Health services and the treatment of immigrants: data on service use, interpreting services and immigrant staff members in services across Europe

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health services and the treatment of immigrants: data on service use, interpreting services and immigrant staff members in services across Europe

AU - Kluge, Ulrike

AU - Bogic, Marija

AU - Devillé, Walter

AU - Greacen, Tim

AU - Dauvrin, Marie

AU - Dias, Sónia

AU - Gaddini, Andrea

AU - Jensen, Natasja Koitzsch

AU - Ioannidi-Kapolou, E

AU - Mertaniemi, Ritva

AU - puigpinos riera, Rosa

AU - Sandhu, Sima

AU - Sárváry, Attila

AU - Soares, Joakim J.F.

AU - Stankunas, Mindaugas

AU - Straßmayr, Christa

AU - Welbel, Marta

AU - Heinz, Andreas

AU - Priebe, Stefan

PY - 2012/6

Y1 - 2012/6

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0924-9338

VL - 27

SP - S56-S62

JO - European Psychiatry

JF - European Psychiatry

ER -