This short excerpt from a Somali refugee illustrates an example of underlying concerns about the doctor/patient relationship that may impact on care:
1.‘‘When people are new to the country they might think if you tell all your problems to this doctor, maybe it will affect you getting a job and staying here. So some people might hide what’s going on with them” .2(p288)
For this PhD project, I want to understand the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees with doctors and the UK health system. The first phase of my research involves getting a better understanding of the healthcare experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. I am interested in knowing how they accessed doctors, their relationships with the doctors and how the consultations went. During the second phase of the project, I will explore doctor’s experiences, beliefs and perceptions of working with refugees. Ultimately, I want to influence policy to develop more effective responses to the healthcare challenges that refugees face.
For further information please contact Dr Devendra Rajwani.
References:
1. Taylor K. Asylum seekers, refugees, and the politics of access to health care: a UK perspective. British Journal of General Practice. 2009; 59(567): 765-72.
2. Shannon PJ, Wieling E, Simmelink-McCleary J and Becher E. Beyond stigma: Barriers to discussing mental health in refugee populations. Journal of Loss and Trauma 2015; 20(3): 281-96.