Social workers: Peer interaction and hospital integration

Healthcare has evolved rapidly in Saudi Arabia, based upon a Western model of service which incorporates multi-disciplinary professional teams. Social work practice forms part of patient care. However, little is known about how social workers are integrated into the hospital setting. This study aims to investigate the involvement of hospital social workers with other professionals (e.g. physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, and psychologists). The study uses a qualitative approach to collect its data through a process of semi-structured interviews. The interviews’ analysis indicated that medical social workers perceived limitations to effectively executing their tasks because of issues constraining the development of effective partnerships with other professional groups in the hospital.