Computers Usage in Social Medical Work in Kuwait A Field Survey

Abstract

This study aims at assessing the benefits of using computer technology in enhancing the role of social works. In old days, social workers used to prepare paper files for storing data and keeping track of the information pertinent to the different cases under study. Thank to the computer age, data bases are constructed to store, manipulate, and retrieve massive data easily, effectively and timely making any file a minute part of these data bases. Unfortunately, this galloping from old practices into new computer era is not accepted by many social workers and has frightened others; this is mainly due to fear of change and lack of confidence among old timers. Hence, accepting such a change necessitates spending time and energy to convince many to move from old practices to the new. This research work attempts to explore the existing capabilities of the practitioners in the field of medical social work in using computers in diagnosing patients and recording the different information and statistics of these patients. Other objectives include creating a friendly atmosphere between the computer and the social worker. Above all, creating awareness among medical social works community to the importance of using this new technology.