title: Making the invisible visible: are health social workers addressing the social determinants of health?
abstract: This study explored the ways in which health social workers (HSW) address the social determinants of health (SDH) within their social work practice. Social workers (n = 54) employed at major hospitals across Toronto had many years of practice in health care (M = 11 years; SD = 10.32) and indicated that SDH were a top priority in their daily work; with 98% intentionally intervening with at least one and 91% attending to three or more. Health care services were most often addressed (92%), followed by housing (72%), disability (79%), income (72%), and employment security (70%). Few HSW were tackling racism, Aboriginal status, gender, or social exclusion in their daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. shelley.craig@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Shelley L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bejan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muskat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D012945:Social Values; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors