[Accessibility and quality of rehabilitative services among migrants in Germany]

Migrants comprise a large proportion of the population in Germany. As compared to non-migrants they are at a higher risk with respect tor occupational accidents, occupational diseases and early retirement due to disability. Tertiary preventive services such as rehabilitation, consequently, are of high relevance for this population group.

We provide an overview of the accessibility and quality of preventive services among migrants residing in Germany using medical rehabilitation (tertiary prevention) as an example. We also present strategies which aim to improve health care for this population group.

Summary of quantitative routine data analyses and of qualitative interviews with patients and health care professionals in rehabilitative care.

Migrants utilize rehabilitative health care services less often than non-migrants. Those who undergo medical rehabilitation report a lower satisfaction with health care and show less favorable health outcomes than non-migrants. This, for instance, becomes evident in the occupational performance and subjective treatment outcome after rehabilitation. Socioeconomic, sociodemographic and health factors only partially explain these associations. In addition, there is evidence that migrants face various barriers which affect the accessibility and quality of health care services.

Health care institutions have to provide services which are more sensitive to the heterogeneity of the population in order to reduce barriers in health care. Diversity management can contribute to this goal.