Quality of Life Research
Volume 26, Issue 5, 2017, Pages 1223-1232

Investigating acculturation orientations of patients with an immigration background and doctors in Canada: implications for medical advice adherence (Article)

Whittal A.* , Hanke K. , Lippke S.
  • a Bremen International School of Social Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen, 28759, Germany, St. Mary’s Hospital, McGill University, 3830 Lacombe Avenue, Montreal, QC H3T 1M5, Canada, Department of Psychology and Methods, Health Psychology, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen, 28759, Germany
  • b Bremen International School of Social Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen, 28759, Germany, GESIS-Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, PO Box 12 21 55, Mannheim, 68072, Germany, Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen, 28759, Germany
  • c Bremen International School of Social Sciences, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen, 28759, Germany, Department of Psychology and Methods, Health Psychology, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen, 28759, Germany

Abstract

Background: Increased immigration requires successful interaction of different cultures in various life domains, such as health. This study investigates acculturation orientation (AO) of immigrant patients and doctors native to the country, as a potential factor related to perceived medical advice adherence. Data and methods: N = 171 immigrant patients (M = 54.38 years, SD = 17.94, range = 23–96, 74.3 % female) and their N = 12 doctors (M = 38.88 years, SD = 13.42, range = 27–66, 83 % female) from a hospital in Montreal, Canada, participated in a paper-based survey to assess AOs, patients’ perceived expectations of their doctor (regarding adopting the new culture or keeping their previous culture), doctors’ actual expectations, perceived quality of care and perceived adherence. Results: AO of patients significantly related to perceived adherence, via a path model involving perceptions of doctors’ expectations and perceived quality of care. Integration was positively related to perceived adherence, while Marginalization was negatively related to it. Doctors’ AOs were not significant. Conclusion: Patient perceptions seem to be a significant factor to be considered when striving to improve immigrant medical advice adherence. © 2016, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.

Author Keywords

acculturation orientation Immigrant health Culture and health health psychology Quality of life

Index Keywords

doctor patient relation cultural anthropology Physician-Patient Relations immigrant human immigration ethics middle aged statistics and numerical data priority journal Aged marriage quality of life Surveys and Questionnaires Humans psychology male Canada Acculturation female questionnaire cultural factor Article legislation and jurisprudence patient compliance employment status adult major clinical study migration physician Emigration and Immigration expectation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84991740177&doi=10.1007%2fs11136-016-1438-8&partnerID=40&md5=078580a23b137ff4333e627989eb1109
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-016-1438-8
ISSN: 09629343
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English