Barriers and facilitators for people from minority ethnic groups accessing prehospital care: a systematic review

摘要: ABSTRACT Background Despite its increasing importance, equity remains an unrealised aspiration in healthcare. People from minority ethnic groups are proportionately less likely to access emergency and hospital services than the majority White population, despite higher levels of need. Our systematic literature review narrative synthesis aimed identify barriers or facilitators accessing ambulance paramedic care for patients. In doing so, explored causes consequences any differences delivery. Methods We designed a data extraction tool elicit required information. Studies were included if they referenced groups, service, facilitators, etc. Included studies also had be: published English, 2003-2013, based North America, Europe Australasia. We applied same combination search terms across 14 electronic databases. Results Barriers included: communication difficulties; limited knowledge healthcare system staff cultural stereotyping. There disparities mortality survival rates, reflecting condition severity, delays seeking treatment, Such due symptoms previous discriminatory experiences. Conclusion Little quality evidence exists on improving care, which is compounded by challenges generalising findings US UK. The identified may be mitigated interpreting competency education. Each requires more robust patient ethnicity language data. Having some further qualitative research needed explore why exist. This supplementary could then inform strategies provide equitable prehospital groups.