title: Bridging obstacles to transcultural caring relationships--tools discovered through interviews with staff in pediatric oncology care.
abstract: In this qualitative study we explored how health-care staff continuously resolve "obstacles to transcultural caring relationships" as they care for families with an immigrant background within the context of pediatric oncology care. A constant comparative method was used and data collection included 5 focus group interviews and 5 complementary individual interviews with health-care staff within pediatric oncology care. Bridging emerged as the way that health-care staff deal with obstacles to transcultural caring relationships. Bridging is a process in which various tools may be used and combined, including communicational tools, transcultural tools and organizational tools. Failure to use tools, or to use and combine them insufficiently, can bring the caring relationship to a halt, which leads to inequity in care. In order to ensure the provision of high-quality care despite differences in religion, culture, language and social situation, health-care staff need to bridge obstacles to transcultural caring relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital/Solna Q6:05, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. pernilla.pergert@ki.se
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pergert
authors.forename: Solvig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ekblad
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Enskär
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Björk
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D003144:Communication Barriers; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*