Attitudes Toward and Knowledge of Chronic Pain: A Survey of Medical Social Workers

This study addressed two research questions: What are medical social workers' attitudes toward the management of chronic pain, and how knowledgeable are they about chronic pain? Findings indicate that social workers hold a highly positive orientation toward both nonmedical treatment of chronic pain and social work involvement in chronic pain services, but they display low levels of knowledge about chronic pain and pain management. Together these findings suggest that social workers possess the willingness and opportunity to develop a social work specialization in pain management but may be hindered by an uncertain knowledge base in the area.