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@ARTICLE{Schmachtenberg:155576,
author = {Schmachtenberg, Tim and Monsees, Jessica and Thyrian,
Jochen René},
title = {{W}hat elements are important in current treatment and care
guidelines to provide culturally sensitive care for people
with a migration background and dementia? {A} systematic
analysis},
journal = {Journal of public health},
volume = {31},
issn = {1613-2238},
address = {Heidelberg},
publisher = {Springer},
reportid = {DZNE-2021-00754},
pages = {331-343},
year = {2023},
abstract = {Throughout Europe, the care of people with a migration
background with dementia (PwM) poses a major challenge. In
the EU, the number of PwM over 64 years of age rose
considerably from 4.73 million in 2000 to 7.37 million in
2017 (United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs 2017) and will continue to grow. There is limited
data on how many PwM are affected by dementia in Europe.
Estimates are available for some countries, such as Germany
(Monsees et al. 2018), but these have severe limitations for
a European perspective. One key problem is the absence of a
common definition of the term “migrant”. While the
United Nations defines PwM based on their country of birth
[PwM are living in countries other than their country of
birth, (United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs 2016)], in Germany, the status is based on their own
and their parents’ citizenship (PwM are those not born
with German citizenship or who have at least one parent who
was not born with German citizenship (Statistisches
Bundesamt 2017)). The subject matter encounters definitional
problems on many levels. In this study, we focus on people
with a migration background (PwM) or synonymously migrants.
We do not use the term “minority ethnic groups” as used
in many international studies and reports. Our emphasis is
on measures to improve the care situation of people who have
immigrated to the country they currently live in. This
specificity is associated with specific challenges that
differ from the challenges faced by people from minority
ethnic groups who might already have been living in the
respective country for generations. While there are many
similarities and intersections between these groups, not
every member of a minority ethnic group is a migrant
(Alzheimer Europe 2018). In some European countries, certain
minority ethnic groups have specific rights (for example,
concerning linguistic and culturally sensitive information)
that PwM currently do not have in most countries. For these
reasons, the authors believe that specific consideration of
PwM in the context of dementia care is indicated. A detailed
discussion on the definition of the term “migrant” and
common concepts such as a “minority ethnic group” can be
found in the Alzheimer Europe report “The development of
intercultural care and support for people with dementia from
minority ethnic groups” (Alzheimer Europe 2018). Another
key problem is diagnosis. On top of the general problem of
diagnosing dementia in the general population,
underdiagnosis and late diagnosis of dementia are more
widespread among PwM than in people without a migration
background (Seven 2015). Particularly due to the lack of
language- and culture-sensitive diagnostic tools, early and
valid diagnosis of dementia is a major challenge for general
practitioners (GPs) and specialists (Alzheimer Europe
2018).However, PwM with dementia are a group facing specific
problems. There are reports that age-associated diseases
such as dementia occur at a younger age and require care at
an earlier stage (Gronemeyer et al. 2017; Kaiser 2009). In
addition, dementia is often associated with an early loss of
the language of the country of residence (Bundesministerium
für Gesundheit 2011). While families and social networks
have been described as important resources for PwM with
dementia, the psychological burden on their families is
often higher than that on families without a migration
background (Kücük 2010; Montoro-Rodriguez and
Gallagher-Thompson 2009; Piechotta-Henze and Matter 2008).
This constitutes a high demand for support services (Jutlla
2015), and there is an evident need for sensitization,
information, and networking among migrant communities and
care providers. For example, dementia is considered to be a
part of normal aging or attributed to religious or spiritual
elements in some migrant communities (Chaouni et al. 2020;
Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft 2019; Xiao et al. 2015).
Simultaneously, many service providers have limited
knowledge about the specific care situation of PwM (Höfler
et al. 2015).There is growing evidence that PwM with
dementia are underrepresented in dementia-specific
healthcare services (Giebel et al. 2015; Mukadam et al.
2011; Mukadam et al. 2015; Parveen and Oyebode 2018) and
that family caregivers use fewer formal support services
than people without a migration background
(Dilworth-Anderson et al. 2002; Dunlop et al. 2003). This
has been explained as resulting from language problems,
cultural beliefs about dementia and care, stigma and shame,
lack of information about available healthcare services, and
lack of culturally, religiously, and linguistically
appropriate services (Alzheimer Europe 2018; Bermejo et al.
2012; Bowes and Wilkinson 2003; Braun et al. 1996; Chaouni
et al. 2020; Greenwood et al. 2015; Jett 2006; Mogar and von
Kutzleben 2015). These factors lead to care inequalities,
which should be addressed in treatment guidelines. However,
a recent analysis of national guidelines on dementia care in
the EU and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries
has shown that the topic of migration plays a subordinate
role in these guidelines. Moreover, no European country
provides a separate, specific guideline for culturally
sensitive care (Schmachtenberg et al. 2020b).Therefore, this
study aims to provide a systematic overview of the key
elements and measures with regard to culturally sensitive
care referred to in scientific articles and statements,
political documents, and medical guidelines. First, we
identify which thematic and content-related priorities are
set in the documents and statements examined. Subsequently,
we describe some measures recommended to improve the care
situation of PwM with dementia. These are not necessarily
specific to migrant groups, and have a general and
transnational character. This article is addressed to
policymakers, health system leaders, and further
decision-makers and care planners at national and
international levels. It is intended to show them which
elements are important for the holistic orientation of
healthcare systems and structures towards culturally
sensitive care. In a further paper by Monsees et al.
(submitted but not published), intercultural care as a model
for the implementation of culturally sensitive care by
healthcare professionals and providers of healthcare
services is described in detail (Monsees et al. 2021).Thus,
the article aims to provide an answer to the following
question: what elements play key roles in ensuring
culturally sensitive care for PwM with dementia?},
subtyp = {Editorial},
cin = {AG Thyrian},
ddc = {610},
cid = {I:(DE-2719)1510800},
pnm = {353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-353},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
doi = {10.1007/s10389-021-01531-z},
url = {https://pub.dzne.de/record/155576},
}