title: [Asylum seekers and refugees in the emergency department].
abstract: This cross-sectional study describes the health problems and the health care of asylum seekers and refugees from the point of view of accident & emergency (A & E) physicians at the major hospital in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The physicians filled in a detailed questionnaire and documented all consultations of asylum seekers/refugees and of a control group of patients during eleven weeks (2 x 98 consultations). 76% of these asylum seekers/refugees originated from former Yugoslavia. The distribution of the main ICD-coded diagnoses did not differ between asylum seekers/refugees and the control group after correction for age. In comparison with the asylum seekers and refugees attending GPs, injuries were much more common in the A & E department attenders (37% vs. 8%). Asylum seekers/refugees and the patients in the control group did not differ in respect to being classified as an emergency case (58% vs. 65%). There were also no differences in hospitalisation rates (29% vs. 36%). Asylum seekers/refugees who were registered with a GP attended the A & E department more often during the night than during the day compared to patients who were not registered with a GP. Consultations which have been classified as emergencies occurred more frequently during the day than at night time. The time of residence in Switzerland was negatively associated with the registration with a GP and with being classified as an emergency case. A lack of experience in caring for asylum seekers and refugees and of specific training in this field has been the major complaint by the A & E physicians. Asylum seekers should be introduced to the tasks and functions of the various sectors of the national health care system as early as possible. Registration with a GP in the community should be promoted.
authors.affiliation: Schweizerisches Tropeninstitut, Basel. BLOECHLIGERC@ubaclu.unibas.ch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blöchliger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osterwalder
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hatz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Junghanss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009017:Morbidity; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013557:Switzerland; D014600:Utilization Review