Transcript College of Social Science BME Systematic Review Poster 2 July 2015

Barriers and facilitators for people from minority ethnic groups
accessing prehospital care: a systematic review
Viet-Hai
1
Phung ,
1Community
Karen
1
Windle ,
Marishona
2
Ortega ,
3
Essam ,
Nadya
Mukesh
1,3
Siriwardena
2University
3
Barot ,
Joe
4
Kai ,
Mark
3East
5
Johnson ,
and Health Research Unit, University of Lincoln,
of Lincoln,
Midlands Ambulance Service,
5
University of Nottingham, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, De Montfort University
Introduction
We aimed to identify in the literature barriers or
facilitators experienced by patients from minority ethnic
communities in accessing prehospital care and to
explore the causes and consequences of any
differences in delivery.
Aims & objectives
A. Niroshan
4School
of Medicine,
Methodology
• Exploring and understanding the barriers and facilitators to delivering
high quality ambulance service care to patients from minority ethnic
groups; and
• Exploring the causes and consequences of those differences in
delivery to minority ethnic groups.
Data extraction process
We conducted a systematic literature review and
narrative synthesis. Electronic and journal hand
searches identified relevant evaluative studies from
1999 through to 2013 . A researcher extracted data to
determine characteristics, results and quality, each
checked by a second reviewer. The main outcome
measures were delays in patient calls, mortality rates
and 30-days survival post-discharge.
Design data extraction tool
Search 14 databases using
search terms in data extraction
Limitations
442 publications selected for
analysis
418 records screened out
The US has been the main point of reference because
of the scarcity of UK-based literature and data on
access to prehospital care by minority ethnic groups.
The US health system is very different from the UK’s
NHS, which makes cost a major barrier to accessing
healthcare in the US; less so in the UK.
24 full-text articles analysed
for eligibility
13 articles screened out
Results
Eleven studies met criteria for the review: two
concerned services in the UK and nine were United
States-based. Reported barriers to accessing care
included: language problems; lack of knowledge of the
health care system; and limited cultural awareness
among clinical staff. Facilitators to accessing
prehospital care included: translation services and staff
education. There were racial differences in mortality
and survival rates.
11 studies included
Funding: This study is supported by a small research grant from the College of Social Science Research Fund at the University of Lincoln.
Conclusion
The paucity of literature and difficulties of transferring
findings from US to UK context identified an important
research gap. Further studies should be undertaken to
investigate UK differences in prehospital care and
outcomes for minority ethnic groups, followed by
qualitative approaches to understand barriers and
enablers to equitable access.