Title
Effects of health education for migrant females with psychosomatic complaints treated by general practitioners. A randomised controlled evaluation study
Author
Kocken, P.L.
Zwanenburg, E.J.-v.
de Hoop, T.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2008
Abstract
Objective: : The effectiveness of use of migrant health educators in the general practitioners' care for female migrants with psychosomatic problems was evaluated to contribute to the improvement of the care for these patients. Methods: : A randomised controlled trial (RCT) design was used. A total of 104 patients (75%) agreed to take part in the intervention study. The patients were from Turkish and Moroccan immigrant groups living in The Netherlands. The intervention group received counselling and education from the migrant health educators as adjuncts to the GPs' care. Special attention was given to the patient's cultural background, supporting the communication between GP and patient. The control group received regular treatment from their GPs. Results: : A significant improvement of perceived general health, psychological health and reported ability to cope with pain was observed among the intervention group. No effects were found for social support and the perceived burden of stressful life-events. Conclusion: : The patients' perceived health and coping abilities improved through the intervention as a whole. Not all outcome measures had been affected due to among others the diversity of physical and psychological complaints the patients suffered from, non-compliance and a perceived decrease of disability over time. Practice implications: : The intervention methods should be integrated in the patient care delivery for migrants in general practice. Further development of intervention methods to address the patients' social support is recommended. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Subject
Healthy for Life
Health
Healthy Living
General practice
Health education
Minority groups
Psychosomatic complaints
adult
aged
article
controlled study
coping behavior
disability
doctor patient relation
ethnicity
female
general practice
general practitioner
health care delivery
health education
health educator
human
life event
methodology
migrant worker
minority group
Morocco
Netherlands
outcome assessment
pain
patient care
patient compliance
patient counseling
patient education
priority journal
psychological aspect
psychosomatic disorder
social support
stress
turkey (bird)
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Family Practice
Female
Health Education
Humans
Middle Aged
Minority Groups
Morocco
Netherlands
Pain
Physician-Patient Relations
Program Evaluation
Psychophysiologic Disorders
Stress, Psychological
Transients and Migrants
Turkey
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:3e094891-51f7-4cfa-b0e6-34ce153b2155
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2007.09.016
TNO identifier
240597
ISSN
0738-3991
Source
Patient Education and Counseling, 70 (1), 25-30
Document type
article