International medical graduates’ experiences with caring for cross-cultural patient populations Qualitative study in Alberta

Abstract

Objective To explore experiences of international medical graduate (IMG) FPs in providing cross-cultural patient care and to identify rewards and challenges they experienced when caring for patients of cultural backgrounds different from their own. Design Descriptive qualitative study. Setting Family medicine primary care practices in Alberta. Participants Eighteen IMG FPs practising in the metropolitan areas of Edmonton or Calgary in Alberta as of May 2013. Methods Individual face-to-face or telephone interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Seventeen interviews occurred between July and August 2013 and 1 took place in August 2014. All interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data were subject to thematic analysis. Main findings International medical graduates identified several rewarding aspects of caring for patients with cultural backgrounds different from their own, including learning about different cultures, perceiving that appointments are more succinct, and advocating for patients whom they perceive to be at a disadvantage. Family physicians also identified several challenges associated with caring for patients of different cultural backgrounds, including encountering language barriers, perceiving that visits take longer, and experiencing patients’ lack of acceptance of FPs with cultural backgrounds different from their own. Conclusion Cultural differences between FPs and patients can enhance or undermine doctor-patient relationships. The results of this study speak to the need for cultural competency training for FPs practising in culturally diverse settings.