The future of intercultural mediation in Belgium.
Intercultural mediation was developed to solve problems between western (Belgian) health professionals and Turkish, Moroccan and Italian clients. The need for intercultural mediation in Belgium Health Care was measured by asking intercultural mediators to complete a questionnaire about situations in which language, culture, social-economic and personal circumstances cause difficulties. Results show that the profession 'intercultural mediator' continues to be important in improving the quality and accessibility of the Belgian health care for ethnic minorities. Even if clients speak Flemish fluently, there are still difficulties between health professional and client caused by culture, social-economic and personal circumstances.
Nierkens
Vera
V
Department of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. v.nierkens@amc.uva.nl
Krumeich
Anja
A
de Ridder
Ri
R
van Dongen
Martien
M
D001530:Belgium; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D003469:Culture; D005006:Ethnicity; D005544:Forecasting; D006296:Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D017008:Negotiating; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations