unstable social support systems, premorbid patient mental illness and substance abuse, inadequate insurance coverage, transportation insecurity, and the long-term nature of burn recovery); and “Resources” (Phoenix Society, SOAR, World Burn Congress, burn foundations, hospital programs, stable support systems, and resilience of burn survivors). Conclusions By gaining insight into the skills, barriers, and resources of social workers working in U.S. burn centers, treatment team members can better and more consistently understand, utilize, and support their current and/or incoming social workers. In addition, Master’s level academic programs can better prepare new social workers in how to best assist burn survivors and their families at both the inpatient and community level. Content related to the needed competencies can be incorporated into required social work courses and medical social work electives. Applicability of Research to Practice By establishing the requisite skills of burn center social workers, there will be opportunity for consistency through certification in burn care much like allied health providers.