Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in Norway

Introduction There is increased migration of patients and physicians worldwide. In Norway, psychiatry is the medical discipline with highest proportion of foreign doctors (24%). We need empirical studies on transcultural clinical challenges among doctors training in psychiatry. Objectives What per...

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Main Authors: R. Tyssen, M. Sandbu, S. Thapa, K. Rø, C. Jávo, V. Preljevic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822005247/type/journal_article
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author R. Tyssen
M. Sandbu
S. Thapa
K. Rø
C. Jávo
V. Preljevic
author_facet R. Tyssen
M. Sandbu
S. Thapa
K. Rø
C. Jávo
V. Preljevic
author_sort R. Tyssen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction There is increased migration of patients and physicians worldwide. In Norway, psychiatry is the medical discipline with highest proportion of foreign doctors (24%). We need empirical studies on transcultural clinical challenges among doctors training in psychiatry. Objectives What perceived clinical challenges do foreign and native Norwegian young doctors meet when they treat patients from another culture, and what independent factors are associated with such challenges? Methods We developed a new 6-item instrument (alpha=0.80), Clinical Transcultural Challenges (CTC), with items about assessing psychosis, risk of suicide, violence etc. The doctors were recruited at mandatory training courses, and they filled in questionnaires about individual factors (age, gender, foreign/native) and work-related factors (training stage, frequency of transcultural meetings, number of working hours, work stress). Associations with CTC were analyzed by linear multiple regression. Results The response rate was 93% (216/233), of whom 83% were native and 17% were foreign doctors, 68% were women. Native doctors reported higher levels of CTC than did foreign doctors, 28.8 (6.2) vs 23.8 (7.2), p<0.001, d=0.73. Both native and foreign doctors rated “assessing psychosis” and “lack of helping tools” as most demanding. Independent factors associated with CTC were being a native doctor, Beta 3.9, p<0.01, and high levels of work-home stress, Beta 0.29, p<0.05. Conclusions Native doctors training in psychiatry report higher levels of transcultural clinical challenges than foreign doctors do. Both groups of doctors may need more training in transcultural assessment of psychotic disorders. They also report needs for more helping tools, and we should explore this further. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-201ca1aab2fa47a491ee3a9a0336eada2023-11-17T05:08:44ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S199S20010.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.524Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in NorwayR. Tyssen0M. Sandbu1S. Thapa2K. Rø3C. Jávo4V. Preljevic5Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Department Of Behavioural Medicine, Oslo, NorwayOslo University Hospital, Regional Section For Eating Disorders, Oslo, NorwayUniversity of Oslo, Institute Of Clinical Medicine, Division Of Mental Health And Addiction, Oslo, NorwayInstitute for studies of the medical profession, Research Unit, Oslo, NorwayFinnmark Hospital Trust, Sami National Competence Center For Mental Health And Addiction (sanks), Karasjok, NorwayHealth South-East, Institute Of Psychotherapy, Oslo, Norway Introduction There is increased migration of patients and physicians worldwide. In Norway, psychiatry is the medical discipline with highest proportion of foreign doctors (24%). We need empirical studies on transcultural clinical challenges among doctors training in psychiatry. Objectives What perceived clinical challenges do foreign and native Norwegian young doctors meet when they treat patients from another culture, and what independent factors are associated with such challenges? Methods We developed a new 6-item instrument (alpha=0.80), Clinical Transcultural Challenges (CTC), with items about assessing psychosis, risk of suicide, violence etc. The doctors were recruited at mandatory training courses, and they filled in questionnaires about individual factors (age, gender, foreign/native) and work-related factors (training stage, frequency of transcultural meetings, number of working hours, work stress). Associations with CTC were analyzed by linear multiple regression. Results The response rate was 93% (216/233), of whom 83% were native and 17% were foreign doctors, 68% were women. Native doctors reported higher levels of CTC than did foreign doctors, 28.8 (6.2) vs 23.8 (7.2), p<0.001, d=0.73. Both native and foreign doctors rated “assessing psychosis” and “lack of helping tools” as most demanding. Independent factors associated with CTC were being a native doctor, Beta 3.9, p<0.01, and high levels of work-home stress, Beta 0.29, p<0.05. Conclusions Native doctors training in psychiatry report higher levels of transcultural clinical challenges than foreign doctors do. Both groups of doctors may need more training in transcultural assessment of psychotic disorders. They also report needs for more helping tools, and we should explore this further. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822005247/type/journal_articlePostgraduate trainingAssessment in psychiatryTranscultural psychiatryPhysician role
spellingShingle R. Tyssen
M. Sandbu
S. Thapa
K. Rø
C. Jávo
V. Preljevic
Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in Norway
European Psychiatry
Postgraduate training
Assessment in psychiatry
Transcultural psychiatry
Physician role
title Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in Norway
title_full Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in Norway
title_fullStr Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in Norway
title_full_unstemmed Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in Norway
title_short Perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture: a study among doctors training in psychiatry in Norway
title_sort perceived clinical challenges when treating patients from another culture a study among doctors training in psychiatry in norway
topic Postgraduate training
Assessment in psychiatry
Transcultural psychiatry
Physician role
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822005247/type/journal_article
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