Background: In spite of some research on immigrants in German Health Care there exists hardly any research on General Practitioners (GP) experiences with immigrants or with patients having a migration background. Methods: A focus group with about 30 German family doctors was held, documented and transcribed. The authors performed independently a content analysis and developed inductively a categorical system in a consensus process. Results: The categories found are: 1. Communication, 2. Concepts of culture and disease 3. Empathy and understanding, 4. Personal insecurity, helplessness and anger and 5. Generalising, defamation and social exclusion. The participants (P) saw a major problem in verbal communication with their patients due to their presumed low level of German language. Ps constructed an "own", a "self" and an "another" concept of culture and disease when reflecting on themselves and their migrant patients. A profound effort for an empathic understanding of patients from this group was expressed by some Ps. Ps did not report on own discriminating behaviour or racism. However they demonstrated such thinking, speaking and acting. A few participants could perceive differences and individuality within this patient group. Conclusions: It could be shown that behind Ps effort for a non-discriminating approach to patients with a migration background, they presented an attitude of otherization, generalisation, essentialisation, prejudices, discrimination and racism. To overcome discrimination and racism in German General Medicine, it is necessary to develop and implement "equity and diversity approaches". © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart.

discrimination German Health Care Racism Focus group

Empathy doctor patient relation immigrant general practitioner documentation cultural factor verbal communication medical practice racism Article health care interpersonal communication human migration