Health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences in relation to immigrant patients: a questionnaire study at a Danish hospital

Abstract

Aims: A study was undertaken to identify variations in knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and communication among different categories of hospital staff with regard to immigrant patients in order to identify potential barriers for effective diagnosis, treatment, and care of immigrant patients. Methods: The study is based on a questionnaire mailed to doctors, nurses, and assistant nurses at Bispebjerg Hospital, a major general hospital in Copenhagen. Among the 1,012 persons included the total response rate was 58%. Results: A majority of all three professional groups obtain their knowledge on immigrants through the media and patient contact, and less through travels, courses, and colleagues. Doctors and nurses showed the most positive attitudes towards different statements about immigrants, and assistant nurses the most negative. Doctors and nurses also had most frequent contacts with immigrant patients and found their communication more satisfactory compared with assistant nurses. Many health workers expressed complaints about immigrants' inappropriate use of health services. That doctors and nurses had more positive attitudes towards immigrants than assistant nurses could be explained by their higher education providing a more "fundamental safety feeling'', or a feeling of not being in a competitive situation with immigrants. Assistant nurses had the least satisfactory communication with immigrant patients, possibly because they had less frequent contacts compared with doctors and nurses. Conclusions: The study provides a foundation for new interventions and priorities within the healthcare system regarding immigrant patients.