Psychosocial support corresponding to the needs among forced migrants identifying as LGBTQ+: challenges and opportunities in education, clinical care and research

The overarching purpose is to generate knowledge how nursing education, clinical care and research can meet the needs of psychosocial support among immigrants who identify as LGBTQ+.

Primarily through qualitative methods, the project will explore perspectives and experiences among students and teachers at nursing programs, health professionals at the Red Cross treatment center for persons afflicted by war and torture, and forced immigrants who have fled to Sweden and who identify as LGBTQ+.

A special focus will be placed on psychosocial support for people with traumatic experiences linked to war, torture or severe migration.

Data collection will involve focus group discussions with nursing students, nursing teachers and health professionals (studies 1 and 2), questionnaires for nursing students (study 1), individual interviews with immigrants (studies 3 and 4), and the Delphi method with immigrants and health professionals (study 5).

Recruitment will be performed via nursing programs at Swedish universities/colleges, the Red Cross treatment centers for persons afflicted by war and torture, social media, and non-profit organizations.

Data will be inductively analyzed with qualitative content analysis, systematic text condensation and descriptive statistics. This project will generate valuable knowledge grounded in an individual as well as societal level.

In-depth understanding of the lived experiences and challenges within this marginalized population will promote equal, inclusive and culturally competent care.

Successfully meeting the psychosocial needs within this population will promote their public health, resilience and prevention of diseases.