Key result
Higher SWAAT scores linked to more frequent ED use and greater social work intervention.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to examine the suitability of the Social Work Admission Assessment Tool (SWAAT) in hospital settings, focusing on its association with emergency department use, social work intervention, and hospital readmission.
Does the Social Work Admission Assessment Tool (SWAAT) identify vulnerability associated with emergency department use, social work intervention, and hospital readmission in hospital service users?
Observational (n=436)
Yes
Does the Social Work Admission Assessment Tool (SWAAT) identify vulnerability associated with emergency department use, social work intervention, and hospital readmission in hospital service users?
The SWAAT is a useful structured resource for identifying social and clinical vulnerability to support referral and decision-making in interdisciplinary hospital care.
May flag high-vulnerability patients for social work referral; leaves open whether routine SWAAT use reduces ED visits or readmissions.
Objectives To examine the suitability of the Social Work Admission Assessment Tool (SWAAT) in hospital settings, focusing on its association with emergency department use, social work intervention, and hospital readmission. Method SWAAT was administered during routine care over a three-month period in the emergency department and internal medicine units of two Portuguese hospitals. The sample included 436 service users aged 20–104 years. Results Higher SWAAT scores were associated with more frequent emergency department use and a greater likelihood of social work intervention. Age moderated the relationship between vulnerability and emergency department use. Social work intervention also moderated the association between vulnerability and hospital readmission. Discussion These findings support the usefulness of SWAAT as a structured resource for identifying social and clinical vulnerability and supporting referral and decision-making processes within interdisciplinary hospital care.
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Santo et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Emergency department and internal medicine patients (n=436). Social Work Admission Assessment Tool (SWAAT) was evaluated on Emergency department use, social work intervention, and hospital readmission. Higher Social Work Admission Assessment Tool (SWAAT) scores were associated with more frequent emergency department use and a greater likelihood of social work intervention.
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