Zeitschrift fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie
Volume 63, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 280-296

'How strange is the patient to me?' Physicians' attitudes and expectations toward treating patients with a migration background ["Wie fremd ist miR der Patient?" Erfahrungen, Einstellungen und Erwartungen von Ärztinnen und Ärzten bei der Versorgung von Patientinnen und Patienten mit Migrationshintergrund] (Article)

Karger A.* , Lindtner-Rudolph H. , Mroczynski R. , Ziem A. , Joksimovic L.
  • a Geteilte Erstautorschaft., Germany, Medizinische Fakultät DerHeinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Klinisches Institut und Klinik Für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Germany, Klinisches Institut Für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany
  • b Geteilte Erstautorschaft., Germany, Medizinische Fakultät DerHeinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Klinisches Institut und Klinik Für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Germany
  • c Institut Für Germanistik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf., Germany
  • d Institut Für Germanistik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf., Germany
  • e Medizinische Fakultät DerHeinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Klinisches Institut und Klinik Für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Germany

Abstract

Objectives: Undergraduate and postgraduate training in cultural competence remains a challenging issue. It might be useful to integrate culturally sensitive learning objectives in existing curricula. As part of a needs assessment, this qualitative study examined the prototypical experiences in clinical routines with patients with a migration background. Methods: Twenty physicians took part in half-structured narrative interviews,which were then analyzed by linguistic-ethnographic conversation analysis. Results: The main reasons for difficulties in patient-physician relation proved to be language barriers. Assignments of professional interpreters were rated critically. Physicians attributed the responsibility for successful communication mainly to the patient. The physicians saw little need for training in cultural competence. Conclusions: The integration of learning objectives related to cultural sensibility in existing curricula would seem to be useful, especially because the physicians interviewed reported little need for additional training on their own. The importance of implied negative attitudes and stereotypes in creating a culturally sensitive approach should be taken into account. © 2017 Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen.

Author Keywords

language barriers Medical training Patients with a migration background Patient communication Physician Intercultural competence

Index Keywords

education doctor patient relation communication barrier Physician-Patient Relations curriculum Communication Barriers narrative Germany human Education, Medical middle aged Interview, Psychological stereotypy language Cultural Competency cultural competence health personnel attitude interview Attitude of Health Personnel Humans migrant psychology psychological interview responsibility male Emigrants and Immigrants female medical education sensibility conversation translating (language) Translating adult expectation Learning
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85036624529&partnerID=40&md5=6417828d90dd7f2b8192418172df08b4
ISSN: 14383608
Cited by: 1
Original Language: German