Asylsuchende und Fl�chtlinge in der Notfallstation

Abstract

This cross-sectional study describes the health problems and the health care of asylum seekers and refugees from the point of view of accident & emergency (A & E) physicians at the major hospital in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The physicians filled in a detailed questionnaire and documented all consultations of asylum seekers/refugees and of a control group of patients during eleven weeks (2 x 98 consultations). 76% of these asylum seekers/refugees originated from former Yugoslavia. The distribution of the main ICD-coded diagnoses did not differ between asylum seekers/refugees and the control group after correction for age. In comparison with the asylum seekers and refugees attending GPs, injuries were much more common in the A & E department attenders (37% vs. 8%). Asylum seekers/refugees and the patients in the control group did not differ in respect to being classified as an emergency case (58% vs. 65%). There were also no differences in hospitalisation rates (29% vs. 36%). Asylum seekers/refugees who were registered with a GP attended the A & E department more often during the night than during the day compared to patients who were not registered with a GP. Consultations which have been classified as emergencies occurred more frequently during the day than at night time. The time of residence in Switzerland was negatively associated with the registration with a GP and with being classified as an emergency case. A lack of experience in caring for asylum seekers and refugees and of specific training in this field has been the major complaint by the A & E physicians. Asylum seekers should be introduced to the tasks and functions of the various sectors of the national health care system as early as possible. Registration with a GP in the community should be promoted.

“Medical Emergency Services as Seen by Consumers”. Health Services Research by CATI Survey of the Community

“…In diesem Zusammenhang sei auf eine weitere Arbeit aus der Schweiz hingewiesen, die einen spezifischen Aufklärungsbedarf bei Asylsuchenden und Flüchtlingen über das jeweilige Gesundheitssystem im Allgemeinen und die Zuständigkeit von Notfallstationen im Besonderen sieht [1].…”

“…Conclusion: A) The tiered medical emergency system should be used adequately; this aim could be attained by (1) information of the public about the "24-h" on-call service of panel doctors;…”

Use of medical emergency services

“…In this context, another Swiss study determining the specific need for information among refugees and asylum seekers about the local health-care system in general and medical emergency services in particular should be mentioned (Blöchliger et al 1998).…”