[Asylum seekers : collaboration between nurses and medical students during the COVID-19 epidemic]. / Patients issus de l'asile : collaboration infirmiers-étudiants en médecine durant l'épidémie de Covid-19.

The exceptional health challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic have sparked a wave of mobilization among medical students. We were four students to provide support to the Migrant Care Units of the Vulnerability and Social Medicine Department of Unisanté. This two-month experience, very different from the academic framework we were used to during our studies, allowed us to discover a clinic grappling with social and cross-cultural issues, and taught us the mutual benefits of an interprofessional collaboration with experienced nurses. Through a few clinical vignettes, we would like to share the challenges of the care we have seen, as well as the significant lessons we have learned from them.

Les défis sanitaires exceptionnels générés par la pandémie de Covid-19 ont donné lieu à une vague de mobilisation parmi les étudiant·e·s en médecine. Nous avons été quatre étudiant·e·s à apporter notre soutien aux Unités de soins aux migrants du Département Vulnérabilités et médecine sociale d'Unisanté. Cette expérience de deux mois, bien différente du cadre académique dont nous avons eu l'habitude au cours de nos études, nous a permis de découvrir une clinique en prise avec des problématiques sociales et transculturelles, et nous a appris les bénéfices mutuels d'une collaboration interprofessionnelle avec des infirmier·ère·s expérimenté·e·s. Au travers de quelques vignettes cliniques, nous souhaitons ainsi partager les enjeux des prises en soins auxquelles nous avons assisté, ainsi que les enseignements marquants que nous en avons retirés.

[Barriers and facilitators to access to healthcare among asylum seekers from Eritrea and Afghanistan in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland]. / Facilitateurs et barrières pour l'accès aux soins chez les requérants d'asile du canton de Vaud en Suisse et recommandations.

Introduction : In the context of an upsurge in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Switzerland in 2015, caregivers encountered new issues.Background : We lack local studies that simultaneously analyze asylum seekers' experiences of the healthcare system and the perceptions of health professionals in contact with asylum seekers.Objectives : To assess the health problems of this population in order to gain a better understanding of their specific needs and to implement best practice interventions in order to improve access to care and efficiency of care.Methods : A qualitative study with twenty interviews, either one-to-one or in groups, with Eritrean and Afghan ASs, and three focus groups with registered nurses, interpreters, and emergency department professionals.Results : The main results concern access to healthcare in the country of origin, expectations about the living conditions in Switzerland, the effects of migration on health, cultural beliefs on physical health and psychiatry, visits to the emergency department, reasons for missed appointments, and peer support.Discussion : Information, trust, and time are the main issues identified to optimize access to care.Conclusion : Our results allow for a better understanding of specific needs and health interventions for Afghan and Eritrean ASs. Recommendations for practice were issued.

Women and healthcare providers' perceptions of a midwife-led unit in a Swiss university hospital: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The development of medical-led care in obstetrics over the past decades has contributed to improving outcomes for both mother and child. Although efficiency has improved in complex situations, unnecessary interventions are still practiced in low-risk pregnancies, contrary to international recommendations. A shift to a less interventionist model of care has encouraged many countries to review their policies on maternal health care and develop models such as the "midwife-led unit" (MLU) where the midwife plays a predominant role with a minimum of routine intervention. Existing research has provided convincing evidence that MLUs lead to better maternal and neonatal outcomes when compared to traditional models. They not only improve the level of satisfaction amongst women, but are also associated with reduced healthcare costs. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of women and healthcare providers regarding the creation of an MLU in a Swiss university hospital. METHODS: A descriptive research study using qualitative methods was conducted among pregnant women and new mothers in a Swiss maternity unit, including also midwives and medical staff. Data collection was carried out through one-to-one interviews, focus groups, and telephone interviews (n = 63). After transcription, thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: The triangulation of perceptions of women and healthcare providers indicated support for the implementation of an MLU to promote physiological delivery. Most women welcomed the idea of an MLU, in particular how it could help in offering continuity of care. Healthcare providers were optimistic about the implementation of an MLU and recognised the need for some women to have access to a less interventionist approach. From the women's perspective, barriers concerned the lack of awareness of midwives' full scope of practice, while barriers for midwives and obstetricians were related to the challenge to develop a good interprofessional collaboration. CONCLUSION: Alternative models to provide maternity care for low-risk women have been developed and evaluated widely in several countries outside Switzerland. This study showed that women and healthcare providers were favourable towards the development of a new care model, while taking into account the specific expectations and barriers raised by participants.