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Health professional perceptions regarding healthcare provision to immigrants in Catalonia

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

To analyse health personnel perceptions regarding the provision of care to immigrant population.

Methods

An exploratory and descriptive qualitative study was carried out by means of semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups to a theoretical sample of informants: Healthcare managers (19) and health professionals (46) from primary and secondary care. Narrative content analysis was conducted, segmented by informants’ groups and themes. The area of study was five regions (comarcas) of Catalonia (Spain).

Results

Having to provide healthcare to immigrants generates feelings of distress, overload and exhaustion in health professionals, particularly in primary care personnel. However, problems faced in providing care were identified both by professionals and managers. Communication barriers emerged as the main problem. Other problems were attributed to specific characteristics of immigrants, their inappropriate use of services and professionals’ attitudes. Structural and organizational deficiencies of the health system also emerged.

Conclusions

For health professionals in Catalonia to provide care of quality to immigrants, interventions that reduce communication barriers and improve their cultural competences are requested. In addition, structural changes are needed to adapt the Catalonian health care system to the new circumstances.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Av. Tibidabo 21, 08022, Barcelona, Spain

    Rebeca Terraza-Núñez, M. Luisa Vázquez & Ingrid Vargas

  2. Immigration and Health Plan, Directorate of Planning and Evaluation, Catalonian Department of Health, Barcelona, Spain

    Tona Lizana

Authors
  1. Rebeca Terraza-Núñez
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  2. M. Luisa Vázquez
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  3. Ingrid Vargas
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  4. Tona Lizana
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebeca Terraza-Núñez.

Additional information

This paper belongs to the special issue “Migrants and ethnic minorities in Europe: new challenges for public health research and practice”.

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Terraza-Núñez, R., Vázquez, M.L., Vargas, I. et al. Health professional perceptions regarding healthcare provision to immigrants in Catalonia. Int J Public Health 56, 549–557 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-0223-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-0223-7

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