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European Journal of Medical Research
Published in: European Journal of Medical Research 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Somatoform Disorder | Review

Education on medically unexplained symptoms: a systematic review with a focus on cultural diversity and migrants

Authors: An Mariman, Peter Vermeir, Marta Csabai, Anne Weiland, Karen Stegers-Jager, Ruben Vermeir, Dirk Vogelaers

Published in: European Journal of Medical Research | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Health care providers often struggle with the management of patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), especially in case of a different ethnicity and/or cultural background. These challenges are insufficiently addressed in their training.

Objectives

A systematic review on education in the field of MUS in a diverse context to improve MUS healthcare provider–patient interaction focused on intercultural communication.

Methods

Screening of PubMed, Web of Science, Cinahl and Cochrane Library on the keywords ‘Medical unexplained (physical) symptoms (MUS)’, ‘Somatoform disorder’, ‘Functional syndrome’, ‘Diversity’, ‘Migrants’, ‘Ethnicity’, ‘Care models’, ‘Medical education’, ‘Communication skills’, ‘Health literacy’.

Results

MUS patients, especially with a different ethnic background, often feel not understood or neglected. Health care providers experience feelings of helplessness, which may provoke medical shopping and resource consumption. Attitudes and perceptions from undergraduate trainees to senior physicians tend to be negative, impacting on the quality of the patient/health care provider relationship and subsequently on health outcomes, patient satisfaction and therapeutic adherence. Current undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate education and training does not prepare health care providers for diagnosing and managing MUS patients in a diverse context. A continuum of training is necessary to achieve a long term and lasting change in attitudes towards these patients and trainers play a key role in this process. Hence, education should pay attention to MUS, requiring a specific competency profile and training, taken into account the variety in patients’ cultural backgrounds.

Conclusions

This systematic review identified significant gaps and shortcomings in education on MUS in a diverse context. These need to be addressed to improve outcomes.
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Metadata
Title
Education on medically unexplained symptoms: a systematic review with a focus on cultural diversity and migrants
Authors
An Mariman
Peter Vermeir
Marta Csabai
Anne Weiland
Karen Stegers-Jager
Ruben Vermeir
Dirk Vogelaers
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
European Journal of Medical Research / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 2047-783X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-023-01105-7

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