Influence of a Patient’s Migration Background on the Nursing Care Process in a German Hospital

Volume 1 - Issue 3

Daniela Baum*

Received: May 28, 2018;   Published: June 08, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/LOJNHC.2018.01.000115

Full Text PDF

To view the Full Article   Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

The German economy, due to the exponential demographic growth, depends on the employment of various professionals’ workforce from abroad. However, with the enlarged factor of globalization, it is facing an increased incidence of unusual health problems. Consequently, the number of migrants with ill health conditions has increased in the past. In light of this situation, hospital care provision services and professionals are regularly confronted with challenges when it comes to managing patients with foreign cultural and religious backgrounds. Even though, there are specific trainings and translation services for intercultural care available, specific information on the health care of migrants is still lacking. For this reason, the current master thesis intends to investigate the potential impacts of the migrant background of patients on the nursing process.

In order to gain an insight into the current situation, thirteen in-depth qualitative interviews with nurses and four with patients in the surgical department of a University hospital in southern Germany were conducted in July 2017. The Data was analyzed by using qualitative content analysis. The interviewees described challenges regarding the areas of organizational resources, communication and cultural peculiarities. Particular emphasis was placed on the pain relief, basic care, and nutrition habits. In addition, patients were found to be less knowledgeable with respect to the German health care system and the way it functions. Most of the nurses interviewed in the study knew the existence of opportunities for intercultural care, but few of them have had such training in their career. For an optimal care process of patients with migrant background, further strengthening of skills in intercultural care, is crucially needed. Moreover, an increased cooperation and information exchange between all relevant stakeholder and parties in health care, will improve the health care provision and health status of patients with migrant background.

Abstract| Introduction| Methodical approach| Results| Limitations of the research| Discussion| Conclusion| References|