Health professionals’ clinical considerations when supporting forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions

Background Forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expression experience health-related burdens and societal challenges during resettlement, calling attention to the need for inclusive and accessible professional support. The aim was to explore health professionals' clinical considerations when providing support for forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Material and methods Semi-structured focus group discussions and individual interviews were conducted with health professionals recruited through convenience, purposeful, and snowball sampling. Transcribed discussions were co-analyzed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process involving researchers, clinical representatives, and forced migrants with lived experiences. Results The analysis revealed the importance of creating a trustful alliance and challenges related to addressing the topic. Interpreter services were recognized to influence the quality of communication with clients, as unprofessionalism and insufficient competence among interpreters can impact the dynamics of conversations. The importance of effective coordination to overcome barriers in accessing health services and the value of social support was emphasized. Conclusions The results call attention to the importance of a person-centered approach that involves empathy and competent communication. Further investigation is needed to understand ways to ensure competence among professionals, appropriate interpreter utilization and to explore the impact of social support on the health and wellbeing of these migrants.