Flyktingars upplevelser av mötet med hälso- och sjukvården : Att inte kunna göra sin röst hörd

Sammanfattning: Background: More people than ever before are now seeking refuge from war and terror in other countries (UNHCR, 2016). This has as a consequence that the health care in many Western countries faces new patient categories which don’t speak the language and are culturally different from what health professionals are familiar with. Ethical considerations are important, since being misunderstood and not met with dignity or respect can cause care-related suffering. This may increase the suffering already experienced due to loss of security, family and friends. Aim: To illustrate refugees’ experiences in the contact with health care. Method: This is a literature-based, qualitative study. 15 articles were selected to investigate refugees’ experiences of health care. The analysis resulted in 2 themes, each containing 3 subthemes. Results: The main themes that emerged were: Feeling acknowledged and respected, and Overcoming language and cultural barriers. The result mainly reveals that language barriers are common, and that refugees consider it important to be seen as individuals, which is not always the case in health care. Conclusion: The challenge in caring for refugees as a nurse consists in ensuring there is a common understanding. While being aware of a patient’s history, it is also important to see the individual in a person-centered approach.