TY - JOUR T1 - Giving voice to the voiceless: how to involve vulnerable migrants in healthcare research JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 284 LP - 285 DO - 10.3399/bjgp16X685321 VL - 66 IS - 647 AU - Maria van den Muijsenbergh AU - Erik Teunissen AU - Evelyn van Weel-Baumgarten AU - Chris van Weel Y1 - 2016/06/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/66/647/284.abstract N2 - Migration, with the prospect of large numbers of people permanently staying in a country, poses a challenge to society including the healthcare sector. This has been magnified by the large numbers of migrants and refugees that are currently entering Europe. Most of the refugees will stay over the years, some of them without ever getting permission to stay and thus becoming undocumented. In this article we use the term ‘migrants’ as an overarching term for refugees, undocumented, and other migrants. Primary care plays a key role in the provision of high-quality, affordable care for these groups, who face large health inequities and barriers to accessing health care.1,2 European general practice has acknowledged its responsibility to this group.3 However, stating good intentions in its professional approach alone will be insufficient. Even under stable conditions there is a lack of guidance for migrant care, due to insufficient knowledge of morbidity patterns and healthcare needs.1 This is not unique for migrants, and is also relevant for other marginalised groups. In that respect, primary health care may benefit, in coping with the current challenge of migrants and refugees, from its experience with care for other marginalised groups. At the same time primary care can use this crisis to strengthen its generic approach towards marginalised groups. It is essential to understand the values and expectations attached to health before it is possible to respond to patient needs.4 As with other vulnerable groups, research with and for migrants and refugees, ‘giving them a voice’, is vital to generate the knowledge that informs policy and practice. Under the current politicised conditions,5 it is a moral obligation to avoid a ‘tokenist’ involvement, and to contribute to the quality of migrant health care.6Service users, including migrants, are experts by experience. … ER -