Stato dell’arte dell’assistenza socio-sanitaria e analisi delle caratteristiche cliniche e neuropsicologiche degli immigrati con patologia cronica

[Autom. eng. transl.] Introduction and objectives: In the last decade, the number of immigrants present in Italy has increased rapidly, with potentially harmful effects for the national health system. The increase in foreigners was also recorded among patients diagnosed with chronic diseases. However, few data are available in the literature on the clinical and demographic characteristics of these subjects or on their need for psychosocial assistance. Often, in fact, there is the risk of poor compliance with the therapies due to the barriers due to the cultural substrate. To date it is necessary to have more knowledge of socio-cultural contexts and train professionals in the sector to overcome these disparities. The purpose of this study is to explore what limitations arise in the care of immigrants by defining the network relating to psycho-socio-medical support. We also intend to evaluate the perception and level of information of immigrants with chronic pathologies towards their clinical condition and possible comorbidity with socio-cultural factors. Methods / Actions: The first phase of the study was conducted in the National Territory by means of a survey designed to survey the health and social-assistance network of public and private organizations that deal with the welfare of the immigrant with chronic pathology. In the second phase of the study, demographic information was collected from the medical documentation of immigrants belonging to hospitals in the Lazio, Lombardy and Puglia regions. An ad hoc tool was also built and administered in order to explore not only the clinical picture of patients, but to define the state of mental and neuropsychological health with possible risk factors related to the context of belonging. A semi-structured interview was used to determine the role of operators in the medical and socio-welfare field and to highlight any difficulties encountered in the care of immigrant patients with chronic diseases. Results: Through exploratory analysis, the family, environmental, nutritional and social risk factors of immigrants were defined by comparing them with those of Italian patients in the same clinical condition. The observational analysis conducted at national and regional level made it possible to configure the activity of the multi-strength structures. Finally, through the interview it was possible to draw up the state of the art of the profiles of the involved operators (doctors, psychologists, neuropsychologists) and their role in the clinical and psychological support of the immigrant patient with chronic pathology. Conclusion: Highlighting the specific needs and opportunities for intervention offered by the territory to immigrants is nowadays substantial in order to define good practices for taking care of the patient, optimizing the economic resources in order to provide guidelines for planning assistance interventions and improve patient compliance with care.