The experiences and perceptions of immigrant informal caregivers about engaging with professional services in the host country: A scoping review

Aim: The inquiry explored immigrant informal caregivers' experiences and perceptions about engaging with professional services in the host country.

Background: The number of informal caregivers is rising, with more people providing home caring. Nurses and other health services are crucial in supporting informal caregivers. Research needs to focus more on immigrants, not just other caregivers. 

Design: This was a scoping review. Data Sources: Five databases (January 2017–December 2022) were searched, and 16 articles were included in this inquiry.

Review Methods: This scoping review used the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review methodology. This inquiry asked one question: What is the current knowledge about immigrant informal caregivers' experiences and perceptions when engaging mainstream professional services? Themes were identified using a thematic analysis approach. 

Results: Three themes emerged from the review: ‘finding cultural bridges: culturally connecting with services’; ‘building cultural bridges: addressing “them and us” and “acculturation-sensitive services”’. 

Conclusion: Professional service providers are currently not meeting immigrant caregivers' needs. New knowledge is presented, that nurses and health professional services must provide acculturation-sensitive care, commencing with an assessment of the individual's acculturation status. By understanding acculturation status, nurses are more likely to customize person-centred care. Acculturation status refers to the degree that the individual has adapted to the new culture while retaining some traditional cultural beliefs and practices. Acculturation-sensitive care is more likely to provide authentic holistic care that optimizes well-being.