THE ROLE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION BETWEEN NURSING, LABORATORY SERVICES, AND SOCIAL WORK IN ENHANCING PATIENT CARE
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Keywords
Interdisciplinary, Collaboration, Between Nursing, Laboratory Services, Social Work, Enhancing, Patient Care.
Abstract
Background: Fragmented communication among hospital departments can delay diagnoses, prolong admissions, and undermine patient satisfaction. Integrating nursing, laboratory services, and social work is therefore critical to achieving patient centred, high quality care—an explicit goal of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 health reforms. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods study was conducted across four tertiary hospitals and two primary care centres in the Eastern Province. Quantitative data were collected from 120 professionals—45 nurses, 38 laboratory technicians, and 37 social workers—using a 25 item questionnaire that captured collaboration practices, communication quality, and perceived patient outcomes. Qualitative insights were obtained through 18 semi structured interviews (six per profession). Survey results were analysed with ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression; interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis with independent coding. Results: Mean collaboration, communication, and patient outcome scores exceeded 70 / 100 in all groups, with social workers reporting the highest values. Collaboration correlated strongly with patient outcomes (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) and remained the strongest predictor in regression models (β = 0.56, p < 0.001). Qualitative themes—“Communication Bridges,” “Role Ambiguity,” “Trust Building,” and “Systemic Barriers”—illuminated how timely diagnostics, shared psychosocial planning, and leadership support translate collaboration into improved care, while hierarchies and disjointed information systems impede progress. Conclusions: Interdisciplinary collaboration among nursing, laboratory, and social work services measurably enhances patient care processes and outcomes in Saudi settings. Institutionalising protected team rounds, interoperable electronic records, and interprofessional training could convert episodic coordination into systematic, high value care. These strategies align with national policy priorities and offer a replicable pathway toward integrated, efficient, and patient focused healthcare.
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