SynthesisBMJ open2019
Beliefs and challenges held by medical staff about providing emergency care to migrants: an international systematic review and translation of findings to the UK context.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Strategies to Improve Care in the Emergency Department for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Adults: a Systematic Review.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2025Pooled it
- Clinicians' Experiences in Care Delivery to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Patients in the Emergency Department: A Social Ecological Perspective.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026Article
- Impact of Displacement on Refugee Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Participatory Study Using Photovoice.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology · 2025Article
- Article
- Effects of UK hostile environment policies on maternity care for refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented migrants in Camden: Examining the experiences of healthcare professionals and community organisations.Journal of migration and health · 2025Article
- The hostile environment in primary care: Qualitative analysis of a cross sectional survey of health care professionals in primary care.Journal of migration and health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveMigration has increased globally. Emergency departments (EDs) may be the first and only contact some migrants have with healthcare. Emergency care providers' (ECPs) views concerning migrant patients were examined to identify potential health disparities and enable recommendations for ED policy and practice.
designSystematic review and meta-synthesis of published findings from qualitative studies. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases (Ovid Medline, Embase (via Ovid), PsycINFO (via OVID), CINAHL, Web of Science and PubMed), specialist websites and journals were searched. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies employing qualitative methods published in English. SETTINGS: EDs in high-income countries.
participantsECPs included doctors, nurses and paramedics. TOPIC OF ENQUIRY: Staff views on migrant care in ED settings. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data that fit the overarching themes of 'beliefs' and 'challenges' were extracted and coded into an evolving framework. Lines of argument were drawn from the main themes identified in order to infer implications for UK policy and practice.
resultsEleven qualitative studies from Europe and the USA were included. Three analytical themes were found: challenges in cultural competence; weak system organisation that did not sufficiently support emergency care delivery; and ethical dilemmas over decisions on the rationing of healthcare and reporting of undocumented migrants.
conclusionECPs made cultural and organisational adjustments for migrant patients, however, willingness was dependent on the individual's clinical autonomy. ECPs did not allow legal status to obstruct delivery of emergency care to migrant patients. Reported decisions to inform the authorities were mixed; potentially leading to uncertainty of outcome for undocumented migrants and deterring those in need of healthcare from seeking treatment. If a charging policy for emergency care in the UK was introduced, it is possible that ECPs would resist this through fears of widening healthcare disparities. Further recommendations for service delivery involve training and organisational support.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.