Abstract:
Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Philippines’ migrant healthcare
workforce. Within Saudi-based healthcare organizations, Overseas Filipino Healthcare Workers
(HCWs) interact with Saudi HCWs in a process known as intercultural communication. In line
with this, the study sought to understand how Overseas Filipino HCWs use accommodation
strategies in multicultural healthcare organizations in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia to facilitate
effective intercultural communication with their Saudi coworkers. Using Geert Hofstede’s
Cultural Dimensions Model and the Communication Accommodation Theory as a guide, the study
used the phenomenological qualitative research method as its research design. Data were collected
from eight (8) Filipino HCWs through semi-structured online interviews and analyzed using Paul
Colaizzi’s Seven-step Descriptive Phenomenological Technique. Findings revealed that Filipino
HCWs perceive differences between Filipinos’ and Saudis’ cultural values and mindset, which
manifest in their interactions in the form of linguistic and cultural barriers. Then, they overcome
these barriers using the appropriate language, sound, or action-based accommodation strategy,
which leads to both interpersonal and intrapersonal outcomes. Hence, these findings demonstrate
that Filipino HCWs undergo a process when facilitating intercultural communication: they
evaluate cultural differences, encounter communication barriers, overcome barriers through
accommodation strategies, and reap the outcomes.
