Health in all programs: Findings from a national analysis of MSW programs

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) relies upon the “triple aim” of better patient care, cost control and improved population outcomes to enhance health.  With ACA’s advent, there is pressure on all health professions to shift from individually-focused medical model practices to prevention and public health models (Zabora, 2013).  Unfortunately, little is known about how MSW programs teach health content, specifically whether “wide- lens” approaches such as public health, social determinants, and prevention, are included. To better understand how MSW programs approach health, we undertook a content analysis of all US MSW program websites.

Four areas were analyzed: 1) health specializations; 2) health courses; 3) health language on select webpages; and 4) MSW/MPH programs.  Areas 1-3 were coded either “wide-lens health” (broad public health framework/conceptualization) or “narrow-lens health” (clinical/medical model framework/conceptualization). Data was available for 222 programs.

Some 55.4% of all schools offered health specializations (n=123) and most were clinically/medically oriented; only 3% had “wide-lens” specializations (n=7). Approximately 93% of schools offered health/health-related courses, but few (19.8%, n=44) reflected the “wide-lens” approach. Beyond courses, the vast majority did not utilize “wide-lens” health language on their webpages (99%; n=220). Finally, MSW/MPH programs were numerous (18.9%; n=42).

Most health content offered by MSW programs portrayed health as an “area of practice,” not an overarching conceptual framework. However, if health reform is to succeed, all professions must shift to “wide-lens” practice aimed at population health. The public health social work framework is especially well-suited to this purpose and can position the profession for leadership.