[Taking care of foreign users: what training is needed for the healthcare workers at the Municipal Health and Science Agency of Torino?]. / Assistere l'utenza straniera: quale bisogno formativo per gli operatori sanitari dell'Azienda Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino?

ABSTRACT

INTRODUTION Immigration is growing and immigrants' presence is important also in the health care system, thereby services reorientation and a multicultural approach are needed. OBJECTIVE: To explore health care professionals' training needs of Turin Azienda Città della Salute e della Scienza in taking care of foreign users. METHODS: An ad hoc 4-sections questionnaire was built (1) Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions; (2) Lived and Training; (3) Improvement in cultural competence; (4) Socio-demographic data. Questions were dichotomous (yes/no), closed and short open. Doctors, nurses, speech therapists and support staff of the "Head and Neck" Department were involved. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six operators answered (75%). Less than 20% (n=34) knew the normative concerning immigrants' health services use; tubercolosis, venereal diseases and AIDS were believed to be the most frequent diseases in foreign users. Female sex (p=0.008) and allied health care profile (trend p=0051) were significantly associated to consider clients' values important, while a previous training was associated to the need of improving their knowledge (p=0.0002). The most important training needs were meaning of illness and care, perception of prevention, hygiene and self-care practices and perception of care. Among the most effective strategies lecture and discussion, group work and filmography. CONCLUSION: The analysis shows the main needing education areas and the training strategies which operators considered more effective.