First and second-generation migrant patients’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators of intercultural communication

Abstract

One of the central aspects of effective health care services is good communication. The present-day globalization and worldwide migration are giving rise to culturally diverse societies. As a result, intercultural communication has become relevant to many aspects of society including health care. To supplement the limited research body of intercultural communication in health care in the Netherlands, this research focused on the perspectives of first and second non-western migrant patients in the Netherlands of barriers and facilitators of intercultural communication in consultations. Overall, results showed that the biggest determined facilitators and barriers that came forward for migrant patients were GP related. Key components were workload, willingness to communicate and the social component of communication. Some separate barriers and facilitators for the first-generation group included the social component and the language. For the second-generation patient group these included anxiety, pain and discomfort, the workload and the suitability of the. The fact that there are some important and strong differences in components might be an opportunity to better understand the needs and preferences of the different generations. The key components that both groups had in common in this research reflect core elements of patient centered care. The need to view the patient as a unique person, understanding patients and their illness in the context of their background and wanting to establish a relationship with the patient, all answer to the facilitators of willingness to communicate and the social component of communication (apathy and knowledge/awareness of patient and relatives). These elements are in turn dependant on the biggest barrier: time.