Health and Social Care Dissertation Topics

Health and Social Care Dissertation Topics

Info: Health and Social Care Dissertation Topics
Published: 15th September 2025 in Health and Social Care Dissertation Topics

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Introduction

Health and social care is a fundamental interdisciplinary field where the primary focus is on improving the quality of life, health outcomes, and well-being of people through health services, social support, and public health intervention. Health and social care cover a wide range of subject areas, including, but not limited to patient-centered care; integration of healthcare systems; mental health care provision; health and social care policy; and social care practice. This dissertation will examine some of the key challenges and innovations within the sector, including health inequality; service delivery models; regulatory frameworks; technology within care; and person-centered approaches. The research will illustrate how various health and social care strategies aim to facilitate whole-person well-being, support sustainability in care delivery, and enhance quality of care for individuals within a range of contexts.

Background Context

Health and social care systems are an essential segment of systems related to the provision of medical services, mental health supports, elder care, and social services that aim to care for vulnerable groups. With the ongoing global population aging, increasing chronic health conditions, and increased service needs for mental health, care continues to be pressured to deliver. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in health and social care systems, particularly around care home sector management, mental health service, and service accessibility. Other pressures exist in the form of changes in technology, changes in policy, and shifts to models of social care delivery. Health and social care systems are dynamic with simultaneous foci on equity of service delivery, integration of care services, and ensuring services are holistic and sustainable and person-centered.

Future Research Topics

  • Social Care and Digital Health Innovations: Research telemedicine, electronic health records, and remote monitoring devices in terms of impact on how care is delivered and patient outcomes.
  • Health Inequities in Access to Care: Investigate the social or economic determinants of health and how they affect access to social and health care services.
  • Mental Health Care Provision and Society: Research the development, challenges, and outcomes of mental health programs in a social care setting.
  • Integrated Health and Social Care Systems: Examine the extent to which integrated models impact patient outcomes and service fragmentation, using one or multiple one to several case studies, processes, competitions, reviews, or events.
  • Patient-Centered Approaches to Social Care: Examine how patient-centred care plans, and shared decision-making models influence the health of patients and service users.

Dissertation Topic 1:

Digital Health Innovations & Social Care Delivery Transformation

Background Context

Digital health innovations are reshaping the service delivery of both health and social care systems (telehealth; wearable health technology; electronic records). This dissertation will evaluate whether the use of digital health technologies have delivered on the proposed improvements to patient outcomes, efficiency of delivery of health care, and reduced the barriers to access for disadvantaged populations, especially in rural areas.
Research Questions
  • To what extent do telehealth services improve service delivery for disadvantaged populations?
  • What are the effective barriers to the adoption of digital technologies in health care and social care systems?
  • To what extent are wearable health technologies facilitate monitoring patients and preventing health deterioration?
Potential Implications
  • Evaluating the limited advantages of digital technologies to provide access to care and patient engagement.
  • The costs and limitations of implementing digital care technologies.
  • Recommendations for improving digital health initiatives in social care organizations.
Suggested Reading
  • Green, S. (2024). “Digital Health Technologies in Social Care.” Journal of Health Innovation, 39(2), 201-215.
  • Patel, R., & Lee, J. (2023). “Telemedicine in the Social Care Sector.” International Journal of Social Care Research, 17(1), 77-92.

Dissertation Topic 2:

Exploring health inequalities in access to Social Care Services

Background Context
There is a clear disparity in access to health care and social care services among different populations. Many of the factors that have positive or negative influences on equitable access are often because of social determinants of health (e.g., poverty, geographical location, and ethnicity). The dissertation will examine how health inequalities in access to care exist and how they have social consequences on vulnerable populations.
Research Questions
  • What are the most common social and economic barriers to health and social care services?
  • What are the effects of health inequalities on patient outcomes and patient wellbeing?
  • What are the best practices that have been shown to reduce health inequalities in the provision of social care?
Potential Implications
  • Provide thorough understandings (analysis) of health inequities in care systems.
  • Provide policy recommendations to improve access and reduce inequality gaps.
  • Highlight the social and economic benefits to society of an equitable care delivery system.

Suggested Reading

  • White, H. (2025). “Health Inequality and Social Care Systems.” Social Policy and Health Journal, 50(3), 302-318.
  • Davis, L. (2024). “Access to Care: Challenges and Policy Solutions.” Journal of Public Health and Social Care, 22(1), 145-160.

Dissertation Topic 3:

The Role of Mental Health Services in Individual and Societal Wellbeing

Background Context
Mental health services contribute an important component of support to wellbeing and social inclusion. However, these services tend to be underfunded and fragmented. This dissertation will examine the contribution of mental health programs in social care settings, assessing their role in determining the quality of life of service users, as well as broader societal outcomes.
Research Questions
  • How effective are the current models of mental health services in improving individual wellbeing?
  • What are the barriers to providing integrated mental health services?
  • What is the contribution of mental health services to social inclusion and lessen stigma in society?
Potential Implications
  • An improved understanding of how effective mental health services are.
  • Policy/practice implications and recommendations for delivering mental health in a more integrated way within the general care system.
  • Understanding the economic and social value of improved mental health service provision.
Suggested Reading
  • Thompson, J. (2025). “Mental Health Services in Social Care Systems.” Journal of Social Care Policy, 31(2), 210-225.
  • Evans, M. (2024). “The Role of Mental Health in Social Inclusion.” Mental Health and Society Review, 14(1), 89-104.

Conclusion

Health and social care is a fast-paced and vital area of research as it is constantly reacting to increased societal challenges such as an aging population, a growing need for mental health services, and social inequality. Research in health and social care – technology development, systems integration etc – provides a resource of knowledge to practitioners, policymakers, and service providers. The dissertation topics suggested below seek to contribute consumable benefits to the theory of health and social care and facilitate change through better health and social care systems that support holistic well-being, reduce inequalities, and allow for sustainable care practices.

PhD Assistance offers a specialized service to students working on a health and social care dissertation, providing tailor-made support to students in topic development, literature review, and methodology design. If you require professional assistance on your health and social care dissertation, please contact us!

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