Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The government’s Action Plan for Health and Social Services states as a goal that the Sami population’s encounter with health and social services should be just as good as what the rest of the population experiences. The goal of this study is to investigate patient satisfaction with the municipal GP service in areas with both a Sami and Norwegian population.STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional population study using questionnaires.METHODS: The data were taken from the population based study of health and living conditions in areas with both Sami and Norwegian populations (SAMINOR) in which respondents were asked about their satisfaction with GP services in their municipalities. This population survey was carried out in the period 2002–2004. The analyses include 15,612 men and women aged 36-79.RESULTS: The Sami-speaking patients were less satisfied with the municipal GP service as a whole than were the Norwegian speakers; RR 2.4 (95% CI 2.1–2.7). They were less satisfied with the physicians’ language skills; RR 5.8 (95% CI 4.8-7.0); and they felt that misunderstandings between physician and patient due to language problems were more frequent; RR 3.8 (95% CI 3.3-4.3). One-third expressed that they did not wish to use an interpreter.CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that it is necessary to place greater emphasis on the physicians’ language competency when hiring GPs in municipalities within the Administrative Area for the Sami Language. This could improve satisfaction with the physicians’ services.
Highlights
MATERIAL AND METHODSThe government’s Action Plan for Health and Social Services to the Sami Population in Norway, 2002–2005, states as a goal that the Sami population’s encounter with the health and social services should be as good as that as the rest of the population
The data were taken from the population based study of health and living conditions in areas with both Sami and Norwegian populations (SAMINOR) in which respondents were asked about their satisfaction with GP services in their municipalities
The Sami-speaking patients were less satisfied with the municipal GP service as a whole than were the Norwegian speakers; relative risk (RR) 2.4
Summary
The government’s Action Plan for Health and Social Services to the Sami Population in Norway, 2002–2005, states as a goal that the Sami population’s encounter with the health and social services should be as good as that as the rest of the population. In 1992 the Sami Language Act was passed. In accordance with this Act, those who wish to use the Sami language to take care of their own interests, vis-à-vis local and regional public health and social institutions, should have the right to receive such services in the Sami language (1). The Plan for Health and Social Services (2), points out that the Sami population experiences big problems in their encounters with health and social services. Lack of knowledge about Sami culture among health and social service personnel often results in an unsuccessful follow-up of Sami users (2)
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