# Communication between Norwegian Pakistani patients and healthcare providers about traditional and complementary medicine: a qualitative study

## TL;DR

The study explores how healthcare providers in Norway communicate with Pakistani immigrant patients about traditional and complementary medicines, highlighting challenges and ways to improve patient safety.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into communication challenges and strategies for healthcare providers when discussing traditional and complementary medicine with Norwegian Pakistani patients.

## Key findings

- Healthcare providers face communication barriers such as language and limited knowledge of traditional and complementary medicine.
- Improving healthcare providers' knowledge and attitudes can enhance trust and communication with immigrant patients.
- There is an urgent need to implement measures that improve communication about traditional and complementary medicine for patient safety.

## Abstract

Norwegian Pakistanis use traditional and complementary medicines (T&CM) to promote well-being and treat illnesses. Effective communication between T&CM users and healthcare providers (HCPs) about these practices is essential for patient safety. Therefore, this study aimed to explore HCPs’ experiences in discussing T&CM practices with Norwegian Pakistani patients.

Four focus group interviews and one individual in-depth interview were conducted with HCPs in Oslo, Norway, between May and October 2024. Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) was used to generate themes highlighting the shared meanings of the participants’ experiences.

Two main themes were generated: 1) Complex consultations and 2) Enhancing communication by modifying attitudes, knowledge, and practices. Consultations with immigrant patients were complex due to language barriers, participants’ limited knowledge of T&CM, and various patient-related obstacles. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated a strong motivation to overcome them. Improving HCPs’ knowledge about T&CM and demonstrating openness and interest in what matters to patients can build trust and promote effective communication about T&CM.

HCPs lack knowledge about T&CM used by Norwegian Pakistani patients and rarely communicate about this topic in consultations. The results show an urgent need to promote measures that enhance communication for patient safety.