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

Original research
by
Gehring, Nicole D. et al

Release Date

2022

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

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.

Findings/Key points

Broad policy changes are required to improve care for structurally vulnerable patients who use drugs, including: 1) ending acute care’s ambivalence towards social services; 2) addressing multi-level gaps in housing and financial support; 3) implementing hospital-based Housing First teams; and, 4) offering sub-acute care with integrated substance use management.

Design/methods

18 semi-structured interviews with social service providers at a large, urban acute care hospital in Western Canada

Keywords

Social services
Barriers and enablers
Housing
Hospitals