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Foreign‐born and Swedish‐born families' perceptions of psychosis care
Author(s) -
Hultsjö Sally,
Berterö Carina,
Hjelm Katarina
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2008.00587.x
Subject(s) - foreign born , psychosis , perception , psychology , immigration , psychiatry , medicine , political science , neuroscience , law
The aim of the study was to describe how foreign‐born and Swedish born families living in Sweden perceive psychosis care. Eleven foreign‐born and 15 Swedish‐born family members were interviewed and the data were analyzed using a phenomenographic approach. The findings showed three main descriptive categories: taking responsibility, access to care, and attitudes to psychosis. The degree of responsibility in the family decreased if there was easy access to care and support from health‐care staff. Knowledge of psychosis was considered to be important in order to counteract prejudiced attitudes in the family and the community. Foreign‐born families did not want to be treated differently from Swedes and stressed the importance of finding ways to communicate despite communication barriers. Foreign‐born families also were affected by their experiences of psychiatric care and different beliefs about psychosis in their home country. The results indicate how important it is that health‐care staff members treat families on equal terms. It is necessary to take the time to identify how to communicate in a good manner and to identify families' previous experiences of and beliefs about psychosis care in order to help families face prejudice in society and to see beyond the psychosis.