The "Sick-Role" Cycle and the Timing of Social Work Intervention

Abstract

Four questions are studied: (a) When are hospitalized persons primarily referred to hospital social workers? (b) Are there differences among referral sources in the timing of referral? (c) Are there differences in the types of social-need situations referred, depending on the timing of referral? (d) Do social workers think the timing of referral is appropriate? The findings are based on a census of 188 elderly inpatients referred to sixteen social workers at a 1,200-bed, acute-care hospital in New York City during four months in 1968. The periods describing early and late phases of hos- pitalization are conceptualized as "dependent-patient" phase (first quarter of hospitalization) and "recovery" phase (fourth quarter). A classification instrument was devised through which social workers recorded the patient's and/or family's social needs. Patients were mainly referred by doctors or family members late in their hospitalizations for social work help with posthospital planning needs.