title: Perceptions of psychiatric care among foreign- and Swedish-born people with psychotic disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper is a report of a study to explore different perceptions of psychiatric care among foreign- and Swedish-born people with psychotic disorders.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Research from different countries reports a high-incidence of psychosis among migrants. The risk-factors discussed are social disadvantages in the new country. To understand and meet the needs of people from different countries, their perspective of psychiatric care must be illuminated and taken into consideration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A phenomenographic study was conducted in 2005-2006 using semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 12 foreign-born people and 10 Swedish-born people with psychosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three categories were identified: personal and family involvement in care; relating to healthcare staff; and managing illness and everyday life. Foreign-born people differed from Swedish-born people in that they struggled to attain an everyday life in Sweden, relied on healthcare staff as experts in making decisions, and had religious beliefs about mental illness. Among Swedish-born people, the need for more support to relatives and help to perform recreational activities was important.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to identify individual perceptions and needs, which may be influenced by cultural origins, when caring for patients with psychosis. Previous experience of care, different ways of relating to staff, and individual needs should be identified and met with respect. Social needs should not be medicalized but taken into consideration when planning care, which illustrates the importance of multi-professional co-operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ryhov County Hospital, Jönköping, Sweden. sallyhultsjo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hultsjö
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berterö
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hjelm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*