Today, nearly 20% of the Swedish population originates from multiethnic backgrounds. Patients' symptom expressions, adherence to health regimens, and communication with health-care professionals have been shown to be related to their ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Purpose: To describe documented care of immigrant patients and matched Swedish patients at a heart failure clinic. Method: Journal audit of records of 25 immigrant and 25 matched Swedish patients with HF included from the patient registration database at the hospital where they were cared for. Results: In the immigrant group, significantly fewer clinical parameters were assessed during their visits and fewer patients were scheduled for follow-up visits. Analyses revealed that some of the items recommended in the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for non-pharmacological HF care were overlooked for both of the groups. Conclusions: We found that medication adjustments and information about the condition and treatment were fairly similarly documented between Swedish and immigrant patients while significantly fewer clinical measurements and follow-up visits were documented for the immigrant group. © 2006 European Society of Cardiology.

immigrants Nursing documentation Follow-up visits Heart failure Non-pharmacological therapy

medical record review Cultural Diversity immigrant follow up human controlled study priority journal Guideline Adherence Aged nursing care nursing assessment Nursing Records Heart Failure, Congestive Nursing Audit Residence Characteristics Sweden Humans Hospitals, University male female medical documentation clinical article Nursing Evaluation Research Article patient education Retrospective Studies Practice Guidelines Quality of Health Care ambulatory care Emigration and Immigration aftercare heart failure documentation