Table 2 Difficulties in paediatric asthma care for ethnic minority children

Providers were aware of

a) complex social contexts

b) difficulties in explaining the chronic nature of asthma and its consequences

c) gathering information about the child

Providers were unaware of

d) communicating from a biomedical perspective (mainly providing knowledge)

e) not giving attention to illness perceptions

f) not using formal interpreters

g) not adapting their own language (plain language instead of medical jargon)

h) the impact of providers’ own backgrounds on the consultation

Cultural competence

- Ability to use patient-centred communication skills in giving and retrieving information (issues a,b,c,d,e,g)

- Awareness of different illness perceptions and ability to communicate effectively about this (issue e)

- Ability to effectively overcome language and health literacy barriers (issues f,g)

- Ability to reflect on one’s own background and stereotyping in intercultural contexts (issue h)