Background: Mass migration concerns all countries worldwide. The increasing number of migrants in Europe is a challenge to financial and human resources in health services that needs to be addressed urgently. Even though migrants have the right to care in European countries, due to lack of knowledge about healthcare systems and their entitlements migrants face more obstacles in accessing healthcare compared with native populations. Additional obstacles can be language barriers or cultural differences. The current drive towards developing person-centred care in many European countries emphasizes the activation of patients’ individual resources in managing illness and maintaining health. Research shows that migrant patients use various strategies to gain access to healthcare and the individual’s network plays an important role.. The individual resources and strategies that migrants draw upon have to date received little attention and little is known about how person-centred care can contribute to fostering migrant health. The current project aims to address this gap in knowledge including the perspective of different stakeholders
Method
Setting: Four European countries (The United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and Portugal).
The Design: An explorative study comprising a (1) a review of the literature and comparison of the health care systems and provision in the four participating countries. (2) An exploration of strategies, obstacles and opportunities in care seeking and provision including different stakeholders (migrants, healthcare professionals).
Sample: First generation migrants, aged 18 or above, living in either of the four participating countries (UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Portugal). Healthcare professionals from different settings (hospitals, community) who meet migrant patients in their daily practice
Data collection and analysis
- A literature review
- A mixed methods study (convergent parallel design).
a) Quantitative data collection: A purposed-designed questionnaire be used to assess migrant patients demographic data, perceived health status and health-seeking behaviours. The data will be analysed descriptively and through inferential statistics, sub-groups analysis will be conducted for each individual country
b) Qualitative data collection: individual interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders. The data will be analysed descriptively
Results: We expect this study to provide unique insights into the problems associated with migrant healthcare within the European countries, but we also expect to identify opportunities to foster self-care strategies and autonomy in migrant patients.
Conclusion: This research will provide an evidence base to develop tool and instruments that enhance care provision for migrant patients, a patient population that remains to date underserved.
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