Psychosocial assessment in brain injury: An international social work survey

ABSTRACT

Objective

To survey social workers in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI)/acquired brain injury (ABI) about their practice in conducting psychosocial assessments. Design: A cross-sectional quality assurance study.

Design

A cross-sectional quality assurance study.

Participants

Social workers from professional social work rehabilitation networks spanning Sweden, the United Kingdom, North America, and Asia Pacific regions.

Measure

Purpose-designed survey comprising closed and open items, organized into six sections and administered electronically.

Results

The 76 respondents were mainly female (65/76, 85.5%) from nine countries (majority from Australia, United States, Canada). Two-thirds of respondents were employed in outpatient/ community settings (51/76, 67.1%), with the balance working in inpatient/rehabilitation hospital settings. Over 80% of respondents conducted psychosocial assessments, with the assessments informed by a systemic focus, situating the individual within their broader family and societal networks. The top five issues identified in inpatient/rehabilitation settings were housing related needs, informed consent for treatment, caregiver support, financial issues and navigating the treatment system. In contrast, the leading issues identified in community settings related to emotional regulation, treatment resistance and compliance issues, depression, and self-esteem.

Discussion

Social workers assessed a broad range of psychosocial issues spanning individual, family, and environmental contextual factors. Findings will contribute to future development of a psychosocial assessment framework.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work
• psychosocial
• assessment
• traumatic brain injury
• acquired brain injury

Acknowledgments

Thank you to all members of the International Network for Social Workers in Acquired Brain Injury and other social work networks who completed the survey.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2023.2183258

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.