Short description
(English)
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In a society marked by multiple diseases, complex lives and intersecting social divisions, healthcare organisations have to adapt their policies and practices on an organisational and relational level. This adaptation to specific demands requires awareness that the use of protocols and practices that are based on social categories such as gender, origin, disability, age, and religion, can incur the risk of multiple, overlapping discriminations. In this project, we seek to analyse how healthcare organisations respond to the increasing diversity of their users’ needs. What measures have they implemented in order to favour real equity of access to healthcare and to improve its quality? To what extent do they use a person-centred approach, taking into account personal life experience and the intersection of identities? Through observations, semi-directive interviews with users and professionals from healthcare organisations and a collection of audio-visual material, we will produce a systematic, qualitative comparison of five low-threshold healthcare organisations in five European neighbourhoods, all confronted by a highly diversified population. This analysis will allow us to formulate concrete recommendations for fair and equitable services in complex societies. With respect to the context of different Welfare regimes and the uniqueness of each chosen neighbourhood, we would like to identify difference-sensitive policies and practices that favour equity in healthcare and tackle multiple discrimination. In addition to the research report, this study foresees two scientific articles and the organisation of a Cost-Action IS1103 ADAPT workshop in Geneva to discuss the adaption of healthcare to diversity. If additional funding is provided, the collected audio-visual material will be used for a documentary film.
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Abstract
(English)
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This research project generates a systematic, qualitative comparison of low-threshold health and social care organisations in four European neighbourhoods, all characterised by highly diversified populations: Belleville (Paris), El Raval (Barcelona), Jonction (Geneva), Rosengård (Malmö), Tower Hamlets (London). We seek to analyse how these organisations respond to the increasing diversity of their users’ needs. In a society represented by multiple lifestyles and intersecting social divisions, healthcare and social service organisations have to adapt their policies and practices on an organisational and relational level. This adaptation to specific demands requires awareness that the use of protocols and practices that are based on social categories such as gender, origin, disability, age or religion, can incur the risk of new inequalities and multiple, overlapping discriminations. The increased differentiation in modern societies is most pronounced in cities, especially in urban areas with highly mobile populations. Therefore this research project is conducted at the scale of an urban neighbourhood focusing on low-threshold organisations that offer health and social service to the local population. We use a panel of mixed, qualitative methods such as observations of the neighbourhoods and the selected organisations as well as semi-structured interviews with professionals (manager, doctors, nurses, receptionist, social workers etc.) and some of their clients. This provides information from two perspectives and allows us to analyse the results around the following themes: access to care, quality of care, participation, policy and management and promoting equity. This comparative study enables us to identify practices - relative to structural elements such as local economic and regulatory welfare constraints - and contributes to the public and scientific debate regarding equity in health and social care organisations, addressing multiple forms of discrimination and inequalities.
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