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School nurses’ and teachers’ perceptions of pain in young immigrants living in Norway

Berit Johannessen (Department of Health and Nursing Science, University of Agder, Norway, Norway)
Magnhild Hoie (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway)
Kristin Haraldstad (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway)
Solvi Helseth (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway and Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway)
Liv Fegran (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway)
Thomas Westergren (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway)
Åshild Slettebø (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway)
Gudrun Rohde (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway)

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

ISSN: 1747-9894

Article publication date: 2 March 2020

Issue publication date: 2 March 2020

126

Abstract

Purpose

The number of adolescents experiencing pain is increasing. Pain has a major impact on several areas of daily living, such as function at school and school absenteeism, loss of appetite and socializing. One out of ten pupils in Norwegian schools is immigrants, and surveys have shown that immigrants suffer from poor health more often than the general population. The purpose of this study was to explore how school nurses and teachers experience pain in young immigrants in the school setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative design using focus group interviews was chosen for data collection. A total of 11 focus groups (17 school nurses and 25 teachers) consisting of school nurses and teachers in junior high schools (age: 13-16 years) in Southern Norway were conducted. Data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis.

Findings

School nurses and teachers experienced communication of pain with young immigrants as characterized by cultural differences and language problems. Immigrants waiting for residency permits experienced pain more often than others. They also experienced that young immigrants often were absent from school and used pain as an excuse for not participating in classes, but this was not the case at the special school for immigrants. During Ramadan, they experienced that immigrant pupils had an increase of pain, especially headaches.

Originality/value

Culture affects the assessment and management of pain and different strategies may assist school nurses and teachers in their encounter with young immigrants with pain. There is a need for education in cultural competence among teachers and school nurses.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all the school nurses and teachers who participated in this study. Ethical approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the NSD (Approval No. 32829) for safe handling and storing of data. The participants were given written as well as oral information and written informed consent was obtained. Competing interests: The authors declare that there are no competing interests. Funding: The study was funded by Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Agder.

Citation

Johannessen, B., Hoie, M., Haraldstad, K., Helseth, S., Fegran, L., Westergren, T., Slettebø, Å. and Rohde, G. (2020), "School nurses’ and teachers’ perceptions of pain in young immigrants living in Norway", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-01-2019-0005

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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