Diversity Competency and Access to Healthcare in Hospitals in Croatia, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia.

Robert Doričić,Paweł Łuków,Ivana Tutić Grokša,Marianne Nowak,Zvonka Zupanič-Slavec,Mojca Ramšak,Katarzyna Bielińska,Anna Chowaniec,Florian Steger,Marcin Orzechowski,Amir Muzur

doi:10.3390/ijerph182211847

Abstract

Diversity competency is an approach for improving access to healthcare for members of minority groups. It includes a commitment to institutional policies and practices aimed at the improvement of the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals. The aim of this research is to investigate whether and how such a commitment is included in internal documents of hospitals in Croatia, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia. Using the methods of documentary research and thematic analysis we examined internal documents received from hospitals in these countries. In all four countries, the documents concentrate on general statements prohibiting discrimination with regard to healthcare provision. Specific regulations concerning ethnicity and culture focus on the issue of language barriers. With regard to religious practices, the documents from Croatia, Poland, and Slovenia focus on dominant religious groups. Observance of other religious practices and customs is rarely addressed. Healthcare needs of patients with non-heteronormative sexual orientation, intersexual, and transgender patients are explicitly addressed in only a few internal documents. Diversity competency policies are not comprehensively implemented in hospital internal regulations in hospitals under investigation. There is a need for the development and implementation of comprehensive policies in hospitals aiming at the specific needs of minority groups.

Highlights

IntroductionThe societal composition in many countries has been changing
In recent years, the societal composition in many countries has been changing
The topic of equal access to healthcare and anti-discrimination in healthcare is variously covered in the internal documents received from hospitals in all four countries

Summary

Introduction

The societal composition in many countries has been changing. Development towards more diverse societies has been observed as a result of migration, globalization, or changes in the age structure of the population. Increased sensibility concerning the existence of various social groups promotes a better understanding of the particular needs of these groups as well as shortages in the provision of appropriate services to them. Equal access to healthcare is one of the most important aspects of a diverse society and one of the main concerns for medical ethics. Disparities in access to healthcare have been observed in the case of various minority groups: migrants [1], patients from various cultural or religious groups [2], or with regard to gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation [3].

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