An undergraduate medical education framework for refugee and migrant health: Curriculum development and conceptual approaches
From: An undergraduate medical education framework for refugee and migrant health: Curriculum development and conceptual approaches
https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-022-03413-8
As global refugee counts hit an all time high, WHO and UNHCR have called for refugee responsive health systems. This means we must train our future practitioners to provide culturally and medically responsive leadership and care.
The Gruner et al. framework highlights the importance of trauma and violence informed approaches, this entails being humble and avoiding retraumatization, keeping refugee family members together, using a strength-focused approach and remaining alert for disabling mental health conditions. This internationally relevant guidance hones in on access to care barriers, social determinants of health for refugees, cross-cultural communication skills, global health illnesses, as well as challenges and pitfalls of providing mental health care.
Physicians will need to be prepared to work with civil society, settlement workers and other health professionals as the work goes global.