[Greenlanders in hospital. An interview study of communication between patients and therapists, satisfaction and therapeutic preferences].

In four hospitals in Greenland, 50 Greenlandic patients and their Danish therapist (18 doctors, 26 nurses and six other staff) have been interviewed about the same topics. The interviews were semistructured with open ended questions on the following subjects: Language difficulties, perception of diagnosis and therapy, patients' satisfaction and points of criticism. Several of the patients had not understood the most important medical information about diagnosis and treatment. But most of the patients did not consider the information problem to be serious and patients were satisfied with most of the consultations. Language difficulties and insufficient communications do not correspond to patients' satisfaction but have to be analysed in the wider cultural context. There was a tendency towards the elder patients being more satisfied than the younger.