A discussion of professional issues of hospital social workers in Saudi Arabia

Health care has evolved rapidly in Saudi Arabia, based on a Western model of service that incorporates multidisciplinary professional teams. Social work practice forms part of patient care. Within the cultural context of Saudi Arabia, social work education is developing and so too is the role of the practitioner in the hospital system. However, little is known about how social workers are integrated into the hospital setting. This study explores how Saudi social workers perceive their role and how they describe their practice. A quantitative methodology was employed using a self-administered questionnaire design. Analyses showed a number of perceived limitations that precluded effective performance in practicing social workers; these included difficulties related to updating job skills, followed by a perceived deficiency in current supervisory support.