The Role of Medical Social Workers and their Relationship with Doctors and Nurses in Hong Kong Hospitals

The Role of Medical Social Workers and their Relationship with Doctors and Nurses in Hong Kong Hospitals Role ambiguity for social workers working in a secondary setting has long been identified, particularly in hospitals. However, studies of this kind had not been undertaken previously in Hong Kong. Our primary concern in this study is the identification of the distinctive and specialized roles medical social workers perform in Hong Kong hospitals. We also include medical doctors and nurses in our study to see whether role ambiguity for medical social workers is related to the differences in role expectations. Furthermore, medical social workers in the hospital setting are members of an interdisciplinary team; thus, the interaction modes amongst these members of the team are also examined. Lastly, we look into authority structure as another possible factor because medical social work in Hong Kong is operated under two different lines of authority: by Schedule I and II Hospitals. In sum, this study explores whether role expectations, interaction modes and authority structure affect the roles of medical social workers and their relations with doctors and nurses in the secondary setting of hospitals.