Table 4.
Patient-centred care | Immigrant and refugee target | ||
---|---|---|---|
Domains [20] | Description | General | Women |
Foster a healing relationship |
Establishing a friendly, courteous and comfortable relationship |
• Focus attention on the patient (not computer) • Prepare ahead of time • Treat patient as person and not a disease • Be dedicated to help migrants • Promote a culture of diversity • Be self-aware of the influence of one’s own culture • Greet and welcome the patient • Take time to chat informally • Adopt a friendly, caring and respectful manner • Doctor of same gender, culture or religion, or of older age • Become familiar with patient’s culture and migration journey • Learn a few words of patient’s language • Ensure continuity of the healthcare team |
• Assume a non-judgment manner • Convey clinical competency • Woman doctor, or doctor of same culture or religion |
Exchange information | Learning about the patient; words or language used to discuss health care |
• Listen to the patient • Ask questions to fully understand patient’s concern • Involve personal support or trained interpreter • Ensure the patient accepts use of an interpreter • Speak slowly • Use short sentences • Avoid medical jargon • Explain topics in various ways • Devote more time to consultations or divide tasks into multiple consultations • Take extra time to check/ensure comprehension |
• Provide time to ask questions • Good communication skills |
Address emotions or concerns | Responding to or managing emotional reactions |
• Acknowledge concerns • Offer comfort and encouragement • Apply multidisciplinary teamwork |
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Manage uncertainty | Addressing uncertainties about prognosis or outcomes | • Be honest about diagnosis | – |
Make decisions | Engaging patient in discussion and decision-making |
• Recognize, accommodate and respect cultural differences • Personalize care (don’t generalize to culture or country of origin) |
• Provide enough information that they are equipped to take part in decisions |
Enable self-management | Setting expectations for follow-up care; preparing for self-managing health and well-being |
• Coordinate tests and appointments • Take time to describe how the healthcare system works or offer orientation/tours • Use verbal and audiovisual rather than written communication (may lack literacy even in own written language) • Collaborate with community agencies |
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