Cultural Competence Among Social Workers from the Perspective of Clients Dealing with Illness

This study explored the attitudes and perceptions of applicants dealing with family illness in relation to their interactions with Arab social workers in welfare offices within Arab society. Specifically, it focused on how they perceive the cultural competence of the social workers involved in their care.

The research followed a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured in-depth interviews with 14 family members—Three men and eleven women. The interviews were conducted in Arabic, recorded, and transcribed by an Arabic-speaking transcriber. All interviews took place in 2023. The male participants age range was 34-49, while the women’s age range was 26-55. All participants were married, with the majority identifying as either traditional or religious, and all resided in Muslim towns.

The findings revealed three main themes. The first theme, "The social work aspects from the patients’ perspectives," highlights the various challenges faced by participants in their interactions with social workers, emphasizing the cultural gaps between the two parties. The second theme, "Relationship and sexuality dialogue," refered to changes in the relationship due to a partner's health decline, and to the impact of the medical crisis on the sexuality in the couple’s relationship. The third theme, "Power dynamics between social workers and patients," explores the influence of the social worker’s expertise on the interventions chosen for their clients.

This study offers a new approach to understanding cultural competence in social work from the perspective of the applicants in Arab welfare offices, as previous research has primarily focused solely on the perspective of the social workers. The findings indicate that there is still much to learn and improve regarding the social workers sensitivity to cultural aspects, such as sexuality, body image, and emotional sharing with patients. Social workers’ interventions were sometimes perceived as technical and procedural, which led to feelings of rejection and alienation among patients. In conclusion, despite the Arab social workers' prior cultural knowledge, the study revealed challenges in bridging the cultural gaps between them and the applicants, raising concerns about the alignment between academic training and real-world practice. The research reveals the pressing need for a reevaluation of social work trainings, emphasizing the need for cultural competence trainings that will includes active listening and a deeper understanding of the specific cultural needs of applicants.