title: Issues to address in burn care for ethnic minority children: a qualitative study of the experiences of health care staff.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous studies have shown that ethnic minority children in the developed world are at greater risk of sustaining burns compared to children from non-ethnic minority backgrounds. However, little is known about the experiences of hospital health care staff with ethnic minority children and parents. A qualitative interview study was conducted to gain more insight into burn care for ethnic minority children and the potential challenges this presents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews on burn care for ethnic minority children were conducted in 2009 with health care staff (N=17) working in two burn centers in the Netherlands. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a framework method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health care staff identified the following issues in burn care for ethnic minority children and their parents: (1) linguistic barriers to communication with parents about pressure garments, dressing changes, skin grafting procedures, and psychosocial support; (2) biological/genetic features of differing pigmentation of skin and skin healing; (3) cultural differences between parents and health care staff; (4) insecurity or irritation about linguistic and cultural barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burn health care staff should have knowledge of biological/genetic features of dark skin, awareness of cultural differences, and transcultural communication skills to deliver culturally competent care tailored to the needs of ethnic minority children and their parents.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Department of Social Medicine, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.suurmond@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suurmond
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dokter
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Loey
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Essink-Bot
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002056:Burns / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D009426:Netherlands; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology