RESTORE is a research project funded by the European Commission under Framework Programme 7. It is a research project about optimising medical and psychosocial primary care for migrants in Europe with a particular focus on communication in cross-cultural consultations. We are applying innovative scientific methods - Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) and Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) research - in primary care settings. As an inter-disciplinary team, we seek to use these cutting edge research tools to make a real impact on cross-cultural healthcare consultations. We are seeking new insights into this healthcare experience, by focusing on the particular needs of migrants as well as the service providers with whom they consult. Our aim is to bring together all stakeholders involved in migrant care so that all perspectives can be explored and understood. RESTORE spans sociology, cultural anthropology, general practice, healthcare policy and implementation science. We are concerned with the following questions:

• How are the results of healthcare research about supporting communication in cross-cultural consultations translated into practice in primary care clinical settings?
• Can recent advances in implementation science bring real and tangible benefits in a migrant healthcare context?
• How should healthcare policies be adapted to fully support the needs of service users and service providers in cross-cultural primary care consultations?
• How should research findings be used to inform the training and education of primary healthcare providers

Why RESTORE matters

Europe is becoming increasingly multi-cultural. Our healthcare systems must adapt to ensure that care is delivered in a manner which is sensitive to new and different cultural norms so that all service users receive appropriate and high quality care. While policies and guidance have emerged, RESTORE will seek to establish how these are actually experienced in primary care settings and consultations.

Abstract

This project is concerned with optimising the delivery of primary healthcare to European citizens who are migrants who experience language and cultural barriers in host countries. We focus on the implementation of evidence-based health information (e.g. guidelines to enhance communication in cross-cultural consultations) and interventions (e.g. training initiatives on interculturalism and the use of paid interpreters) designed to address language and cultural barriers in primary care settings. We explore how these are translated (or not) into routine practice in primary care settings. We will investigate and support implementation processes for these using a unique combination of contemporary social theory, the Normalization Process Theory and a participatory research methodology.

Objectives

Our five study objectives are to determine:

• What guidelines and/or training initiatives are currently available in our partner countries that have been generated by primary care research in a way that was inclusive of all key stakeholders?
• How are the guidelines and/or training initiatives translated into practice by primary care staff? What are the processes of implementation, 'on the ground' in routine practice?
• What is the capacity of primary care settings in different countries (and, therefore, different organisational contexts) to incorporate implementation processes within their current organisational arrangement?
• Is the implementation work for guidelines and/or training initiatives sustainable - leading to normalised use of these technologies in routine practice?
• What are the benefits (if any) of using NPT and PLA to investigate and support implementation processes? There will be co-operation between an inter-disciplinary team of experienced researchers, across 6 European health care settings with different organizational contexts and capacities to respond to this implementation work.

Support

RESTORE is funded by the European Commission under the FP7 Health Programme, and by the RESTORE consortium members.