[Poster] Ethnic minority patients' experiences of clinical communication with General Practitioners in the United Kingdom:a meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence

Background: Health inequalities disproportionately affect people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the United Kingdom (UK), particularly individuals from Black and Asian backgrounds. Primary care is usually where patients access health services in the UK. The quality of communication between patients and general practitioners (GPs) can affect patient experience and their health outcomes. These experiences can be poorer for minoritized patients. A comprehensive review with details of ethnic minority patients’ communication experience with GPs does not yet exist.<br/><br/>Purpose: To synthesise the qualitative evidence on ethnic minority patients’ experiences of clinical communication with GPs in the UK.<br/><br/>Methods: A SPIDER strategy was used to systematically search the CINAHL Plus, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ASSIA, and Web of Science for qualitative evidence describing ethnic minority patients’ relevant experiences with GPs. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative studies was used to assess the quality of included studies. A meta-ethnographic approach was undertaken to synthesize the data.<br/><br/>Results: Thirty-seven studies were included, reflecting the experiences of more than 1,125 ethnically minoritized individuals. Three inter-related metaphors were developed to form the ‘on PAR’ model about patients’ experiences of communicating with GPs: (i) ‘Perceiving’ GP communication through one’s lens of health, illness, and care; (ii) Concerns with ‘Alignment’ between GP and patient characteristics; and (iii) Efforts to build a ‘Relationship’ with the GP.<br/><br/>Conclusions: The ‘on PAR’ model recognizes that ethnic minority patients’ experiences with GPs can vary individually and may not be attributed solely to patients’ ethnicity. Findings may inform communication education for training doctors, GPs in particular, with regard to providing tailored care to diverse ethnic <br/>minority patients.