title: Health professional perceptions regarding healthcare provision to immigrants in Catalonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse health personnel perceptions regarding the provision of care to immigrant population.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory and descriptive qualitative study was carried out by means of semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups to a theoretical sample of informants: Healthcare managers (19) and health professionals (46) from primary and secondary care. Narrative content analysis was conducted, segmented by informants' groups and themes. The area of study was five regions (comarcas) of Catalonia (Spain).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having to provide healthcare to immigrants generates feelings of distress, overload and exhaustion in health professionals, particularly in primary care personnel. However, problems faced in providing care were identified both by professionals and managers. Communication barriers emerged as the main problem. Other problems were attributed to specific characteristics of immigrants, their inappropriate use of services and professionals' attitudes. Structural and organizational deficiencies of the health system also emerged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For health professionals in Catalonia to provide care of quality to immigrants, interventions that reduce communication barriers and improve their cultural competences are requested. In addition, structural changes are needed to adapt the Catalonian health care system to the new circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Av. Tibidabo 21, 08022 Barcelona, Spain. rterraza@consorci.org
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Terraza-Núñez
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Tona
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lizana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003469:Culture; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain