Beyond Borders, Beyond Bias: Unveiling Medical Xenophobia Among Resident Physicians in Türkiye

Abstract

Xenophobia among healthcare professionals can significantly impact the quality of care provided to immigrant and refugee populations, particularly in countries with high influxes such as Türkiye. This study evaluated xenophobia among resident physicians at Pamukkale University Hospital and identified factors influencing these attitudes. This cross-sectional study involving 271 resident physicians at Pamukkale University Hospital was conducted between August 1 and August 20, 2022. The participants were randomly selected and stratified by department. Data were collected via a 38-item questionnaire, including the 11-item Xenophobia Scale. Descriptive statistics, the Mann‒Whitney U test, the Kruskal‒Wallis test, and multiple linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. The mean xenophobia scale score among participants was 57.53 (SD = 7.82), indicating high levels of xenophobic attitudes. The significant factors associated with higher xenophobia scores included being from a surgical department (B = 0.571, p < 0.001) and lacking foreign nationals in their close environment (B = 0.724, p < 0.001). Additionally, 58.7% of the resident physicians opposed providing free healthcare services to refugees, and 10.0% indicated that they might delay providing health services to these patients because of their status. Additionally, 7.7% of the resident physicians admitted to discriminating against migrant/refugee patients. The study reveals pervasive xenophobic attitudes among resident physicians in Türkiye, which are influenced by departmental affiliation and the social environment. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address xenophobia in healthcare settings, including cultural competence training and policy changes, to ensure equitable healthcare access for all patients.

Keywords: Doctors; Immigrants; Refugees; Resident physicians; Turkey; Xenophobia.