Kume Ayami, Lau Yukiko, Kume Miyoko
Department of Nursing, Iryo Sosei University, Fukushima, Japan.
Int Nurs Rev. 2023 Jun;70(2):239-246. doi: 10.1111/inr.12794. Epub 2022 Aug 10.
To identify common challenges nurses face when caring for international patients, irrespective of specialty, medical facility, or nursing experience.
Internationalization in medical facilities is progressing worldwide, and the number of international patients is increasing, as is evident in Japan.
Delivering high-quality nursing care to international patients can be challenging owing to language and socio-cultural barriers. Research examining the challenges faced by nurses in these situations is limited. It is necessary to clarify and analyze the current situation when interacting with international patients.
This study employed a qualitative design. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 registered nurses experienced in caring for non-Japanese patients. Qualitative content analysis was performed following Mayring's approach.
We identified 56 subcategories, 23 categories, and 8 core categories for challenges faced by nurses interacting with international patients: language, religion or culture, medical culture, financial status, treatment continuity, care support, hospital protocols, and addressing requests or requirements for international patients.
This study analyzed the religious, lifestyle, and cultural differences (along with the various language and communication barriers) faced by nurses who treat international patients. It also discussed the need for accessible, cross-cultural information in hospitals that have limited accommodations for international patients.
Nurses could be more accommodating of patients' religions, lifestyles, and cultures by familiarizing themselves with relevant background information beforehand.
Differences in health care cultures across countries can lead to malpractice, as dealing with cultural differences is difficult for nurses who interact with international patients and they may not be fully informed about the challenges posed by such differences. It is important for nurses to share their experiences in dealing with international patients and prepare for the increasing number of international patients in the future.
识别护士在护理国际患者时面临的常见挑战，无论专业、医疗机构或护理经验如何。
医疗机构的国际化在全球范围内不断推进，国际患者数量不断增加，在日本尤为明显。
由于语言和社会文化障碍，为国际患者提供高质量护理具有挑战性。研究护士在这些情况下面临的挑战的研究有限。有必要澄清和分析与国际患者互动时的现状。
本研究采用定性设计。对11名有护理非日本患者经验的注册护士进行了半结构化访谈。按照迈林的方法进行定性内容分析。
我们确定了护士在与国际患者互动时面临的挑战的56个子类别、23个类别和8个核心类别：语言、宗教或文化、医疗文化、财务状况、治疗连续性、护理支持、医院规程以及处理国际患者的请求或需求。
本研究分析了治疗国际患者的护士所面临的宗教、生活方式和文化差异（以及各种语言和沟通障碍）。它还讨论了在为国际患者提供有限住宿的医院中获取跨文化信息的必要性。
护士可以通过事先熟悉相关背景信息，更好地适应患者的宗教、生活方式和文化。
各国医疗文化的差异可能导致医疗事故，因为与国际患者互动的护士很难应对文化差异，而且他们可能没有充分了解此类差异带来的挑战。护士分享他们在处理国际患者方面的经验并为未来越来越多的国际患者做好准备非常重要。
