People of non-German background still have difficulties obtaining adequate access to the German health care system. Reasons include communication barriers, differences in the concept of disease and low level of education in addition to a frequently difficult social situation and immigration-related stress factors. The majority of the patients consult the family physician first. Taking into consideration the different cultural concepts of disease and immigration-specific stress factors opens new therapeutic options and expands the intercultural competence of the treating physician.

somatization Mental stress Immigration-related stress factors Immigrant background

general practice Short Survey doctor patient relation cultural anthropology Physician-Patient Relations depression Germany hospitalization psychological aspect interpersonal communication human middle aged Stress, Psychological social aspect Turkey (republic) mental stress comparative study ethnology medical practice cultural competence Mental Disorders cultural sensitivity psychotherapy mental disease Humans Adolescent Emigrants and Immigrants Socioeconomic Factors Review socioeconomics adult migration physician age Turkey Age Factors ambulatory care health care system Somatoform Disorders somatoform disorder Family Practice Culture Child