TITLE: “STATUS OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS IN ZAMBOANGA

CITY MEDICAL CENTER, ZAMBOANGA CITY”

Prepared by:

RUBY THEA T. SISON, RSW

Introduction
The social work profession is guided by the basic principle of recognizing the inherent
worth and dignity of a man. As an integral of the organizational set-up of the hospital/health
agency, the Medical Social Worker is an agent of change with a deep humane concern and
commitment to the goals and aspirations of the people he/she serves: their cry for economic
self-sufficiency, healthful living, social justice, and equity.

All medical social work strategies are geared toward fostering self-reliance among its
patients and their families. Through social development, the patients and their families gain
insight into their own personalities, values (social, spiritual, moral, and cultural), strengths and
capabilities. This enables them to determine their own needs and resources. Most Medical
Social worker’s activities are intangible concentrating on developing and motivating the human
personality to make adjustments for a better-quality life. Most people do not consider the MSW’s
more tangible tasks of interviewing patients and family members, consulting team members,
group work sessions and interacting with community agencies as significant. Because of the
vague characteristics of the profession, health authorities should find and know the MSW’s vital
contribution in the relation to the current thrust of the DOH particularly in terms of how this group
of health workers could be fully utilized to create an impact in pursuit of the department’s health
goals especially for the poor, and which shall ultimately lead to the building of a healthy nation.
Juxtaposed with this is the MSW’s commitment to social work principles and ethics. They should
have attained social and emotional equilibrium within their own lives before they can help
others. Surely, MSW’s are human beings capable of experiencing human frailties and problems
in life. But their profession demands that they should be able to resolve their problems and
come out to be better and stronger health workers, capable of influencing change within the
individual client and his/her environment. The study aims to determine the status of the eighteen
medical social workers of Zamboanga City Medical Center in terms of 1) performing their roles
and functions as social workers in their respective stations; and their coping
mechanisms/strategies in handling stresses at work in Zamboanga City Medical Center.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The research that will be undertaken is an attempt to know the status of Medical Social
workers in Zamboanga City Medical Center.

Specifically the study aims to answer the following questions:

1) What is the sociodemographic profile of Medical social workers in Zamboanga City

Medical Center?
2) What is the status of Medical Social workers regarding on their roles and functions
as social workers in Zamboanga City Medical Center?
3) What are the coping mechanisms/strategies of Medical social workers in handling
stresses at work in Zamboanga City Medical Center?
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are confined in the following:

1) To be able to identify the sociodemographic profile of Medical social workers in
Zamboanga City Medical Center.
2) To be able to know and identify the status of Medical Social workers regarding on
their roles and functions as social workers in Zamboanga City Medical Center.
3) To be able to identify the coping mechanisms/strategies of Medical Social Workers in
handling stresses at work in Zamboanga City Medical Center.
 TITLES

1) “COPING STRATEGIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG GERIATRIC

HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN ZAMBOANGA CITY MEDICAL CENTER,
ZAMBOANGA CITY”

2) “FACTORS AFFECTING THE ENROLLMENT TO PHILHEALTH OF

UNENROLLED TEENAGE GIRLS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH BELONGING
TO INDIGENT HOUSEHOLDS IN ZAMBOANGA CITY MEDICAL
CENTER, ZAMBOANGA CITY”

3) “STATUS OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS IN ZAMBOANGA CITY

MEDICAL CENTER, ZAMBOANGA CITY”
 “FACTORS AFFECTING THE ENROLLMENT TO PHILHEALTH OF
UNENROLLED TEENAGE GIRLS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH
BELONGING TO INDIGENT HOUSEHOLDS IN ZAMBOANGA CITY
MEDICAL CENTER, ZAMBOANGA CITY”
4) The study will be conducted for the purpose of identifying the socio-demographic, know
the status and coping strategies of Medical social workers in handling stresses at work in
Zamboanga City Medical Center.

The respondents of the study will be the Medical Social workers of Zamboanga City
Medical Center. Of the total number of 19 medical social workers, 18 respondents will be taken
by the researcher through purposive selection and random sampling. The criteria for the
selection of the respondents are the following:
a. The respondents must be a Medical Social Worker of Zamboanga City Medical Center
b. Must be a Medical Social worker for at least one year