Importance of Interprofessional Healthcare for Vulnerable Refugee Populations.
The refugee population in the United States is steadily increasing. These populations face a plethora of diseases and chronic health problems (i.e. obesity, hypertension and depression) as they resettle into their new environment. Due to the lack of understanding, minority population refugee health is scarce and minimal at best. Refugees and healthcare professionals face similar barriers when it comes to seeking treatment and treatment itself. For example, refugees might not be able to communicate efficiently and understand the referral process while healthcare professionals do not understand the culture and language of their patients. However, more data is needed to determine if interprofessional teams consisting of differing healthcare professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, and dieticians that conduct home visits might be able to bridge the health care gap between individualized treatment and refugee needs.
Division of Health Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA. niesmary@isu.edu.
Mary A
MA
Nies
Division of Health Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA.
Wei Yean Alyssa
WYA
Lim
Division of Health Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA.|School of Nursing, 1311 E. Central Drive, Meridian, ID, 83642, USA.
Kelly
K
Fanning
Division of Health Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA.|School of Nursing, 1311 E. Central Drive, Meridian, ID, 83642, USA.
Susan
S
Tavanier
D003144:Communication Barriers; D054521:Cultural Competency; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007802:Language; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012036:Refugees; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
Chronic disease; Healthcare; Interprofessional teams; Refugee