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Aim. To explore the treatment experiences in patients of Moroccan and Turkish origin and their rehabilitation therapists regarding an adapted outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme. Background. Non-native patients who participated in a cardiac rehabilitation programme at a Dutch rehabilitation centre had more difficulties to achieve the treatment aims than native Dutch patients. Therefore, an adapted programme for non-native patients, lacking proficiency in Dutch, has been instigated. The programme contains six adapted treatment modules and additional strategies: adapted education regarding (1) the heart and the vascular system and (2) the use of healthy food, with use the of (audio) visual educational materials, (3) adapted physical exercise module with explicit involvement of the patients' relatives, (4) standard use of professional interpreters, (5) increase in the number and length of consultations and (6) individual treatment instead of a group programme. Design. Qualitative study. Method. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with eight patients of Moroccan and Turkish origin and five native Dutch rehabilitation therapists. By comparison, three native Dutch patients were interviewed regarding the regular programme. Results. The results indicate that the patients' disease symptoms reduced and that patients adopted lifestyle changes. Therapists experienced that the number and length of the consultations, the structural use of interpreters and (audio) visual educational materials contributed to the achievement of the treatment aims. Conclusion. An adapted cardiac rehabilitation programme with separate modules and additional strategies for non-native patients appears to lead to satisfied patients who adopted lifestyle changes. Relevance to clinical practice. The findings of this study are important as the study highlights the practical actions that may be taken by physicians and healthworkers to adjust rehabilitation treatment to the needs of patients of non-native origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore which factors led to drop-out in patients of Turkish and Moroccan origin with chronic non-specific low back pain who participated in a rehabilitation programme., Subjects: Patients of Turkish or Moroccan origin with chronic non-specific low back pain (n = 23) from 2 rehabilitation centres and 4 rehabilitation departments of general hospitals in the Netherlands., Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients of Turkish and Moroccan origin (n = 23), rehabilitation physicians (n = 8) and rehabilitation therapists (n = 2). Interviews were transcribed or summarized and subsequently coded and analysed according to themes., Results: Most patients dropped out due to expectations of a specific medical diagnosis and pain relief as the main aims of rehabilitation treatment. Other reasons for drop-out detected in the interviews were: lack of acknowledgement of the patient's complaints, lack of trust in the rehabilitation physician, contradicting views to those of the physician from the patients' country of origin with regard to the cause and treatment of pain, and communication problems., Conclusion: The major reason for drop-out was patients having different expectations, from those of their health providers, of the aim of treatment, as a result of a different view of the origin and treatment of low back pain.

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to address the social context of rehabilitation by exploring the perspectives of family members regarding rehabilitation of female immigrant patients with a chronic pain condition., Method: In-depth semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with family members of nine patients. The interviews were transcribed and subsequently coded and analysed according to themes., Results: All participants acknowledged that their respective relative experiences pain. Pain is considered a symptom of the malfunctioning body and different explanatory notions are given. Participants regarded medication, warmth, rest or gentle exercise to be appropriate treatment options. Most participants had limited awareness of, and involvement in, rehabilitation. The role of family members in illness management lies mainly in providing advice and in taking over or assisting in domestic activities., Conclusion: The importance of considering the patient's social context and involving family in the treatment process is indicated in the literature. However, awareness of the aim and content of rehabilitation was limited among most participating family members as was their involvement in the rehabilitation process of their relative. It is recommended that further research needs to look at factors influencing involvement of family members before effective strategies for involving family members of patients of various socio-economic and/or cultural backgrounds can be developed.