Journal Article

DZNE-2021-00082

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png How is migration background considered in the treatment and care of people? A comparison of national dementia care guidelines in Europe

Schmachtenberg, T. (First author)DZNE* ; Monsees, J.DZNE* ; Hoffmann, W.DZNE* ; van den Berg, N. ; Stentzel, U. ; Thyrian, J. R. (Last author)DZNE*

2020
BioMed Central London

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09668-4

Abstract: BackgroundPeople with a migration background are vulnerable to dementia. Due to problems such as underdiagnosis or access barriers, the care of this population is a public health challenge in Europe. Many countries are issuing care guidelines, but a systematic overview of their references to migration groups is lacking. This study aims to analyze national dementia care guidelines regarding their focus on people with a migration background, what specific actions to ensure healthcare have been undertaken at the national level, and whether recommendations for action are made for this population.MethodsThis study is a systematic analysis of national dementia care guidelines of the EU and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries. Using the discourse analysis model by Keller (2011), 43 documents from 24 EU and 3 EFTA countries were systematically screened for migration references via keyword and context analysis. The content of the migration-related section was paraphrased, memos and comments were added, and the individual text passages were coded using the strategy of open coding.ResultsTwenty-seven of the 35 EU and EFTA countries have guidelines or similar documents on care for people with dementia, and 12 refer to migration. Norway, Sweden, and Northern Ireland refer to this topic in detail. The focus of the migration-related guidelines is on the early detection and diagnosis of dementia. The main message is that standardized diagnostic tools such as the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) or the clock test are not suitable for linguistic minorities. Nine countries make recommendations for the care of people with a migration background and dementia, but only Norway, Sweden, and Denmark point to available healthcare services. A key recommendation is that the linguistic and cultural background of people should be considered when selecting diagnostic tests. Several countries refer to the validity of the RUDAS (Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale) for migrants.ConclusionsThe topic of migration plays a subordinate role in the dementia care guidelines of European countries. Almost all countries lack appropriate diagnostic tools and healthcare services for people with a migration background. Consequently, this group is vulnerable to underdiagnosis and a lower level of care.

Keyword(s): Culturally Competent Care: standards (MeSH) ; Dementia: ethnology (MeSH) ; Dementia: therapy (MeSH) ; Europe (MeSH) ; European Union: statistics & numerical data (MeSH) ; Health Services Accessibility: standards (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Neuropsychological Tests (MeSH) ; Practice Guidelines as Topic (MeSH) ; Transients and Migrants: psychology (MeSH)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Interventional Health Care Research (IHCR) (AG Thyrian)
2. Translational Health Care Research (AG Hoffmann)

Research Program(s):

1. 344 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF3-344) (POF3-344)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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