The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Professional And Personal Lives Of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers

PurposeDescribe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work structure, daily care provided, personal lives, and practice models for pediatric oncology social workers (POSW).Research ApproachCross-sectional online survey on APOSW professional listserv from 10/5/2020 to 11/20/2020.Sample101 surveys were completed by POSW from 31 states and the District of Columbia.MethodsData were summarized descriptively and with semantic content analyses.FindingsSurveys were completed by social workers from diverse work settings. Seventy-five percent of social workers were deemed "essential," and 45% reported working primarily from home. Most (56%) adopted a form of telehealth for patient care, although 71% did not receive telehealth training and 87% perceived lesser quality of care with telehealth. Nearly 80% of respondents reported not being able to provide optimum psychosocial care. Notable stressors on social work practice included worry about exposure to COVID-19, limited resources, lack of contact with and increased emotional needs of patients and families, managing patient and family concerns about COVID-19, and isolation from colleagues. Inequity and social justice issues were identified. Despite challenges, over 60% of POSW endorsed positive changes to their work life resulting from the pandemic.Conclusions/InterpretationAs the COVID-19 pandemic persists, POSW have adapted to a changing work environment, different modes of service provision, and stark health inequities to meet the needs of patients and families in a crisis.Implications for Psychosocial ProvidersCOVID-19 vastly impacted the personal and professional lives of POSW, warranting attentiveness to lessons learned and future directions.