Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41749081›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2026

Enhancing comprehensive in primary care: results of a cross-sectional survey of primary care social workers in Ontario, Canada.

Rachelle Ashcroft, Nele Feryn, Simon Lam, Amina Hussain, Rumia Owaisi, Peter Sheffield, Deepy Sur, Jennifer Rayner, Catherine Donnelly, Keith Adamson and 1 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC primary care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Rachelle AshcroftFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada. rachelle.ashcroft@utoronto.ca.
Nele FerynGhent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Simon LamFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada.
Amina HussainKing's School of Social Work, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Rumia OwaisiFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada.
Peter SheffieldFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada.
Deepy SurOntario College of Family Physicians, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Jennifer RaynerAlliance for Healthier Communities, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Catherine DonnellySchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Keith AdamsonFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada.
Judith Belle BrownDepartment of Family Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSocial workers are key members of team-based, primary care and offer a wide range of health, mental health, and social well-being services to diverse communities. This study sought to clarify what is known about social work’s scope of practice in primary care settings across Ontario, Canada.

methodsA cross-sectional online survey was disseminated to primary care social workers across Ontario, Canada. The survey consisted of 45 items and included closed-ended and open-ended questions. Survey domains included practice characteristics, background on role, primary care context, structure of practice, clinical activities, and demographics.

resultsN = 159 social workers across Ontario healthcare regions and primary care settings completed the survey. Social workers reported working with individuals across the life span, and engaging in a range of practice activities primarily related to mental health and counselling. Frequent interactions were reported with other healthcare professionals including physicians and nurses. However, increased collaboration was recommended to improve patient care. Social workers provided insight into their caseloads, referral systems, wait times, and follow-up procedures. They highlighted how time spent with patients was context-dependent, and that currently used performance metrics may not always adequately capture the nuances of their work.

conclusionsSocial workers collaborate with primary care teams to attend to a variety of community and patient needs, reflecting expertise in delivering health, mental health, and social well-being services. There is a need to develop best practices and guidelines for social work practice that optimizes care to communities while also promoting provider well-being.

Indexed as

Comprehensive Health CarePrimary Health CareScope of PracticeSocial WorkSocial WorkersAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOntarioProfessional RoleSurveys and QuestionnairesPrimary careProfessional roleScope of practiceSocial workSurvey

Identifiers

PMID41749081
PMCPMC13049781

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.