Azita Emami, Helen Olt, Maria Jirwe, Fredrik Saboonchi, Kate Gerrish
An ethnically diverse healthcare workforce is considered beneficial to meeting the needs of an ethnically diverse population. In the UK and the USA, lack of equality and difficulties in communication between co-workers and patients from different ethnic backgrounds is problematic. Little is known about the ethnically diverse healthcare workforce in elderly care settings in Sweden. This paper compares native Swedish and first- and second generation immigrant healthcare workers’ perceptions of diversity in relation to equality and communication in elderly care settings. The study used a cross-sectional design with a survey administered by self-completed questionnaire. The Assess Awareness and Acceptance of Diversity in Healthcare Organizations questionnaire was distributed to healthcare workers in elderly care settings in one municipality in Sweden. Responses from 643 healthcare workers were analysed. A factor analysis was performed on 26 items in the questionnaire. Reliability analysis on the subscales was conducted using Cronbach’s alpha. Differences between native and first- and second-generation immigrants were analysed using ANOVA followed by post-hoc tests. The results showed that first-generation immigrant and native Swedish healthcare workers had different views on equality and communication in four of the five subscales, namely care of elderly patients from different backgrounds, equality in the workplace, communication with diverse co-workers, and treatment by family and significant others from a different ethnic background. Second generation immigrants held similar views to native Swedish healthcare workers on two factors, namely equality in the workplace and communication between co-workers from different backgrounds. There were no differences between the groups with regard to their views on self-awareness in collaboration with co-workers. Differences in the experiences of first- and second generation healthcare workers should be acknowledged, rather than assuming that they share similar experiences as immigrants. Managers need to promote equality and effective communication among an ethnically diverse workforce.
