“There Was a Big Disconnect”: Experiences of Medical Social Workers on How COVID-19 Affected Practice

Abstract “Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, medical social workers in Ghana have continued to play a relevant role in hospital settings by providing emotional support, counseling, advocacy, and arranging outpatient treatments for patients. This study explores the challenges experienced by medical social workers in the process of service delivery. Using a qualitative approach, we interviewed 10 participants with the aid of semi-structured interviews and analyzed the data using thematic analysis. The findings revealed technological difficulties and interaction disconnects among colleagues and patients as the overarching challenges faced by medical social workers in service delivery. The study recommends collaboration between the government of Ghana and nonprofit organizations in providing electronic devices and training for social workers on how to use emerging technologies to better meet the needs of patients.”