Health care access for Somali refugees: Views of patients, doctors, nurses

Objective: To identify barriers to health care access perceived by a group of refugees from Somalia and by the doctors and nurses providing care for t hem. Methods: A survey of patients seen during a 7-month period at a, prima ry care clinic in Minneapolis, and estimates by clinic staff of patient res ponses to the survey. Results: patients reported fewer problems with transp ortation, payment, language, and being examined than their caregivers expec ted, Conclusion: Asking the opinion of their caregivers may not provide acc urate information about problems experienced by refugees. Interviewing pati ents directly is more useful, although not without problems.