[Barriers to communication between clinicians and immigrants].
Clinicians lack cultural competencies and communication skills relevant to clinical decision-making in cases of language and cultural barriers. Life course perspectives and basic understanding of life in exile are not integrated in diagnostics, treatment or follow-up resulting in low patient compliance, mistrust, complications, diagnostic errors and delays. Stereotyping and generalizations put patients in a position where they are forced to protect themselves by withholding important information. When in doubt clinicians should ask, listen and avoid guessing.
Indvandrermedicinsk Klinik, Infektionsmedicinsk Afdeling Q, Odense Universitetshospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C. msodemann@health.sdu.dk.
Morten
M
Sodemann
Trine Rønde
TR
Kristensen
Henrik
H
Sångren
Dorthe
D
Nielsen
D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D003144:Communication Barriers; D054521:Cultural Competency; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013240:Stereotyping