Providing Healthcare to Underprivileged Immigrants: What are the Challenges for Health Professionals?

Challenges and barriers can arise when people from different cultures communicate. Situations become complicated when healthcare professionals communicate with patients from immigrant backgrounds, especially those who are unfamiliar with the healthcare system in their host countries. This short commentary paper aims to outline the main challenges for healthcare professionals when providing care to immigrant pa

Challenges and barriers can arise when people from different cultures communicate. Situations become complicated when healthcare professionals communicate with patients from immigrant backgrounds, especially those who are unfamiliar with the healthcare system in their host countries. This commentary paper aims to outline the main challenges for healthcare professionals when providing care to immigrant patients. The paper is based on a recently published research article in which a systematic review of the literature was performed on intercultural communication between healthcare professionals and patients from immigrant backgrounds. Language barriers, gender, and privacy concerns have been identified as the main factors that prevent health professionals from effectively communicating with patients. The paper concludes with recommendations for healthcare providers to better support patients from underprivileged backgrounds.

tients. The paper is based on a recently published research article in which a systematic review of the literature was performed on intercultural communication between healthcare professionals and patients from immigrant backgrounds. Language barriers, gender, and privacy concerns have been identified as the main factors that prevent health professionals from effectively communicating with patients. The paper concludes with recommendations for healthcare providers to better support patients from underprivileged backgrounds.

Author(s):

Xin Zhao

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