Addiction is an issue that affects not only the individual, but also their family and environment; thus, it is essential for social workers to intervene. Social workers must have a certain level of knowledge about addiction to be able to prevent or mi...
Addiction is an issue that affects not only the individual, but also their family and environment; thus, it is essential for social workers to intervene. Social workers must have a certain level of knowledge about addiction to be able to prevent or mitigate the harm caused by addiction.
This study aimed to develop a tool to measure the addiction intervention competency for social workers. First, based on the review of previous studies, the concept and components of the addiction intervention competency for social workers were explored. In addition, a total of 121 final preliminary questions were developed through the researcher's review and the content validity review of addiction problem experts and social workers practicing in the field. Following this, details of 506 cases collected from a survey of social workers were used for analysis. The results of the study are as follows.
First, through exploratory factor analysis, the addiction intervention competency scale for social workers consisting of 3 factors and 27 questions was developed. The three factors were knowledge, skill, and attitude. The reliability analysis demonstrated that the overall reliability of the addiction intervention competency scale for social workers was .970, and that the reliability of each factor was .941 to .970, which was found to be very high, exceeding the conservative recommendation standard of .70.
Second, the validity of the addiction intervention competency scale for social workers was evaluated for convergence validity and discriminant validity. The convergence validity analyzed the correlation between the addiction intervention competency for social workers, self-efficacy, direct service work ratio related to addiction problems, and job satisfaction. It was found that the addiction intervention competency for social workers had a positive correlation with self-efficacy, direct service work ratio related to addiction problems, and job satisfaction.
The discriminant validity analyzed the correlation between the addiction intervention competency for social workers, and gender and age, which are demographic characteristics expected to be theoretically unrelated or have a low correlation to the addiction intervention competency of social workers. The analysis demonstrated that the correlation between the addiction intervention competency for social workers and gender was not statistically significant. In addition, the correlation between the addiction intervention competency for social workers and age was weak, almost non-existent, or negligible in terms of the correlation coefficient.
Third, the level of addiction intervention competency for social workers according to the characteristics of the survey subjects was identified. First, examining addiction intervention competency based on the type of license held showed that the level of addiction intervention competency differed based on the social workers’ license type, a mental health social workers’ license, medical social workers’ license, or an addiction-related license. The average score of the addiction intervention competency was higher for those with a social workers’ first-class license than for those with a second-level license, for those with a mental health social workers’ or medical social workers’ license than for those without a license, and for those with an addiction-related license than for those without. There was also a statistically significant difference.
Next, examining the level of the addiction intervention competency according to the completion of education related to addiction problems, the group that completed addiction-related education at undergraduate or graduate school level had a higher average addiction intervention competency than the group that did not, and the differences were statistically significant. Similarly, examining the level of the addiction intervention competency according to participation in addiction-related education over the preceding year demonstrated that the average addiction intervention competency of the group that participated in the education was higher than that of the non-training group, and the differences were statistically significant.
The level of addiction intervention competency according to the working characteristics of the survey subjects was also investigated.
Analysing differences in the level of addiction intervention competency by dividing metropolitan area and non-metropolitan area demonstrated that the addiction intervention competency of survey subjects working in the non-metropolitan area was higher than that of those working in the metropolitan area; the differences in the results were statistically significant. Similarly, classifying the participants based on the institutions where they worked addiction-specialized institutions, hospitals and mental health institutions, and other social welfare institutions showed that the average competency score of social workers at addiction-specialized institutions was higher than those working at hospitals or mental health institutions, and other social welfare institutions; the differences were statistically significant. Examining the differences according to the participants’ total experience revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the addiction intervention competency level of social workers with less than 2 years of total experience and social workers with more than 10 years. In addition, examining the differences according to the direct service for addiction problems revealed that survey subjects with a direct service ratio of addiction problems of 50% or more had a higher level of addiction intervention competency than those with a direct service ratio of less than 50%; the difference was statistically significant.
Fourth, the standard score of the addiction intervention competency for social workers was presented. This showed that the level of addiction intervention competency for social workers, who have a professional license related to addiction and carry out direct service work at a certain level, meets the standard score. Applying these standards, the addiction intervention competency for social workers standard score was determined as follows. A score of less than 72 is a level that requires education or training to have a minimum level of addiction intervention competency, a score of 72 or more to less than 90 is a very low addiction intervention competency, 90 or more to less than 105 points is low addiction intervention competency, 105 to 106 is adequate addiction intervention competency, 107 or more to less than 120 is a high level of addiction intervention competency, and a score of 120 or higher were presented as a very high level.
The implications and limitations of this study are as follows.
This study developed a scale that ensured reliability and validity in the measurement of the addiction intervention competency of social workers, which has previously not been developed in Korea. The scale developed in this study enabled the comprehensive exploration of the addiction intervention competency of social workers, including in substance addiction and behavioral addiction, over three factors: knowledge, technology, and attitude.
Activation of research on addiction intervention competency for social workers and accumulation of theories can be expected.
First, by using the measurement tool developed in this study, it is possible to grasp the overall level of addiction intervention competency for social workers, and based on this, a plan to increase the addiction intervention competency for social workers can be prepared. Second, using the addiction intervention competency scale for social workers, it is possible to understand the effectiveness of the education and training related to addiction problems provided to social workers. Third, the levels of the three factors constituting the addiction intervention competency for social workers can be found. In addition, it is possible to analyze the relationship between the level of addiction intervention competency for social workers and other factors.
To increase the use of the addiction intervention competency scale for social workers, continuous evaluation of this scale should be carried out. In addition, it is necessary to identify and analyze the level of addiction intervention competency for social workers engaged in various social welfare institutions. Follow-up studies should specifically investigate the factors affecting the level of addiction intervention competency for social workers, and the effects and ripple effects of addiction intervention competency for social workers. Additionally, it is necessary to repeatedly measure the standard score for addiction intervention competency presented in this study and supplement the standard score through it. Follow-up studies must provide more specific and valid reference scores by repeatedly measuring the level of addiction intervention competency for social workers and accumulating various data.