MEM-TP Training Packages for health professionals to improve access and quality of health services for migrant and ethnic minorities including the Roma. Conference on Health inequalities and vulnerability: Capacity Building & interventions among EU Member States An EU Member State Initiative to disseminate the results of the 2nd EU Health Programme Under the auspices of the EU Italian Presidency. 20-21 October 2014. Rome-Italy
Consortium Members Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública (Spain). University of Copenhagen (Denmark). Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Reggio Emilia (Italy). Academic Medical Centre / University of Amsterdam (Netherlands). Subcontractors International Organization for Migration (IOM). European Public Health Alliance (EPHA). Trnava University (Slovakia). Agiellonian University Medical College (Poland). National Institute of Public Health (Romania).
The main objective of the project is to review, develop, test and evaluate trainings for health professionals, in order to facilitate the access to and improve the quality of health services for migrants and ethnic minorities, such as the Roma, in the European Union.
To achieve this aim, the consortium works to: Present an overview of the situation of migrants and ethnic minorities in Europe regarding their access to and use of health services, and the extent to which services are adapted to their specific needs. Building on previous experience, create a framework, a training programme and validated teaching-learning materials for all health care providers, aimed at improving the accessibility, quality and appropriateness of care provided to migrants and ethnic minorities in the EU. Develop and apply a structured process, enabling those with primary responsibility in training and continuing education of health care providers in each involved country to take ownership of their training programmes, through active adaptation of the materials to their local situation and needs.
WP1 Review migrant and ethnic minorities' situation in the EU and identify common challenges and best practices to feed into the training programmes WP 2 - Training materials development: review existing training materials WP 3 New training package: Training programme for health professionals and health care providers to improve access and quality WP 4 Implement ToT and pilot training programmes (Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Spain, Denmark, Italy) WP 5 - Finalise the materials, evaluate pilot trainings, and disseminate results
www.mem-tp.org
First deliverables WP1 Key findings Importance of socio economic factors in health inequalities. Diversity of migrants and ethnic minorities implies different priorities for initiatives addressing their needs. Legislation and policy may guarantee some form of entitlement to health services for migrants and ethnic minorities, but it does not guarantee the actual access to, appropriateness, and quality of these services.
WP1 Key findings Awareness of the barriers that migrants and ethnic minorities face health organisations, the health system they are part of and health professionals have the primary responsibility for removing barriers to access. Training materials should reflect and describe the shift towards 'diversity sensitivity' (an intersectional approach) rather than continuing to teach a curriculum exclusively focused on cultural differences. Health professionals should work in an intersectoral way, promoting a joined-up approach to the different factors at play in the lives of migrants and ethnic minorities.
WP2 key findings Training programmes are characterised by low levels of participant involvement in training development,delivery and evaluation. Health professionals are the main professional groups targetted; however, mainly in multi-professional groups. Cultural competence continues as the broad conceptual approach, but alternate approaches such intersectionality and person centeredness are emergent. Training design, implementation and evaluation are not systematically focusing on outcomes. Training programmes are poorly linked to key organisational and policy support mechanisms.
Next steps WP3 Draft outline of WP3: New training package: Working Expert Group Development of new training materials Training of Trainers workshop 28-30 January 2015
Thank you very much! Ainhoa Ruiz Azarola Andalusian School of Public Health ainhoa.ruiz.easp@juntadeandalucia.es