Breaking the Silence: Exploring Self-experienced Discrimination Among Non-EU Physicians in Denmark

Introduction Discrimination against foreign healthcare professionals is an underexplored issue. Like many other countries, Denmark is experiencing an increasing influx of non-European Union (EU) physicians. These physicians face higher levels of requirements to obtain authorization to practice and be included in the Danish healthcare sector compared with their European peers, which can lead to an experience of perceived discrimination. Considering importance of physicians’ mental health, addressing this perceived discrimination is crucial. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the perceived daily discrimination among non-EU physicians residing in Denmark. We focus on those who have immigrated within the past 10 years to shed light on the challenges faced during their integration into the Danish healthcare system. Methods 62 non-EU physicians who immigrated to Denmark within the last decade participated in the online survey during January 2024. The survey consisted of demographic information and Perceived Discrimination Scale (PDS). PDS was used to assess daily discrimination. Participants were grouped based on their duration of stay in Denmark and employment status. A Kruskal-Wallis H Test was conducted to compare the median daily discrimination scores across the different groups, using SPSS version 29. Results The study revealed that 74% of the participants who had lived in Denmark for less than four years were unemployed (p-value=0.001), suggesting significant challenges in finding employment. Furthermore, participants living in Denmark for over four years reported significantly higher levels of perceived daily discrimination compared to newcomers (p-value=0.016), indicating difficulties in integration. Similarly, employed physicians, reported higher discrimination levels than their unemployed peers (p=0.053), suggesting discrimination experiences at work. Conclusions This study reveals that non-EU physicians in Denmark face significant challenges to secure employment, especially in their first years of residence. Additionally, perceived discrimination for the physicians may be influenced by both employment status and duration of stay. High unemployment rates among recent arrivals and increased discrimination for those residing longer suggest that extended integration into the Danish healthcare system can intensify feelings of bias. Disclosure of Interest None Declared