1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Nguyen Thi Hoai An2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: 29/10/1988
4. Place of birthNghe An
5. Decision to admit doctoral students:Qdecision numberDecision No. 2775/2020/QD-XHNV, dated December 31, 2020of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in the training process: Extended from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2026
7. Thesis title:"Hospital social work services in Nghe An province"
8. Major:Social work
9. Code: 9760101.01
10. Scientific Advisor:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Van Tung (Main supervisor)
- Dr. Dang Kim Khanh Ly (Supervisor 2)
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis
- Research objectives:
This study examines the theoretical framework of social work services in hospitals and surveys the difficulties and support needs of patients and their families during the examination and treatment process. It also assesses the current situation and analyzes the factors influencing the implementation of three groups of social work services in hospitals according to Circular 43/2015/TT-BYT. Based on this, the thesis proposes recommendations to improve and enhance the quality of social work services in the hospital system in Nghe An province.
- Research subjects:Services include patient/family counseling support; support services for healthcare staff; and health communication and education services at hospitals in Nghe An, according to the task framework stipulated in Circular 43/2015/TT-BYT.
ButResearch methods used:
Document analysis method
Structured questionnaire survey method
In-depth interview method
The method of seeking expert opinions.
Main results of the thesis
The first,The research results show that social work services in hospitals in Nghe An have been implemented according to three groups stipulated in Circular 43/2015/TT-BYT, including support and counseling for patients and their families, support for healthcare staff, and health communication and education. However, the level of implementation among these service groups differs significantly, and there is a tendency towards functional deviations. Among them, the support and counseling services for patients and their families are the most widely and effectively implemented, playing a direct role in assisting with procedures, providing information, and stabilizing initial psychological well-being. Conversely, services supporting healthcare staff and health communication and education are limited, lack systematic approaches, and have not fully played their role in the modern medical social work model. In particular, specialized services such as psychological counseling, case management, crisis support, and interdisciplinary coordination have not been fully implemented, indicating that social work services in Nghe An are still operating primarily according to the logic of supporting hospital operations, rather than according to the professional logic of clinical social work.
Monday,For patients and their families, research results indicate that they face a multifaceted system of difficulties during the medical examination and treatment process, with financial difficulties being the biggest barrier, followed by issues related to administrative procedures, lack of information, psychological pressure, and the burden of care. The demand for social work services is recorded as high, especially for information support, counseling, and psychological support services. However, the actual level of access to these services does not match the demand, especially for specialized services and vulnerable patient groups such as those with severe illnesses, long-term treatment, or difficult economic circumstances. At the same time, differences in difficulties, needs, and access among target groups reveal significant inequalities in access to social work services within the local context.
Tuesday,From a social work perspective, the implementation of services is governed by a system of closely interconnected factors, most notably the organizational and administrative aspects of the hospital, particularly the views and direction of the leadership; policies for staff development, including training, assignment, working environment, and coordination mechanisms; professional competence and practice conditions; and professional awareness. Notably, professional awareness is identified as a crucial intermediary mechanism, acting as a "practical filter," directly shaping the selection, prioritization, and organization of social work activities in practice. The synthesis of these factors shows that the implementation of social work services depends not only on resources but is the result of a chain of interactions from organization – policy – competence – professional awareness.
12. Directions for further research
Social work in hospitals
13. Publications related to the dissertation:
1.Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Trinh Van Tung, Dang Kim Khanh Ly (2024), “Role of Social Workers in Australian Hospitals and Some Recommendations for Vietnam”,Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities,Hanoi National University Publishing House, p. 96 - 104, ISBN 978-604-43-1656-7.
2. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Dang Kim Khanh Ly (2023), “Needs for social work services of inpatients at Southwest Nghe An Regional General Hospital”,Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, ISSN 2354-1172, 9 (2b), p. 170 - 182.
3.Nguyen Thi Hoai An (2024), “Current State of Practitioners Delivering Social Work service in Provincial Hospitals in Vietnam”,International Journal of Religion,ISSN 2633-3538 (online), 5(11), p. 4677 – 4681.
4.Nguyen Thi Hoai An (2024), “Hospital Social Work Development in Vietnam Today: Limitations and Severral Solutions”,Asian Social Work Journal (ASWJ), e-ISSN: 0128-1577, 9 (3), p. 1-13.
5.Nguyen Thi Hoai An(2021), “The Role of Social Works in Supporting the Vulnerable Groups Seeking Health Care Services during the Covid -19 Pandemic”, Proceedings of the International Conference: The Impact of Climate Change and Disease on Families, Women, and Children - Solutions from Psychological Intervention and Social Work,National University of Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House,p. 13 - 135, ISBN 978-604-73-8684-0.
6. Pham Thi Kim Dung, Nguyen Thi Hoai An (2025), “Social Work Activities Supporting
Patients at Hospitals in Nghe An, Viet Nam",Asian Journal of Social Work,pp. 115-127, ISSN 2089-1075.
7. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (2026), “Patients' needs and accessibility to hospital social work services in the context of digital transformation: A study in Nghe An province, Vietnam”,Proceedings of the International Conference: Development of Social Work in Vietnam in the Context of Digital Transformation, Labor and Social Affairs Publishing House, pp. 588-603, ISBN 978-632-03-1314-3.
INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS
1. Full name:Nguyen Thi Hoai An
2. Sex:Female
3. Date of birth: 29/10/1988
4. Place of birth:Hi An
5. Admission decision number:2775/2020/QD-XHNV, dated December 31, 2020 by VNU Hanoi, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
6. Changes in academic process:Extended from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2026.
7. Official thesis title:Hospital Social Work Services in Nghe An Province
8. Major:Social Work
9. Code:9760101.01
10. Supervisor:Prof.-Ph.D. Trinh Van Tung and Ph.D. Dang Kim Khanh Ly.
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:
Purpose: This dissertation aims to scientifically examine the theoretical foundations of hospital social work services and to investigate the difficulties and support needs of patients and their family members during the process of medical examination and treatment. At the same time, the study evaluates the current implementation status and analyzes factors evaluating the delivery of three groups of hospital social work services in accordance with Circular No. 43/2015/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health. Based on empirical findings, the thesis proposes recommendations to improve and enhance the quality of hospital social work services within the hospital system of Nghe An Province.
Objectives: Hospital social work services, including (i) counseling and support services for patients and their family members, (ii) support services for healthcare professionals, and (iii) communication and health education services at hospitals in Nghe An Province, as stipulated under the task framework of Circular No. 43/2015/TT-BYT.
Produce methods
The Method ofDocument Analysis.
The Method of the quantitativeSsurvey by aSreconstructednouestionnaire.
The Method of In-depth Interview.
The Method of Expert Interview.
The major results
previous, the findings indicate that hospital social work services in Nghe An have been implemented in accordance with the three service clusters stipulated inCircular No. 43/2015/TT-BYT, namely: (i) support and counseling for patients and their families, (ii) support for healthcare professionals, and (iii) health communication and education. However, the level of implementation varies considerably across these clusters, revealing a clear functional imbalance. Among them, patient- and family-centered support and counseling services are the most widely implemented and effective, playing a direct role in facilitating administrative procedures, providing essential information, and stabilizing patients' initial psychological states. In contrast, services aimed at supporting healthcare staff and those related to health communication and education remain limited, fragmented, and inevitably systematized, thereby failing to realize their full potential within a modern medical social work framework. Notably, specialized interventions—such as psychological counseling, case management, crisis intervention, and interdisciplinary coordination—are largely underdeveloped. This suggests that social work services in Nghe An continue to operate predominantly under a hospital-support logic rather than a clinical social work professional logic.
Second,From the perspective of patients and their caregivers, the study reveals that they encounter a multidimensional set of challenges throughout the healthcare process. Financial hardship emerges as the most significant barrier, followed by administrative complexities, information deficits, psychological distress, and caregiving burdens. The demand for social work services is consistently high, particularly for information provision, counseling, and psychological support. However, actual service accessibility remains disproportionate to these needs, especially with regard to specialized services and among hazardous groups, including severely ill patients, those undergoing long-term treatment, and individuals facing economic hardships. Furthermore, variations in difficulties, needs, and access across different population groups indicate the presence of significant inequities in accessing social work services within the local context.
Third, from the perspective of social workers, service implementation is shaped by an interconnected system of determinants. Prominent among these are organizational and hospital governance factors—particularly leadership perspectives and strategic orientations; workforce development policies, including training, task allocation, working conditions, and coordination mechanisms; professional capacity and practice conditions; and professional awareness. Importantly, professional awareness functions as a critical mediating mechanism, operating as a “practice filter” that shapes directly how social work activities are selected, prioritized, and organized in practice. Taken together, these findings suggest that the implementation of social work services is not merely a function of resource availability, but rather the outcome of a dynamic interaction among organizational structures, policy frameworks, professional capacity, and professional cognition.
12. Further research directions:
Social Work in Hospitals
13. Thesis-related publications:
1. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Trinh Van Tung, Dang Kim Khanh Ly (2024), “Role of Social Workers in Australian hospiatals and somde recommentdations for Vietnam”,Second international conference on the issues of social sciences and humanities, Vietnam National University press, Hanoi, pp.96-104, ISBN 978-604-43-1656-7.
2.Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Dang Kim Khanh Ly (2023),“The need for social work services among inpatients at the Southwest Nghe An Regional General Hospital”,VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi, 9 (2b), pp. 170 -182, ISSN 2354-1172.
3.Nguyen Thi Hoai An (2024), “Current State of Practitioners Delivering Social Work service in Provincial Hospitals in Viet Nam”,International Journal of Religion,5(11), pp. 4677 – 4681, ISSN 2633-3538 (online).
4.Nguyen Thi Hoai An (2024), “Hospital Social Work Development in Vietnam Today: Limitations and Severral Solutions”,Asean Social Work Journal (ASWJ), 9 (3), pp. 1-13e-ISSN: 0128-1577.
5. Nguyen Thi Hoai An (2021), “The Role of Social Works in Supporting the Vulnerable Groups Seeking Health Care Services during the Covid -19 Pandemic”,the international conference proceedings: “The impact of disasters and pandemics on families, women and children: Interventions from psychology and social work,Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House, pp.13-135, ISBN 978-604-73-8684-0.
6. Pham Thi Kim Dung, Nguyen Thi Hoai An (2025), “Social Work Activities Supporting
Patients at Hospitals in Nghe An, Viet Nam",ASEAN Social Work Journal,pp.115-127, ISSN 2089-1075.
7.Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (2026), “Patients' needs and accessibility to hospital social work services in the context of digital transformation: A study in Nghe An province, Vietnam”,International Scientific proceedings: Social Work development in Vietnam in the context of digital transformation, Labor Publishing House, pp.588-603, ISBN 978-632-03-1314-3.
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