Developing the Cultural Competence of Health Professionals Working with Gypsy Travellers

Abstract

This project explored one of the issues affecting access to health care services by Gypsy Travellers, namely the cultural competence of health professionals. The aim of the project was to support the development of cultural competence in health professionals through an exploration of staff attitudes, knowledge, and understanding of the cultural identity and health needs of Gypsy Travellers.Participants were drawn from community nursing services and members of the Irish Traveller community. The data collated from staff suggested there was limited understanding of Gypsy Traveller culture, health needs, or issues affecting the community, and the perceptions held were informed largely by negative media stereotypes.The benefi ts of honest, nonjudgmental, open discussion within professional forums about the existence and impact of bias and prejudice on practice were highlighted alongside the need for an improved understanding of the issues faced by Gypsy Travellers to improve access to care by this often excluded and marginalized community.Th is work was funded by the Mary Seacole Awards scheme, which supports projects or other educational activity benefi ting the health needs of people from Black and minority ethnic communities.

UNderstanding uptake of Immunisations in TravellIng aNd Gypsy communities (UNITING): a qualitative interview study

“…Van Cleemput 27 concurs that discrimination by health professionals is often associated with a lack of personal contact with Travellers, leading to assumptions based on stereotypes. Van Cleemput and other authors 15,18,20,24,87,111,148 identify a clear need for cultural awareness training for service providers.…”

“…outreach immunisation programmes, tailored health promotion resources), whereas others are generic yet relevant to immunisation (hand-held patient records, specialist health visitors 17 and cultural competence training of health professionals). 87 These interventions are rarely rigorously evaluated so it is unclear which are feasible, acceptable and (cost-)effective, in which communities they work and how they may or may not work. Finally, existing interventions are rarely informed by theoretical frameworks which can increase effectiveness by aiding understanding of the likely mechanisms of change.…”

“…The original intention was to integrate paper-based vignettes into the phase 2 interviews with service providers and to present verbatim quotations 87 from the Traveller interviews on key issues that emerged in each of the five levels of the SEM, in terms of both the influences (barriers and facilitators) on immunisation behaviour and ideas for interventions to increase uptake. This was to stimulate discussion of local issues identified as important by the Traveller communities, as well as the service providers who have responsibility for designing and delivering immunisation programmes locally.…”

“…The Equality Act 2010 97 recommends that organisations provide training to their employees on the protected characteristics (one of which is race, which includes ethnicity), acceptable/non-acceptable behaviour and the impact of discrimination. Many reports and strategies focusing on Travellers recommend cultural competence training for service providers including frontline reception staff in GP practices 15,18,20,24,25,87,111,148,154 and an economic review by Carr et al…”

An evaluation of asthma education project targeting the Traveller and Roma community

“…Lack of cultural awareness among health care professionals is also a barrier to health care among the Traveller and Gypsy community (Francis, 2010;Van Cleemput et al, 2007). In response to these concerns and arising from the Primary Health Care for Travellers Strategy in Ireland, 40 Primary Health Care for Travellers Projects (PHCTPs) were established.…”