Pilot Study Examining the Impact of Acculturation on Refugees' Healthcare Satisfaction

• Published in: International social science review Vol. 97; no. 2; pp. 1 - 29
• Main Authors: George, Saliyah J, Tripp, Hollie L, Ardia, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Winfield Pi Gamma Mu 01-08-2021
• Subjects: Acculturation; Cultural competence; Cultural heritage; Cultural identity; Culture; Discrimination; Health care industry; Health facilities; Health services; Hispanic people; Human rights; Interviews; Mortality; Noncitizens; Patient satisfaction; Physicians; Pilot projects; Population; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Refugees; Satisfaction; Social exclusion; Social norms; Cuba; United Kingdom; Spain; United States > US; Bhutan
• ISSN: 0278-2308; 2332-0419

George et al discuss a pilot study examining the impact of acculturation on refugees's healthcare satisfaction. Acculturation is a multidimensional phenomenon that focuses on the psychological changes that immigrant individuals experience when consistently interacting within new environments with dissimilar host cultural norms and individuals. There is limited research that examines acculturation's impact on refugees' healthcare satisfaction. Refugees are more likely to face discrimination at health facilities from healthcare providers than native-born Americans. Due to factors such as a lack of culturally competent doctors and a lack of effective translation services, refugees often report low rates of healthcare satisfaction. In studies where refugees report being satisfied with the healthcare services they receive, they also report feeling uncomfortable during visits due to the lack of access to interpreters and infrequent continuity of care.