From policy to practice: What factors influence GP's provision of health assessments to Ukrainian refugees in Denmark?

Abstract

Abstract Denmark has received over 30,000 displaced people from Ukraine since February 2022 and has implemented certain accommodations specific for this population. Not bound by the EU Temporary Protection Directive, a special Act has been introduced, whereby Ukrainians have been offered streamlined access to temporary resident permits with faster access to health services than what is granted in the asylum-seeking population, for whom parallel systems often exist to provide care. While other refugee groups receive health screenings in the asylum centers during the asylum process, Ukrainian have received quick access to general practitioners (GP's) in the public system. Danish health authorities have recommended that GPs provide a detailed examination of chronic diseases, vaccination status, infectious diseases, and mental health for Ukrainian refugees. Provision of this recommendation is necessary to meet the health needs of Ukrainian refugees. However, how these recommendations have been received and implemented remains unknown. We will present results from a survey sent to 3000 general practitioners in Denmark (expected response rate 30%) investigating how GPs implement the health assessment recommendations and what factors influenced the provision (or not) of health assessment to newly arrived Ukrainian refugees. The survey, which has been developed after conducting a review of the guidelines and conducting interviews with GPs and refugees (n = 11), examines knowledge of the health recommendations; implementation of guidelines; structural (i.e. time, interpretation) and individual factors (i.e. experience with war exposed patients) affecting health assessments and care; and cooperation among different parts of the health system. This presentation will shed light on how, in the context of large numbers of refugees entering EU countries, health policies are translated to practice and what factors affect the provision of adequate care for Ukrainian refugees in Denmark.