“Sometimes that Takes You Going the Extra Mile”: The Role of Providers’ Self-efficacy in Refugee Mental Health Services

Abstract

To achieve equity for refugee patients in mental health care settings, patient-centered, trauma-informed, and cultural humility practices have gained recognition; however, the use of these practices is not well defined. The implementation process of these practices may require providers’ increased self-efficacy, motivation, and cultural intelligence (CQ). Overall, this study aims to understand training needs of health care providers to be able to provide refugee patients with culturally meaningful, patient-centered, and trauma-informed care. This is an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study and surveys (n = 20) were followed by in-depth interviews (n = 7) with health care providers. The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between providers’ self-efficacy and CQ. The interviews revealed three major themes including sources of self-efficacy, the importance of trust-building, and creating trauma-informed healthcare systems. The findings suggest that a trauma-informed, patient-centered training focusing on self-efficacy and CQ enhancing activities for health care providers can improve mental health services for refugee patients.