Social Work Activities Supporting Patients at Hospitals in Nghe An, Vietnam

Thi Kim Dung  Le; Thi Hoai An  Nguyen

Authors

Thi Kim Dung Le Vienam Women’s Academy, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi Hoai An Nguyen Vinh University, Nghe An Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Hospital social work in Vietnam has been introduced to support patients, yet faces substantial challenges and has not achieved its intended outcomes. This study, based on quantitative surveys with 500 patients and 255 healthcare professionals, alongside in-depth interviews across five hospitals in Nghe An province, provides a comprehensive overview of current practices. Findings show that social work activities—such as patient reception, information provision, psychosocial support, discharge assistance, and emergency response—are aligned with patient needs and implemented in accordance with Circular No. 43/2015. However, these tasks are often carried out by both social workers and healthcare staff, and remain largely administrative. Key barriers include a shortage of trained professionals, fragmented operational mechanisms, and limited institutional recognition of social work’s role in healthcare. The study recommends strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing workforce capacity, and raising awareness of the professional functions of hospital social workers.

Author Biographies

Thi Kim Dung Le, Vienam Women’s Academy, Hanoi, Vietnam

Thi Kim Dung LE, PhD, Vietnam Women’s Academy, Vietnam. Dr. Le earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Bucharest and has over 18 years of academic and research experience in Social Work. Her scholarly interests center on child and family social work, medical social work, and the development of evidence-based practice and internship models for social work education. Her recent publications include Internet and Family Communication (Hanoi National University Publishing House, 2024); “Diverse Practice and Internship Facilities Toward Diverse Learning Experiences and Job Opportunities for Social Work Students” (Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi, 2023); and several co-authored peer-reviewed articles such as “Internet Impacts on Parent–Child Communication in Vietnamese Urban Families” (Child & Family Social Work, 2024), “Effects of Family Relationships in Vietnamese Culture on Mental Health Problems Among Adults During the COVID-19 Lockdown” (Anthropological Researches and Studies, 2024), and “The Impact of the Internet on Family Communication in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic” (Anthropological Researches and Studies, 2024).

Thi Hoai An Nguyen, Vinh University, Nghe An Province, Vietnam

Thi Hoai An NGUYEN, Master, Vinh University, Vietnam. Ms. Nguyen earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Her research interests focus on child and family social work, hospital social work, and school social work. Her recent publications include “Current State of Practitioners Delivering Social Work Services in Provincial Hospitals in Vietnam” (International Journal of Religion, 2024) and Hospital Social Work Development in Vietnam Today: Limitations and Several Solutions (ASEAN Social Work Journal, 2024). She has also co-authored peer-reviewed works such as “Role of Social Workers in Australian Hospitals and Some Recommendations for Vietnam” (Vietnam National University Press, 2024) and “Social Work Service Needs of Inpatients at the Southwest Nghe An General Hospital” (VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023).

References

Auerbach, C., Mason, S. E., & Laporte, H. H. (2007). Evidence that supports the value of social work in hospitals. Social Work in Health Care, 44(4), 17–32.

Barth, M. C. (2003). Social work labor market: A first look. Social Work, 48(1), 9–19.

Browne, T., Darnell, J., Estes Savage, T., & Brown, A. (2015). Social workers as patient navigators: A review of the literature. Social Work Research, 39(3), 158–166.

Dang, T. Q., Nguyen, H. T., & Dang, L. M. (2024). Evaluating the roles of social workers and medical staff in patient support activities: A comparative analysis of satisfaction levels. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7(9), 2024207. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024207.

Davis, C., Baldry, E., Milosevic, B., & Walsh, A. (2004). Defining the role of the hospital social worker in Australia. International Social Work, 47(3), 346–358. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872804043958.

Dimla, B., Parkinson, L., Wood, D., & Powell, Z. (2023). Hospital discharge planning: A systematic literature review on the support measures that social workers undertake to facilitate older patients' transition from hospital admission back to the community. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 42(1), 20–33.

Đặng, K. K. L. (2021). Khả năng đáp ứng của các dịch vụ công tác xã hội bệnh viện với nhu cầu của người bệnh tại bệnh viện tuyến trung ương và địa phương hiện nay (The responsiveness of hospital social work services to patient needs at central and local hospitals in the current context). VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 7(2b), 238–255.

Đoàn, K. T. (2019). Công tác xã hội trong bệnh viện: khái niệm và những cách tiếp cận cơ bản (Hospital Social Work: Concepts and Fundamental Approaches). Journal of Sociology, 2(146).

Đỗ, H. N. (2016). The legal framework: A foundation for the development of the social work profession in the healthcare sector. In Proceedings of the Scientific Conference "Hospital Social Work: Theoretical Issues and Practical Applications (pp. 38–48). University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City.

Galati, M., Wong, H., Morra, D., & Wu, R. (2016). An evidence-based case for the value of social workers in efficient hospital discharge. The Health Care Manager, 242–246.

Globerman, J., White, J., & McDonald, G. (2002). Social work in restructuring hospitals: Program management five years later. Health and Social Work, 27(4), 274–284.

Holliman, D., Dziegielewski, S. F., & Teare, R. (2003). Differences and similarities between social work and nurse discharge planners. Health and Social Work, 28(3), 224–231.

Ministry of Health. (2023). Enhancing the efficiency of social work initiatives within hospitals (Tiếp tục nâng cao hiệu quả hoạt động công tác xã hội trong bệnh viện). https://moh.gov.vn/tin-noi-bat/-/asset_publisher/3Yst7YhbkA5j/content/tiep-tuc-nang-cao-hieu-qua-hoat-ong-cong-tac-xa-hoi-trong-benh-vien

Mizrahi, T., & Berger, C. S. (2001). Effect of a changing health care environment on social work leaders: Obstacles and opportunities in hospital social work. Social Work, 46(2), 170–182.

Nguyen, K. L., & Lưu, T. T. (2020). Demands of inpatients for social work services at Vietnam–Germany Hospital. Journal of Health and Development Studies (JHDS), 4(1), 26.

Nguyễn, M. T., Phạm, T. N., Nguyễn, M. T., & Phạm, T. T. H. (2023). The demand for social work services among inpatients and associated factors at the Central Hospital of Traditional Medicine in 2023 (Nhu cầu dịch vụ công tác xã hội của người bệnh nội trú và một số yếu tố ảnh hưởng tại bệnh viện y học cổ truyền trung ương năm 2023). Vietnam Medical Journal, 528(1).

Nguyễn, N. H. (2020a). Công tác xã hội trong chăm sóc sức khỏe trên thế giới và ứng dụng cho Việt Nam (Social work in global healthcare and its application in Vietnam). Journal of Health and Development Studies (JHDS), 4(1).

Nguyễn, Q. G. (2016). Hospital social work: Challenges to become a professional social work service. In Proceedings of the Conference on Social Work in Health, Da Lat City, Vietnam.

Nguyễn, T. T. T. (2020b). Thực trạng phát triển nghề công tác xã hội tại các bệnh viện ở Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (The current development of the social work profession in hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City). Science and Technology Development Journal – Social Sciences and Humanities, 4(1), 278–286. https://doi.org/10.32508/stdjssh.v4i1.540

Runfola, J. F., Levine, E., & Sherman, P. (2006). Helping patients make decisions about complementary and alternative treatments: The social work role. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 24(1), 81–106.

Trần, T. T. C. (2016). Lịch sử phát triển công tác xã hội trong bệnh viện trên thế giới và tại Việt Nam (The history of hospital social work development globally and in Vietnam). In Proceedings of the Scientific Conference: Hospital Social Work – Theoretical Issues and Practical Applications (pp. 38–48). University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City.

Whitaker, T., Weismiller, T., Clark, E., & Wilson, M. (2006). Assuring the sufficiency of a front line workforce: A national study of licensed social workers. Special Report: Social Work Services in Health Care Settings. Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.

World Health Organization. (2024). Hospitals in Vietnam. https://www.who.int/vietnam/vi/health-topics/hospitals

Zimmerman, J., & Dabelko, H. I. (2007). Collaborative models of patient care: New opportunities for hospital social workers. Social Work in Health Care, 44(4), 33–47.