Health services and the treatment of immigrants: data on service use, interpreting services and immigrant staff members in services across Europe
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The number of immigrants using health services has increased across Europe. For assessing and improving the quality of care provided for immigrants, information is required on how many immigrants use services, what interpreting services are provided and whether staff members are from immigrant groups. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted with 15 health services (9 primary care, 3 emergency departments, 3 mental health) located in areas with high immigrant populations in each of 16 European countries (n=240). Responses were collected on the availability of data on service use by immigrant patients, the provision of interpreting services and immigrant staff members. RESULTS: Data on service use by immigrants were recorded by only 15% of services. More than 40% of services did not provide any form of interpreting service and 54% of the services reported having no immigrant staff. Mental health services were more likely to use direct interpreting services, and both mental health and emergency services were more likely to have immigrant staff members. DISCUSSION: For assessing and improving the quality of care provided for immigrants, there is a need to improve the availability of data on service use by immigrants in health services throughout Europe and to provide more consistent access to interpreting services.
Source: European Psychiatry
Institutions: Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Mental Health, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, University of Amsterdam, Fund for Scientific Research, UCLouvain, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Regione Lazio, University of Copenhagen, National School of Public Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Agencia de Salud Pública de Barcelona, University of Debrecen, Mid Sweden University, Griffith University, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology
Language: English
Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1454842739