A review of records from follow-up visits for immigrant and Swedish patients at a heart failure clinic.
Today, nearly 20% of the Swedish population originates from multiethnic backgrounds. Patients' symptom expressions, adherence to health regimens, and communication with health-care professionals have been shown to be related to their ethnic and cultural backgrounds.


OBJECTIVE
To describe documented care of immigrant patients and matched Swedish patients at a heart failure clinic.


METHODS
Journal audit of records of 25 immigrant and 25 matched Swedish patients with HF included from the patient registration database at the hospital where they were cared for.


RESULTS
In the immigrant group, significantly fewer clinical parameters were assessed during their visits and fewer patients were scheduled for follow-up visits. Analyses revealed that some of the items recommended in the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for non-pharmacological HF care were overlooked for both of the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that medication adjustments and information about the condition and treatment were fairly similarly documented between Swedish and immigrant patients while significantly fewer clinical measurements and follow-up visits were documented for the immigrant group.
Hedemalm
Azar
A
Institute of Health and Care Sciences. The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Box 457, SE 405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. azar.hedemalm@comhem.se
Schaufelberger
Maria
M
Ekman
Inger
I
D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards*; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004282:Documentation; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D009731:Nursing Audit; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009737:Nursing Records; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden