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. 2011:8:Doc07.
doi: 10.3205/psm000076. Epub 2011 Oct 25.

Integration and health-related quality of life of undergraduate medical students with migration backgrounds - Results of a survey

Jennifer Kurré  1 , Johanna Scholl, Monika Bullinger, Corinna Petersen-Ewert
Affiliations

Integration and health-related quality of life of undergraduate medical students with migration backgrounds - Results of a survey

Jennifer Kurré et al. Psychosoc Med. 2011.

Abstract
in English, German

Objective: Most medical faculties in Germany are still lacking differentiated counseling programmes for specific target groups. The purpose of the present study was to determine the quality of life and integration of students with migration backgrounds and their interests in counseling programmes.

Methods: Data was collected at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany. Participants were students of the undergraduate medical course; n=890 (89.3%) students without migration backgrounds were compared to n=107 (10.7%) students with an existing migration background.

Results: The results showed that medical students with migration backgrounds reported lower scores for health-related quality of life compared to students without a migration background. They felt less accepted and supported by their fellow students and had fewer contacts with other students. Medical students with migration backgrounds were characterised by a higher interest in the implementation of a counseling programme (Z=-3.420; p=.001).

Conclusions: In summary, medical students with migration backgrounds were identified as a group with an increased need for a specific counseling service. Lower scores of mental health and feelings of inferior integration set the necessity for early counseling and intervention needs.

Zielsetzung: In den meisten medizinischen Fakultäten in Deutschland fehlen differenzierte Beratungsprogramme für spezifische Zielgruppen. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, neben Informationen über die Lebensqualität und die Integration von Studierenden mit Migrationshintergrund ihr Interesse an Beratungsangeboten zu bestimmen.

Methodik: Die Daten wurden am Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf in Deutschland erhoben. Teilnehmer waren Studierende der Humanmedizin im ersten Studienabschnitt. Es wurden n=890 (89,3%) Studierende ohne Migrationshintergrund mit n=107 (10,7%) Studierenden mit Migrationshintergrund verglichen.

Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass Medizinstudierende mit Migrationshintergrund niedrigere Werte hinsichtlich gesundheitsbezogener Lebensqualität aufwiesen als Studierende ohne Migrationshintergrund. Sie fühlten sie sich weniger akzeptiert und unterstützt von KommilitonInnen und hatten weniger Kontakt zu anderen Studierenden. Medizinstudierende mit Migrationshintergrund zeigten ein höheres Interesse an der Implementierung eines Beratungsprogramms (Z=–3.420; p=.001).

Fazit: Insgesamt konnten Medizinstudierende mit Migrationshintergrund als Gruppe mit erhöhtem Bedarf an einem spezifischen Beratungsservice identifiziert werden. Niedrigere Werte für gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität und das Gefühl geringerer Integration zeigen den Interventionsbedarf und die Notwendigkeit für frühe Beratung.

Keywords: counseling; medical students; migration; quality of life.

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Figures

Table 1
Table 1. Mann-Whitney Test for questions of integration in the study group compared between students with and without a migration background
Table 2
Table 2. Form of financing compared between students with and without migration background
Table 3
Table 3. Passing biology and biochemistry exams (cohort 2005 and 2006)
Table 4
Table 4. Correlations Spearmans Rho between both scales of the SF-12 (Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS)) and questions for the integration in the study group (students with migration background)
Table 5
Table 5. Quality of life of students with and without a migration background compared to the norm population
Table 6
Table 6. Personal counseling needs (cohort 2005 and 2007)
Figure 1
Figure 1. Health-related quality of life of students with and without a migration background
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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