Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37592276›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2023

Experiences of Egypt as a destination and transit country for Syrian refugee healthcare workers: a qualitative study.

Andrew Ghobrial, Diana Rayes, Ammar Sabouni, Yamama Bdaiwi, Saad Janoudi, Natasha Howard, Aula Abbara

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Andrew GhobrialLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Diana RayesDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Ammar SabouniSyria Development Centre, London, UK.
Yamama BdaiwiDepartment of War Studies, King's College London, London, UK.
Saad JanoudiFaculty of Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Natasha HowardSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Aula AbbaraSyria Public Health Network, London, UK. a.abbara15@ic.ac.uk.

Funding

Barriers and Facilitators to Mental Health Service Utilization Among Refugees in SwedenF31MH132351 · NIMH · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI RAYES, DIANA · 2022 to 2024
$88k
NIMH NIH HHS F31 MH132351
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRefugee healthcare workers (HCWs) can make important contributions in host countries, particularly in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated existing shortages of frontline HCWs. However, refugee HCWs often face challenges entering the labour markets of such countries even where needs exist. Syria's decade-long conflict has forced thousands of HCWs from their homes; however, data on this population are limited, impeding the formation of policies that can support them. This study explores the experiences of Syrian refugee HCWs in Egypt.

methodsKey informants (KIs) were selected using purposive and snowball sampling method and semi-structured interviews were conducted in person in Cairo and remotely from the UK during July 2019. Interviews were conducted in Arabic and analysed using a combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis framework after transcription into English.

resultsFifteen KI interviews were analysed. The main emerging themes from the qualitative interviews are those relating to 1. Education, training, and licensing 2. Politics and bureaucracy 3. Societal factors 4. Economic factors. Political changes in Egypt altered opportunities for Syrian HCWs over time; however, refugee HCWs broadly reported acceptance among Egyptian patients and colleagues. Bureaucratic factors which impede the ability of Syrian refugee HCWs to obtain a full license to practice and leave to remain and the absence of clearly defined policies were reported as barriers. Economic factors including the risk of economic exploitation e.g. in the informal sector and financial insecurity were noted to have a negative psychosocial impact.

conclusionsThis is the first qualitative research study which explores the experiences of Syrian refugee HCWs in Egypt. It adds to the sparse literature on the topic of Syrian refugee HCWs but provides evidence for further discussions on how to support refugee HCWs in Egypt and in other host countries in the region. Though interviews were conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic itself lends urgency to the discussion around refugee HCWs on an international level.

Indexed as

COVID-19RefugeesEgyptHealth PersonnelHumansPandemicsQualitative ResearchSyriaConflictDoctorsEgyptHealthcareRefugeesSyria

Identifiers

PMID37592276
PMCPMC10433661

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.