Patient perspectives on the desirability of social worker support in outpatient orthopaedic trauma clinics

Objectives: This study examined the benefits of a dedicated social worker in the fracture clinic setting as perceived by patients and caregivers. Methods: This cross-sectional survey engaged patients aged 18 and older presenting to the fracture clinic associated with a level 1 trauma center. Surveys were available in English and Arabic and included 11 questions designed to measure level of agreement with various aspects of social worker presence in the outpatient fracture clinic. Results: A total of 199 patients and caregivers participated in this study. Most of the participants were female (61.8%) and older than the age of 50 (57.1%). While there was nuance in the circumstances and issues participants felt were appropriate for social worker assistance, most (95.4%) found the general premise of having a dedicated social worker available in the fracture clinic to be acceptable and believed that it would be beneficial to fracture clinic patients. Participants indicated that social workers could support trauma patients with multiple issues (≥60% level of agreement across all items). Conclusions: Orthopaedic trauma patients and their caregivers overwhelmingly support the addition of a dedicated social worker to the fracture clinic, with a high level of agreement across demographic groups and proposed social worker interventions. The patient and caregiver population finds the fracture clinic to be an appropriate and viable setting for the mitigation of nonphysical impacts of orthopaedic trauma. These findings can inform the development of potential future additions of social services to the fracture clinic. Level of Evidence: Level IV.