Introduction Research highlights that patients from ethnic minority groups often receive lower quality of care. This study contributes to the knowledge and understanding of culturally sensitive care and explores health care professionals’ definitions and perceptions of this concept and how they deliver this in practice. Method This qualitative study conducted a total of six focus groups ( n = 34) and four in-depth interviews with six categories of health care professionals in Belgium. Thematic content analysis was used. Results The results indicate that the concept of culturally sensitive care is perceived quite narrowly. Professionals are likely to portray their own frame of reference and find it challenging to show empathy with patients with a different background. Othering (micro-racism by defining “the other”) is a powerful example. Discussion The discussion reveals the significance of increasing cultural awareness and understanding, sensitizing about current narrow perceptions, and enhancing culturally sensitive care in the Belgian health care setting.

This study aimed to assess interprofessional collaboration between general physicians and emergency departments in the French speaking regions of Belgium. Eight group interviews were conducted both in rural and urban areas, including in Brussels.Findings showed that the relational components of collaboration, which are highly valued by individuals involved, comprise mutual acquaintanceship and trust, shared power and objectives. The organizational components of collaboration included out-of-hours services, role clarification, leadership and overall environment. Communication and patient’s role were also found to be key elements in enhancing or hindering collaboration across these two levels of care.Relationships between general physicians and emergency departments’ teams were tightly linked to organizational factors and the general macro-environment. Health system regulation did not appear to play a significant role in promoting collaboration between actors. A better role clarification is needed in order to foster multidisciplinary team coordination for a more efficient patient management. Finally, economic power and private practice impeded interprofessional collaboration between the care teams.In conclusion, many challenges need to be addressed for achievement of a better collaboration and more efficient integration. Not only should integration policies aim at reinforcing the role of general physicians as gatekeepers, also they should target patients’ awareness and empowerment.

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BackgroundThis study examines the attitudes, view of their future role, and knowledge of nursing students regarding euthanasia due to unbearable mental suffering (UMS euthanasia) in Belgium. Nurses have a key role in this situation at many levels. The practice of euthanasia is expanding globally and laws are changing, making more research essential.MethodA cross-sectional design and online survey were used. All nursing students at a Belgian university college participated.ResultsThe majority of nursing students had a high degree of acceptance towards UMS euthanasia and highlighted their important role in the euthanasia decision-making process, but also reported a lack of knowledge and skills.ConclusionNursing education at all levels needs to recognize this knowledge gap, taking into account the complexity and broader context of end-of-life care.

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Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to identify the barriers and facilitators experienced by healthcare professionals while caring for patients with a migration background. Background People with a migration background often face several structural inequalities and barriers in terms of accessibility to, and affordability of, healthcare. In order to provide quality care for patients with a migration background, it is important to understand which barriers healthcare professionals experience that prevent them from providing care and which factors can facilitate this. Design and methods Qualitative research following the COREQ criteria. A total of six focus groups (n = 37) and 12 individual interviews were conducted with a multidisciplinary sample: doctors, nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists. Nursing and medical students were also included. Thematic content analysis was used. Results Key findings suggest that the main barrier is that healthcare professionals regard people with a migration background as “the other”. Healthcare professionals do not feel secure or competent to provide care for these “others.” According to the healthcare professionals, the hospital structures—and, particularly, the managerial instances—appear to be only slightly supportive. Structural barriers at the level of the healthcare system, such as limited implementation of care coordination and austerity measures (time pressure or economic restrictions), were also perceived as barriers. Facilitators can be the healthcare professionals' attitude or the flexibility of the management. Conclusions Healthcare professionals experience barriers in caring for people with a migration background. Othering plays a key role in building or maintaining several barriers. A multilevel approach is necessary to tackle these barriers and enable facilitators. Relevance to clinical practice Raising awareness about “othering” in the educational programs of students and healthcare professionals is essential. Also, deploying support mechanisms and valuing the competences of multicultural and multi‐lingual healthcare professionals can help facilitate quality care for patients with a migrant background. Patient or Public Contribution Patients, informal and formal caregivers participated in the study at several stages (e.g.: by involving them during the research design phase or providing feedback and input at specific moments across the study). In addition, community participants played a key role also during the research design and data analysis phases as well as by facilitating patients' recruitment.

Aim To explore final year nursing students' attitudes towards euthanasia due to unbearable mental suffering by using the adapted and validated Euthanasia Attitude Scale. Design Cross‐sectional survey. Methods Explorative, descriptive cross‐sectional study conducted using an e‐mail survey between October 2020 and March 2021 by a sample of final‐year baccalaureate nursing students (n = 273) from eight of the eleven Flemish university colleges. The actual questionnaire contains 21 questions and was developed based on a consensus reached following independent translations. The psychometric properties of the Euthanasia Attitude Scale were assessed, including reliability and validity. Independent‐sample Mann–Whitney U‐test was used to investigate relation between demographic and education‐related data, and domain and total score of the UMS‐EAS‐NL. This study received ethical approval from the Ethical Committee of the University Hospital Brussels, Belgium. Results McDonald's omega was 0.838 for the total Euthanasia Attitude Scale scores, supporting the validity of the questionnaire. A statistically significant difference in ‘Naturalistic beliefs’ score was found relating to the year of birth. There are clinically important results between those students who have been involved in euthanasia and those who have not. Conclusions Most of the final‐year nursing students supported the probability of patients' access to euthanasia due to unbearable mental suffering. To monitor adequate care, it is necessary to prepare nursing students adequately for this complex matter. Impact To date, no large‐scale study has examined nursing students' attitudes towards euthanasia because of unbearable mental suffering. It is expected that nursing students may be confronted with such a euthanasia request during an internship, or later in their professional career, in countries where euthanasia is legal. Students showed a high acceptability towards UMS‐euthanasia. Clinically significant differences were found for students who had ever been involved in euthanasia.