Health Outcomes and Costs of Social Work Services
A Systematic Review
Bibliographic Data
Background. Efforts to reduce expensive health service utilization, contain costs, improve health outcomes, and address the social determinants of health require research that demonstrates the economic value of health services in population health across a variety of settings. Social workers are an integral part of the US health care system, yet the specific contributions of social work to health and cost-containment outcomes are unknown. The social work profession’s person-in-environment framework and unique skillset, particularly around addressing social determinants of health, hold promise for improving health and cost outcomes. Objectives. To systematically review international studies of the effect of social work–involved health services on health and economic outcomes. Search Methods. We searched 4 databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Social Science Citation Index) by using “social work” AND “cost” and “health” for trials published from 1990 to 2017. Selection Criteria. Abstract review was followed by full-text review of all studies meeting inclusion criteria (social work services, physical health, and cost outcomes). Data Collection and Analysis. Of the 831 abstracts found, 51 (6.1%) met criteria. Full text review yielded 16 studies involving more than 16 000 participants, including pregnant and pediatric patients, vulnerable low-income adults, and geriatric patients. We examined study quality, health and utilization outcomes, and cost outcomes. Main Results. Average study quality was fair. Studies of 7 social work–led services scored higher on quality ratings than 9 studies of social workers as team members. Most studies showed positive effects on health and service utilization; cost-savings were consistent across nearly all studies. Conclusions. Despite positive overall effects on outcomes, variability in study methods, health problems, and cost analyses render generalizations difficult. Controlled hypothesis-driven trials are needed to examine the health and cost effects of specific services delivered by social workers independently and through interprofessional team-based care. Public Health Implications. The economic and health benefits reported in these studies suggest that the broad health perspective taken by the social work profession for patient, personal, and environmental needs may be particularly valuable for achieving goals of cost containment, prevention, and population health. Novel approaches that move beyond cost savings to articulate the specific value-added of social work are much needed. As health service delivery focuses increasingly on interprofessional training, practice, and integrated care, more research testing the impact of social work prevention and intervention efforts on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations while also measuring societal costs and benefits is essential
The valuation of older adult homecare services under a joint medical-social budgetary perspective
Social Work Services at Dakto District Health Center, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam
Research Note—Integrated Care Training and Preparedness
Interprofessional Collaboration
Advancing Social Care Through Evidence
Preparing Social Work Students for Interprofessional Team Practice in Health-Care Settings
Considerations in Preparing Social Work Students to Thrive in Health Care Settings
Social Work in Outpatient Neurology at a Safety-Net Hospital
Vagueness, power and public health
Integrated Primary Care and Social Work
The Value of Social Work to Health, Health Systems, and Interprofessional Teams
Prevention, Health Promotion, and Social Work
Jack of All Trades and Master of None’? Exploring Social Work’s Epistemic Contribution to Team-Based Health Care
Implementation Research in Mental Health Services
The Triple Aim
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
A Coefficient of Agreement for Nominal Scales
Studies of the Cost-Effectiveness of Social Work Services in Aging
Health benefits of primary care social work for adults with complex health and social needs
The Impact of a Caregiver Health Education Program on Health Care Costs
Efficiency of a Care Coordination Model
Translational Science at the National Institute of Mental Health
| Unique citing works | 13 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,63 |
| Citation span | 2018 - 2025 (8) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 13 |