Nineteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

The Syrian refugee crisis has caused millions of refugees to resettle. Many refugees have unique health needs that may result from their resettlement or previous health conditions. In order to receive the proper medical treatment, refugees require access to information. This study examined how Syrian refugees in the Greater Cincinnati area prefer to receive medical information and the role that interpreters play in the doctor and patient relationship. To address these questions, semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data; a thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the transcripts. Results indicate that participants prefer to receive relevant medical information in person or via text message. In addition, in-person interpreters were favored over phone interpreters. Recommendations for changes include: multiple modes of communication; tangible document access; using text messages; consistent interpreters; and utilizing videoconferencing.