Research knowledge utilisation among Swedish health social workers: Influence of higher education, job tenure and workplace

Abstract

Health social workers, like social workers in general, have been found to utilise research knowledge to a low degree. No previous study has made comparisons based on the following: higher education, job tenure and workplace. This article is based on statistical comparisons between 1236 health social workers in Sweden working in various healthcare contexts. The central finding was that higher education was the factor with the largest impact. Workplace and especially job tenure were found to be less influential. An implication for practice is to raise the knowledge requirements in terms of research knowledge utilisation already from bachelor’s degree level.