Perspectives of Syrian refugees on antibiotic use and prescribing in Dutch primary care: a qualitative study
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
ISSN: 1747-9894
Article publication date: 12 April 2022
Issue publication date: 31 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study is oriented towards getting insight into the perspectives, knowledge and practices among Syrian refugees regarding antibiotic use and prescribing in Dutch primary care.
Design/methodology/approach
A thematic qualitative study was carried out using semi-structured interviews with 12 Syrian refugees living in the Netherlands. Data analysis consisted of three steps and was oriented towards the development of themes.
Findings
Participants were confronted with restricted access to antibiotics in the Netherlands which was contrary to their experiences in Syria. Some of them continued to self-prescribe antibiotics, while others adhered to the Dutch General Practitioner (GP)’s advice. Especially mothers with young children took up the Dutch GP’s advice. Syrian refugees expressed health beliefs about the healing effects of antibiotics which are related to their past experiences of use and which influenced their current use. Respondents complained about the Dutch health-care system and expressed a preference for the one in Syria.
Research limitations/implications
Syrian refugees vary in their way of dealing with restricted access to antibiotics in Dutch primary care. More in-depth knowledge is required to improve refugee patient–doctor communication about antibiotic use.
Practical implications
The message that antibiotics are not needed may be challenging. Additional communication seems to be necessary to persuade Syrian refugees from self-prescribing antibiotics. Therefore, identifying refugee patient concerns and carefully counseling and communicating it with them is substantial. Developing educational toolkits consisting of various experiences of antibiotic use and ways of dealing with it can equip doctors to more adequately react to migrants’ needs for care.
Social implications
Primary care professionals seem insufficiently equipped to tackle issues related to antibiotic use amongst newly arrived migrants. Therefore, it is important to support professionals in their communication with this patient group about the proper use of antibiotics.
Originality/value
This study shows that more in-depth knowledge is needed about the strategies of newly arrived migrants and their complex reactions to treatment prescriptions with which they are not familiar.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Ethics approval and consent to participate: According to the Dutch Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act, this study did not require medical ethical approval, as was confirmed in writing by the medical ethical committee of the AMC, 28 October 2010. We followed the ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects as laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA Declaration of Helsinki, 2000). Codes were used to designate the participants to guarantee their anonymity. Each participant was adequately informed of the aim and methods of the study and a priori oral consent was obtained from the participants and audiotaped. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Availability of data and materials: The data consist of mainly transcripts of taped, in-depth interviews which cannot be shared because of privacy concerns and legal restrictions on data containing sensitive (health) information. Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Fundings: The author(s) received no funding for this work.
Authors’ contributions: RA contributed to the conception and design of the study, acquisition of the data, analyses and interpretation of the data, drafting of the manuscript and gave final approval for submission of the manuscript. FdB contributed to the conception and design of the study, analyses and interpretation of the data, drafting of the manuscript and gave final approval for submission of the manuscript. RK, EB, MVDM and SG contributed to the drafting of the manuscript and gave final approval for submission of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
We are grateful to all participants who agreed to participate in this study.
Citation
Alkirawan, R., Kawous, R., Bloemen, E., van den Muijsenbergh, M., Goosen, S., Suurmond, J. and de Boer, F. (2022), "Perspectives of Syrian refugees on antibiotic use and prescribing in Dutch primary care: a qualitative study", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 153-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2021-0112
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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