PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Older people with a Turkish migration background face various barriers in terms of access to and quality of health care. Providing health care according to their subjective and objective needs is of increasing importance considering demographic aging. The aim of this study was to illustrate challenges older migrants experience in the health care process from the viewpoint of health mediators. Construct interviews were conducted with six health mediators and were analyzed by means of content analysis. The interviews showed three different challenges in health care for people with a Turkish migration background. These were the patients' coping with the disease, their health beliefs, and factors associated with the health care process and the doctor-patient relationship. The study highlights that it is important to make health care institutions aware of the culture specific characteristics of illness and therapy beliefs among people with a Turkish migrations background. Diversity management is an adequate strategy to adjust health care to the needs and requirements of an increasingly diverse population.