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Mental distress, somatizations and health beliefs in recent migrants in Europe
PROMISE Project (PROmoting in recent MIgrating population best managing of
Somatizations and Evaluation)
This project is the result of the collaboration between the Institute of Primary Care
Investigation (IDIAP), the largest governmental organisation of investigation in primary
care in Catalonia, and the Ramon Llull University. The components of the group of
investigation are well known in the investigative setting of distress and its repercussions
on health.
Introduction
Medical consultations throughout Europe attend a numerous population of newly arrived
immigrants. All of these patients have a high level of distress to what they are submitted to
probably due to the perception that the demands made of them widely surpass their
resources to fulfil them. Serious psychological difficulties are often presented by each of
these patients because of the enormous challenge of adaptation which they must face and
thus, the main disease consulted among this population is undefined symptoms called
somatizations. These somatizations originated by psychosocial distress are true
epiphenomenae of psychosocial suffering which the patients frequently do not relate to the
pressure to which they are submitted and, within their particular pattern of comprehension,
are interpreted to be due to becoming ill. Somatizations are largely environmental and are
conditioned by cultural aspects of each civilisation and constituted by elements such as
religion, beliefs and myths on the origin and appearance of diseases or the values of each
person.
The idea leading to this project is that of providing better knowledge on the different
stressors which the immigrant suffer, the degree of distress and the patterns of somatic
expression for comparison among ethnic groups in the communities most represented by
each participating country and to approximate the significance attributed to their
complaints with the aim of improving the level of comprehension, communication and
therapeutic management.
Abstract
Main objective: This project is made up of two phases: the first, to study the main stressors
which recent non European immigrants are submitted to (specifically those from a non
Western culture), the degree of distress they have, their patterns of somatic expression
and the correlation with the system of beliefs related to disease and health. The second
part will consists of a plan of disemination of the information obtained and in the
intervention in the professionals of the countries of the European union with the aim of
improving their level of comprehension and efficacy in both health care communication
and clinical management and that of resources.
Strategic relevance: More in depth knowledge of the biopsychosocial and anthropologic
factors of the patterns of demand of social and health care system on behalf of the
immigrants most culturally distant from the European setting may favour a common policy
in the pursuit of well being and better care and integration of this population as well as
optimising the health care resources available in each country of the European
Community.
Contribution: Improve the social/health care policies of recently arrived immigrants from
non European countries, through to improve the coordination between social and health
services and the educational system
Methods and Means:
A qualitative-quantitative study will be performed in the most numerous non European
ethnic groups which have arrived in the last 10 years in each country participating in the
project with an extensive field study and posterior analysis of the data obtained.
A report on the study results and scientific papers will be elaborated.
Then we will work in three levels: 1.Institutional, 2.Professional and 3. Immigrant and wide
population. In every level we have different aims:
1. Design and promotion of a Web. Coordination and support with the immigration group of
the European Union to develop a specific policy on the detection of stressors and
comprehension of the reasons for consultation by the non European immigrants.
Coordination meetings between local social and health services and primary and
secondary schools. A European conference will be organised with stakeholders to share
experience and good practice and to develop recommendations on how to implement this
new approach in social policy.
2. Development and piloting of a training curriculum for family physicians, nurses and
social workers and teachers will be undertaken to pro-actively address better
communication skills and the detection of somatization disorders and to differentiate them
from the onset of severe health problems. E-learning and presential learning will be used.
Guidelines for the management of frequent difficult situations presented by ethnic groups
will be elaborated together with all the centres of the different countries involved to
increase effective communication in the medical visits.
3. Drafting and editing leaflet copies in the languages of the studied immigrant
communities. Drafting paper of sensitization to distribute to the general public in health
and social services
Evaluation of the process during the project and at the end, outcomes evaluation.
The expected outcome: Improvement in the comprehension and management of this
population and an increase in successful social integration, and empowerment of social,
health and docent professionals in this field.
Contact:
Pere TORÁN MONSERRAT
Unitat Suport Recerca Metropolitana Nord.Coordinador
EAP Mataró 6 (Gatassa).Director
[email protected]