Registered nurses' perceptions of healthy lifestyle counselling for immigrants in primary healthcare: A focus group study

BackgroundThe use of primary healthcare and health promotion services is low among immigrants compared with native citizens. Immigrants are at risk of developing chronic diseases due to genetics, nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. Registered nurses play an integral role in teaching, counselling for a healthy lifestyle and care coordination in primary healthcare.AimWe aimed to explore the perceptions of registered nurses on healthy lifestyle counselling for preventing type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases among immigrants in the primary healthcare setting.DesignWe performed a qualitative descriptive study using focus group interviews.MethodsData were collected with semi-structured focus group interviews with a total of 23 registered nurses working in primary healthcare. We recruited the participants by using the purposive sampling method in the primary healthcare setting of four municipalities in Finland. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed with qualitative inductive content analysis.ResultsThe participants' perceptions were related to (1) uniform counselling practice for both immigrants and native citizens, (2) challenges in counselling immigrants, (3) understanding cultural factors influencing immigrant counselling, (4) the need to improve immigrant counselling and (5) utilizing insights from practical experience to improve the counselling service.ConclusionsDeveloping a culturally sensitive health promotion service is suggested to support the health of immigrants. Moreover, both migrant communities and healthcare professionals should be involved in co-designing and implementing health promotion projects through a community-based participatory approach.ImpactOur study contributes to healthcare practice and management by underscoring the need for culturally tailored health promotion services for the at-risk group of immigrants in primary healthcare. Cultural competence in nursing education needs to be reinforced. The provided recommendations inform researchers and policymakers about the health disparities and health needs of immigrants.Public ContributionHealthcare professionals were consulted in the study design.