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Migrant and minority family members in the intensive care unit. A review of the literature

Familienangehörige mit Migrationshintergrund auf der Intensivstation. Eine Literaturstudie

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Abstract

Statistics show that people with migrant and minority background as patients are significant in numbers in the intensive care unit. This also puts family members in the perspective of nursing because family members are an inherent part of the intensive care unit. Family-centered care is perhaps most applicable to vulnerable populations like migrant family in the intensive care unit to meet family member’s needs. But very little is known about the situation of migrant and minority family members in the intensive care unit. The aim of the study was to explore the state of the science regarding family-centered care in the intensive care unit of patients with migration background in general and with a possible focus on major migrant populations in Austria—Former Yugoslavian und Turkish origin. A literature review investigated research articles that contained information on migrant and minority family members in the intensive care unit. Key points in the relevant articles were identified and categorized into themes with an explanation of findings at the end. Seventeen articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. No article was found regarding groups of major migrant population groups in Austria. The included articles uncovered five predominant themes: importance of cultural norms, communication, family dynamics, universal caring, and nursing/provider deficit in culturally competent care. In order to provide adequate nursing care a more cohesive body of information on more specific geographic and cultural populations is recommended. Because of the complete lack of research regarding migrant families of Former Yugoslavian and Turkish origin into Austria, an exploration of this population is recommended.

Zusammenfassung

Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund als Patienten auf einer Intensivstation sind eine zahlenmäßig relevante Größe. Dies hebt auch die Bedeutung von Angehörigen von Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund hervor, da Angehörige zum festen Bestandteil einer Intensivstation gehören. Familienzentrierte Pflege (family centred care) ist ein wichtiger pflegerischer Ansatz, um sich auf die Bedürfnisse von vulnerablen Gruppen wie Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund zu beziehen. Über die Situation von Angehörigen auf der Intensivstation mit Migrationshintergrund ist allerdings wenig bekannt. Das Ziel dieser Studie besteht darin, im Rahmen einer Literaturanalyse den Forschungsstand zum Thema Familienzentrierte Pflege auf der Intensivstation hinsichtlich ihrer inhaltlichen Ausrichtungen unter dem Aspekt von Familienangehörigen mit Migrationshintergrund zu beleuchten. Aufgrund der Bedeutung für Österreich soll besonderes Augenmerk auf Ex-Jugoslawien und Türkei, die als die größten Migrationsgruppen gelten, gelegt werden. Zentrale Themen innerhalb der Artikel wurden kategorisiert, beschrieben und erklärt. Siebzehn Artikel wurden in die Literaturstudie eingeschlossen. Fünf zentrale Themen konnten identifiziert werden: Bedeutung kultureller Normen, Kommunikation, Familiendynamik, generelle Pflege und fehlendende kulturelle Kompetenz seitens der Pflegenden. Keine Studie konnte identifiziert werden, die sich mit der Situation von Migranten aus Ex-Jugoslawien und der Türkei auseinandersetzen. Um zielgruppenspezifische Pflege anbieten zu können ist mehr Forschung über die Besonderheiten spezifischer Gruppen von Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund generell und die Zielgruppen der Menschen aus Ex-Jugoslawien und der Türkei im Speziellen notwendig.

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Disclaimer

This article is the result of the collaboration through the School of Nursing at Georgia Southern University during the research placement at Institute of Nursing Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria in summer 2011 with MHIRT faculty mentors. The student was supported by the Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) program, “Training in Chronic Illness Research in Georgia and Abroad” (T37MD001489-07), K. H. Anderson PI, from the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA

    KettyElena Quindemil RN, BSN, CCRN &  Kathryn Hoehn Anderson ARNP, LMFT

  2. Department of Nursing Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Martin Nagl-Cupal RN, CCRN &  Hanna Mayer RN

Authors
  1. KettyElena Quindemil RN, BSN, CCRN
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  2. Martin Nagl-Cupal RN, CCRN
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  3. Kathryn Hoehn Anderson ARNP, LMFT
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  4. Hanna Mayer RN
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Correspondence to Martin Nagl-Cupal RN, CCRN.

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Quindemil, K., Nagl-Cupal, M., Anderson, K. et al. Migrant and minority family members in the intensive care unit. A review of the literature. HBScience 4, 128–135 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s16024-013-0171-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s16024-013-0171-2

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