diff --git a/apps/backend/src/routes/assessmentRequest/route.ts b/apps/backend/src/routes/assessmentRequest/route.ts
index ff912bf..1266469 100644
--- a/apps/backend/src/routes/assessmentRequest/route.ts
+++ b/apps/backend/src/routes/assessmentRequest/route.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ const assessmentRequestRoute = new Hono<HonoEnv>()
                     and(
                         eq(users.id, userId),
                         q && q.trim() !== "" 
-                        ? ilike(sql`${assessments.status}::text`, `%${q}%`) // Cast status to text for ilike
+                        ?sql`CAST(${assessments.status} AS TEXT) ILIKE ${'%' + q + '%'}`
                         : undefined                    
                     )
                 )
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ const assessmentRequestRoute = new Hono<HonoEnv>()
                     and(
                         eq(users.id, userId),
                         q && q.trim() !== "" 
-                        ? ilike(sql`${assessments.status}::text`, `%${q}%`) // Cast status to text for ilike
+                        // ? ilike(sql`${assessments.status}::text`, `%${q}%`) // Cast status to text for ilike
+                        ?sql`CAST(${assessments.status} AS TEXT) ILIKE ${'%' + q + '%'}`
                         : undefined
                     )
                 )