Social workers' acceptance of information and communication technology (ICT) in practice during COVID-19: Search for embracing ethical considerations in Hong Kong

Abstract

This qualitative research examined Hong Kong social workers’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of adopting information and communication technology (ICT) in their practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Invitations to participate in this research were sent to various social welfare agencies, resulting in the recruitment of 23 social workers with different work experiences. In-depth interviews followed by thematic analysis were employed to explore participants’ experiences of using ICT in their practice during the pandemic and factors influencing their readiness to use ICT. The results showed that various factors influenced social workers’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of using ICT, including digital service output quality, shared expectations and subjective norms, technology self-efficacy, and organizational support. The research further identified ethical considerations that posed challenges to ICT utilization. The research provides insights into social work management regarding the strategies of enhancing social workers’ motivation and acceptance of utilizing ICT. Recommendations on future development and research of digital social work services were discussed.