Sjuksköterskors upplevelser av kommunikation med patienter med invandrarbakgrund
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate nurses? experiences of communicating with patients with immigrant backgrounds regarding language barriers, patient relations and use of interpreter. Method: Eight persons participated in this study. Four registered midwives were interviewed in a focus group and one clinical lecturer with a district nursing background, one midwife and two district nurses were individually interviewed about their experiences. The content was analysed using a qualitative content analysis. Results: Four themes, seven categories and 15 subcategories revealed. The study shows that the interviewees felt ambivalence regarding given information and lack of time in their performance. A good meeting with the patient were determined for the performance. The chatting between the nurse and the patient created a good relationship. Negative aspects which had an effect on the relationship with the patient were when, for example, an interpreter or a significant other was involved. Discrimination was also brought up as a negative impact. If the patient had a limited vocabulary or there were no access to an interpreter the interviewees experienced communication problems. Authorized interpreter and significant other who acted as an interpreter were described in both positive and negative ways. Culture differences affected the work and how the patients adopted the information. Conclusion: When the patient does not have Swedish as a mother tongue, the chatting part of the conversation gets lost. Interpreters, significant others and the Internet are used to overcome language difficulties. Also cultural differences create challenges in these conversations. Our study indicates that more knowledge about these patient encounters is needed.