INTRODUCTION: A growing body of research is examining how healthcare systems are responding to the increasing numbers of migrants and the resulting superdiversity of patients. The aim of this article is to identify and explain communication barriers in the provision of healthcare to Ukrainian war refugees in the Czech Republic from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and intercultural mediators. METHODS: The exploratory case study is based on a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with frontline health professionals: 20 with doctors and 10 with nurses. The second source of data is two focus groups aimed at capturing communication problems from the perspective of intercultural mediators who accompany refugees to health facilities. The interview transcripts and FGs were analysed using six-stage thematic coding. RESULTS: The survey identified five main themes related to barriers to communication: (1) language barriers and interpreting, (2) cultural barriers, (3) differing expectations of health and the healthcare systems in the Czech Republic and Ukraine, (4) prejudices and negative attitudes and unethical behaviour towards refugees and migrants and (5) lack of awareness of patient rights. CONCLUSIONS: The arrival of large numbers of migrants has highlighted deficiencies in the system that may affect other vulnerable groups and the general population. These include the lack of general communication skills and legal awareness among many health professionals, which are barriers to the development of patient-centred care. The involvement of intercultural mediators fundamentally improves communication between health professionals and (not only) migrant patients. Nevertheless, it is necessary to legally anchor and define the position of intercultural mediators within the healthcare system. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Collaboration with intercultural mediators who interpreted the extensive experiences of Ukrainian refugee patients and also have personal experience as migrant or migrant-origin patients contributed to shaping research questions, facilitating study participation and enriching evidence interpretation. Researchers with multicultural backgrounds and experience with working with people from refugee backgrounds were involved in the study design and analysis.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- komunikace MeSH
- komunikační bariéry * MeSH
- kvalitativní výzkum MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- poskytování zdravotní péče MeSH
- postoj zdravotnického personálu MeSH
- rozhovory jako téma MeSH
- uprchlíci * psychologie MeSH
- zdravotnický personál psychologie MeSH
- zjišťování skupinových postojů MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Ukrajina MeSH
Sri Lankan Tamil refugees (SLTRs) have lived in the United Kingdom in substantial numbers for about three decades. However, they remain under-represented in academic and public discourse, and little is known about their migration experiences. This study examined first-hand accounts of such experiences, with special attention paid to identity and acculturation. Data were collected through four semi-structured interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results suggest that SLTRs' experience of conflict as an imposed life disruption continues to shape their adaptation, identity, and meaning-making ("Afflicted life"). Changing social identities mediate protection from, as well as risk of, trauma. SLTRs try to remedy the socio-economic and emotional losses suffered in the conflict, but achieve only a partial compensation. Consequently their repair efforts are a source not only of positive emotions but also of dissatisfaction ("Living past"). Finally, participants' sense of belonging and quest for home represent a challenging socio-emotional process in which they continue to engage even decades after migration ("Continuing quest for home"). This nuanced analysis of how the past continues to shape lived experience, contributes to the under-developed literature on qualitative psychological investigations of acculturation, research on forced migration, and the establishment of IPA in social psychology.
- MeSH
- akulturace * MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kvalitativní výzkum MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- sociální identifikace * MeSH
- uprchlíci * psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Spojené království MeSH
- Srí Lanka MeSH
OBJECTIVE: Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered a huge wave of migration, with thousands of refugees arriving at Prague's Central Station. With no medical service available, medical students started to volunteer and were running an infirmary available around the clock. The research aimed to explore medical students' professional experiences, emotionally challenging situations, and coping strategies in this demanding setting. METHODS: The authors used a qualitative analysis of semi-structured in-depth interviews with 19 participants recruited through purposive sampling. Interviews took place between April and May 2022. Data were recorded, transcribed, and processed by using thematic qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The research identified five emotionally challenging situations: caring for traumatized refugees, refusal of treatment, disruption of everyday life, independent decision-making, and complexity of voluntary work. Students adopted both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies for dealing with stress and trauma. Almost half the students reported signs of secondary traumatization and moral distress; however, no one asked for psychological help. CONCLUSIONS: Medical school curricula should cover trauma-informed approaches, healthy coping strategies, and destigmatization of psychological problems.
- MeSH
- dobrovolní pracovníci psychologie MeSH
- kurikulum MeSH
- kvalitativní výzkum MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- studenti lékařství * psychologie MeSH
- uprchlíci * psychologie MeSH
- zdravotní stav MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: We aimed to screen Ukrainian war refugees (UWR) in Czechia for depression and anxiety, and to assess their recognition of personal mental health problems and related help-seeking. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a sample of UWR in Czechia. We used PHQ-8 and GAD-7 to screen for depression and anxiety, SELF-I to assess the recognition of respondents' own mental health problems, and a set of questions regarding mental health-related help-seeking. FINDINGS: Our sample consisted of 1,347 UWR. More than 41 % of respondents screened positively for moderate or severe depression and more than 23 % for moderate or severe anxiety. Self-recognition of mental health as well as help-seeking was very low among those who screened positively for moderate or severe depression or anxiety. INTERPRETATION: Even those UWR who report severe symptoms do not identify themselves as potentially having mental health issues and are not seeking help.
- MeSH
- deprese epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- duševní zdraví * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- uprchlíci * psychologie MeSH
- úzkost epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Úvod a cíl: Cílem článku je odhadnout míru zneužívání alkoholu a některých dalších psychických problémů u Ukrajinců, kteří vstoupili na území České republiky po 24. únoru 2022. Předchozí studie zaměřené na užívání alkoholu a dalších návykových látek mezi Ukrajinci v České republice nelze na současnou situaci aplikovat, neboť se většinou týkaly mužské populace a ekonomické migrace, která se od situace v roce 2022 značně lišila. Metody: Online průzkum byl proveden na příležitostném (convenience) nereprezentativním vzorku 66 ukrajinských uprchlíků v České republice. Většina respondentů přišla do České republiky se svými dětmi. Ke zjištění důvodů pití alkoholu a případných depresivních symptomů byly použity standardní dotazníky týkající se užívání návykových látek (alkohol, tabák). Výsledky: Podle výsledků nástroje AUDIT lze většinu respondentů z hlediska pití alkoholu zařadit do kategorie nízkého rizika. Odpovědi některých respondentů indikovaly problémy spojené s alkoholem. Byla zjištěna vysoká pozitivní korelace mezi změnou frekvence pití alkoholu a změnou množství alkoholu užitého během typické příležitosti k pití, přičemž změny se zjišťovaly od začátku války a od příchodu do Česka. Výsledky také ukázaly vysokou míru symptomů depresivity a vysokou míru kouření. Závěr: Výsledky jsou v souladu s jinými (řídkými) výzkumy v této oblasti. Je zdůrazněn význam výzkumu konzumace alkoholu, přičemž by byl velmi vítaný dlouhodobější výzkum.
Introduction and objective: The article aims to estimate the extent of alcohol use and some other mental health issues among Ukrainians who entered the Czech Republic after 24th February 2022. Previous studies focused on the use of alcohol and other substances among Ukrainians in the Czech Republic can't be applied to the current situation as these studies mostly covered the male population and economic migration that differed considerably from the situation in 2022. Methods: A convenience non-representative online survey was conducted on a sample of 66 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. Most respondents came to the Czech Republic with their children. Standard questionnaires related to substance use (alcohol, tobacco) were used to determine the reasons for alcohol drinking and possible depression symptoms. Results: According to the results of the AUDIT tool, most respondents can be classified as low risk in terms of alcohol drinking. Some respondents referred to alcohol-related problems. Since the beginning of the war and since arriving in Czechia, there is a high positive correlation between the change in drinking frequency and the change in the amount of alcohol use during a typical drinking occasion. The results also showed a high level of depression symptoms and a high level of smoking. Conclusion: The results are in line with other (rare) research in the field. The importance of alcohol consumption research is stressed, while longer-term research is highly desirable.
- MeSH
- deprese diagnóza MeSH
- kouření tabáku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- motivace MeSH
- ozbrojené konflikty MeSH
- pití alkoholu * MeSH
- uprchlíci * psychologie MeSH
- zpráva o sobě MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Ukrajina MeSH
- MeSH
- duševní zdraví MeSH
- kongresy jako téma MeSH
- mezinárodní spolupráce MeSH
- psychiatrie * MeSH
- uprchlíci * psychologie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- zprávy MeSH
- MeSH
- deprese epidemiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- socioekonomické faktory MeSH
- uprchlíci * psychologie MeSH
- úzkostné poruchy * epidemiologie MeSH
- válečné a ozbrojené konflikty psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- novinové články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
War refugees and veterans have been known to frequently develop neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders that tend to leave a long-lasting scar and impact their emotional response system. The shear stress, trauma, and mental breakdown from overnight displacement, family separation, and killing of friends and families cannot be described enough. Victims often require years of mental health support as they struggle with sleep difficulties, recurring memories, anxiety, grief, and anger. Everyone develops their coping mechanism which can involve dependence and long-term addiction to alcohol, drugs, violence, or gambling. The high prevalence of mental health disorders during and after the war indicates an undeniable necessity for screening those in need of treatment. For medical health professionals, it is crucial to identify such vulnerable groups who are prone to developing neuropsychiatric morbidities and associated risk factors. It is pivotal to develop and deploy effective and affordable multi-sectoral collaborative care models and therapy, which primarily depends upon family and primary care physicians in the conflict zones. Herein, we provide a brief overview regarding the identification and management of vulnerable populations, alongside discussing the challenges and possible solutions to the same.
OBJECTIVES: Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, over 3.5 million Syrians have fled to Turkey. Considering the massive burden of healthcare service needs of this population, the Turkish government has launched an initiative as employing Syrian doctors to provide health services to their citizens in Refugee Health Centres. In this study, we aimed to explore the social adaptation status of Syrian physicians living in Turkey using a structured questionnaire and the Social Adaptation Self Evaluation Scale (SASS). METHODS: Between November 2016 and April 2018, 799 physicians who participated in "Syrian Physicians' Adaptation Training" were enrolled in the study and underwent a structured questionnaire that questioned socio-demographic data and the SASS. The participants were divided into two groups as having poor and normal/high SASS scores. The binary SASS groups were compared with some demographic data. RESULTS: The median SASS score of the respondents was found as 43 (min. 10, max. 60, IQR 10) which can be accepted as normal. In the binary grouping, it was seen that 107 (13.39%) participants had poor social adaptation, whereas 692 (86.61%) participants had normal or high social adaptation scores. The physicians who were certain about not going back to Syria had significantly higher SASS scores. CONCLUSION: The social adaptation scores of the Syrian physicians were considerably high. The adaptation status was found to be associated with some characteristics like living in Turkey for a long time and having pre-knowledge about the Turkish healthcare system.
- MeSH
- adaptace psychologická MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- dostupnost zdravotnických služeb organizace a řízení MeSH
- kulturní kompetence MeSH
- lékaři psychologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- primární zdravotní péče organizace a řízení MeSH
- sociální přizpůsobení * MeSH
- uprchlíci psychologie MeSH
- uprchlické tábory MeSH
- zdravotnické služby zásobování a distribuce MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Sýrie MeSH
- Turecko MeSH
